'Wilderness' signifies something with little life in it, as described in the internal sense in Luke 1:80 'Wilderness' signifies somewhere there is no good because there is no truth. 'Wilderness,' as in Jeremiah 23:10, signifies the Word when it is adulterated.

(Odkazy: Arcana Coelestia 1927)

9888. 'Before the face of it' means to eternity. This is clear from the meaning of 'before the face' as to eternity; for 'the breastplate' means heaven and every good and truth that constitutes it, 9879. What is 'before the face' in heaven is in the Lord's everlasting sight, thus is preserved to eternity.