178. Internal Meaning of Daniel, Chapter 7

1-3 Revelation concerning the successive changes of state of the church: (2, 11)

4 The first, while they were in the understanding of truth; (2)

5 The second, when they studied only the sense of the letter of the Word; (2)

6 The third, when the sense of the letter of the Word was falsified, and falsity was made to appear as truth; (2)

7 The fourth, when there was faith alone, which destroyed all things of the church, (3, 17)

8 and which was confirmed by the sense of the letter of the Word; (3)

9-10 they were judged from the Word, (3)

11 and that faith was wholly destroyed, (3, 17)

12 and [those who were in] the former [states] were judged according to their life, (3)

13-14 and the church became the Lord's. (11)

15-16 Further explanation of those things: (2)

17-18 four successive states of the church are meant; (2, 7)

19-21 the last state is faith alone confirmed by reasonings and by the Word falsified, by virtue of which they would prevail; (2)

22 and this until the Lord shall institute the church (11)

23-24 which has been destroyed by faith alone, (3)

25 and which despises the Lord Himself. (3)

26-27 Finally those who are in faith alone will be judged, (15)

and a new church will be established by the Lord. (11)

28 Thus comes the end.

It is hard for us to conceive this, but time does not exist in spiritual reality. Time is an aspect of physical reality that no longer constrains us in spiritual life, just as we are no longer constrained by our physical bodies in spiritual life. That is what "forever" means in the Bible. It doesn't just mean "for a long time," "for the rest of your life" or even "until the sun expands and destroys the earth and all life here." It means to eternity without end.