9480. That I may dwell in the midst of them. That this signifies the consequent presence of the Lord in the representative church, is evident from the signification of “dwelling in the midst,” when said of the Lord, as being His presence; for by “dwelling” is signified to be and to live (see n. 1293, 3613, 4451); and therefore “dwelling in the midst” denotes to be present, and to live present. That it signifies presence in the representative church, is because the presence of the Lord with that people was not in the internal things that belong to love and faith; but only in the external things that represented these. (As to the nature of this presence, see n. 4311, and the citations in n. 9320, 9380)