2866. 'These eight Milkah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother' means a second group of people who are saved. This is clear from the meaning of 'eight' and from the repetition of the statement 'Milkah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother'. Since the eighth day is the first day of the following week 'eight' consequently means something distinct and separate from that which has gone before, see 2044. Here therefore it means a second group. It was for the sake of this meaning that this number was added. The fact that 'Milkah bore them to Nahor, Abraham's brother' means people outside the Church who dwell in a brotherly relationship by virtue of good has been shown above in 2863, 2865. And being the concluding statement it has the same meaning, yet with the addition of the fact that they are saved.

In most cases, the meaning of "before" is pretty straightforward, both as a way of assessing relative time, and in its use meaning "in someone's presence." It takes on a deeper significance, though, when used in connection with the Lord. To be "before" the Lord means not just in His presence, but also receiving the desire for good and the understanding of truth from Him, and living according to them. And when used as an assessment of time in connection with the Lord, "before" means "from eternity," and refers to a spiritual state rather than time as we experience it.

(Odkazy: Apocalypse Revealed 366, 617; Arcana Coelestia 6983, 8439, 9888)