Arcana Coelestia # 862
862. That 'it happened at the end of forty days' means the duration of the former state, and the beginning of the one that followed, is clear from the meaning of 'forty', see 730, where, the subject being temptation, the phrase 'forty days and forty nights' was used, which meant the duration of temptation. Here, since the subject is the state following temptation, 'forty days' is mentioned but not forty nights. The reason is that charity now starts to appear, which in the Word is compared to the day and is called the day. Faith however which precedes but has not yet been so joined to charity is compared to the night and is called the night, as in Genesis 1:16, and elsewhere in the Word. Faith is also called 'the night' in the Word because it receives its light from charity, just as the moon does from the sun. Faith is therefore also compared to the moon and is called the moon; and love or charity is compared to the sun and is called the sun. 'Forty days', or the duration of time meant by them, refers both to the things that precede and to those that follow; hence the statement 'at the end of forty days', which accordingly means both the duration of the previous state, and the beginning of the one being described now. This then begins the description of the second state following temptation of the member of this Church.
2 Corinthians 5
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For we know that if the earthly house of our tent is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.
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For most certainly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven;
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if so be that being clothed we will not be found naked.
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For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened; not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
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Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit.
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Therefore, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord;
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for we walk by faith, not by sight.
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We are courageous, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.
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Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to him.
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For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
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Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are revealed to God; and I hope that we are revealed also in your consciences.
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For we are not commending ourselves to you again, but speak as giving you occasion of boasting on our behalf, that you may have something to answer those who boast in appearance, and not in heart.
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For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. Or if we are of sober mind, it is for you.
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For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died.
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He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again.
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Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.
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Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
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But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;
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namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.
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We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
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For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
