Arcana Coelestia # 4495
4495. 'It happened on the third day' means that which is continuous even to the end. This is clear from the meaning of 'the third day' as that which is complete from beginning to end, dealt with in 2788, and so also as that which is continuous. People who suppose that the historical events described in the Word are no more than the facts of earthly history and are holy only because they appear in a sacred book are scarcely able to believe that 'the third day' has that meaning. But, as shown in preceding explanations, it is not only the actual historical narratives that include spiritual and celestial things which are not plainly visible in the letter, but also every word and every number too. The truth of this will in the Lord's Divine mercy be seen far more clearly in the prophetical sections which in the sense of the letter do not hold the mind to the sequence of events in the way that the historical sections do. But anyone who looks carefully into the interior contents of the Word comes to see that the number three, like the number seven, and also the number twelve, holds some arcanum. And if these numbers hold such it follows that every other number in the Word holds the same, for the Word is holy in every part.
[2] Sometimes, when I have been talking to angels, I have seen in front of me what looked like numbers written, as if on a sheet of paper, in broad daylight, and I have realized that the spiritual entities about which the angels spoke pass into numbers like these. From this experience I have also been given to know that each number in the Word contains some arcanum. This may be seen plainly from the following in John,
He measured the wall of the holy Jerusalem, a hundred and forty-four cubits, which is the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. Revelation 21:17.
And elsewhere,
Let him who has intelligence reckon the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, that is, its number is six hundred and sixty-six. Revelation 13:18.
It is evident that the first of these numbers, namely a hundred and forty-four, is the product of twelve times twelve, and that the number six hundred and sixty-six is a product of that involving three or six; but what degree of holiness is implied by them may be seen from the holiness associated with the number twelve, concerning which number see 577, 2089, 2129 (end), 2130 (end), 3272, 3858, 3913; and concerning the holiness associated with the number three, 720, 901, 1825, 2788, 4010.
[3] Because the number three meant that which is complete even to the end, and so an entire period, whether long or short, it was therefore adopted in the representative Church and used whenever such a meaning needed to be conveyed. It is also used in the same way in the Word, in which every detail carries a spiritual meaning, as may be seen from the following places:
They were to go a three days' journey and to offer sacrifice. Exodus 3:18; 5:3.
They were to be ready on the third day, for on the third day Jehovah would come down onto Mount Sinai. Exodus 19:11, 15-16, 18.
Nothing from the flesh of a sacrifice was to be left until the third day. Leviticus 7:16-18; 19:6-7.
The water of separation was to be sprinkled over the unclean person on the third day and on the seventh day. Numbers 19:11-end.
Those who touched one killed in war were to be cleansed on the third day and on the seventh day. Numbers 31:19-25.
[4] Joshua commanded the people that within three days they would be crossing the Jordan. Joshua 1:11; 3:2.
Jehovah called Samuel three times, and three times Samuel ran to Eli and the third time Eli understood that Jehovah was calling Samuel. 1 Samuel 3:1-8.
Jonathan told David to hide in the field until the third evening. And Jonathan sent to him on the third day from then, and revealed his father's intention. Jonathan at that point fired three arrows to the side of the stone. And after that David bowed down to the ground three times before Jonathan. 1 Samuel 20:5, 12, 19-20, 35-36, 41.
Three things were set before David, of which he was to choose one - either the coming of famine for seven years, or his fleeing before his enemies for three months, or the existence of pestilence in the land for three days. 2 Samuel 24:11-13.
[5] Rehoboam told the assembly of Israel which asked for relief from his father's yoke that they should go away for three days and then return And they came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king said, Return to me on the third day. 1 Kings 12:5, 12.
Elijah stretched himself over the widow's son three times. 1 Kings 17:21.
Elijah told them to pour water over the burnt offering and the wood a third time and they did so a third time. 1 Kings 18:34.
Jonah was in the stomach of the monster for three days and three nights Jonah 1:17; Matthew 12:40.
The Lord talked of someone who planted a vineyard and sent servants three times, and after that his son. Mark 12:2, 4-6, Luke 20:12-13.
Of Peter, He said that he was to deny Him three times. Matthew 26:34, John 13:38.
He said to Peter three times, Do you love Me? John 21:15-17.
[6] From these and many other places in the Word it becomes clear that the number three holds an arcanum within it, and that for this reason this number was adopted within the ancient Churches as a meaningful sign. It is evident that it means the entire period of a Church and of things within a Church, whether long or short, and therefore that which is complete and also that which is continuous even to the end, as is plain in Hosea,
Jehovah will revive us after two days, on the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live before Him. Hosea 6:2.
Luke 20
1
It happened on one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the Good News, that the priests and scribes came to him with the elders.
2
They asked him, "Tell us: by what authority do you do these things? Or who is giving you this authority?"
3
He answered them, "I also will ask you one question. Tell me:
4
the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?"
5
They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why didn't you believe him?'
6
But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet."
7
They answered that they didn't know where it was from.
8
Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
9
He began to tell the people this parable. "A man planted a vineyard, and rented it out to some farmers, and went into another country for a long time.
10
At the proper season, he sent a servant to the farmers to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers beat him, and sent him away empty.
11
He sent yet another servant, and they also beat him, and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.
12
He sent yet a third, and they also wounded him, and threw him out.
13
The lord of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. It may be that seeing him, they will respect him.'
14
"But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.'
15
They threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do to them?
16
He will come and destroy these farmers, and will give the vineyard to others." When they heard it, they said, "May it never be!"
17
But he looked at them, and said, "Then what is this that is written, 'The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the chief cornerstone?'
18
Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but it will crush whomever it falls on to dust."
19
The chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him that very hour, but they feared the people--for they knew he had spoken this parable against them.
20
They watched him, and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor.
21
They asked him, "Teacher, we know that you say and teach what is right, and aren't partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God.
22
Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"
23
But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, "Why do you test me?
24
Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?" They answered, "Caesar's."
25
He said to them, "Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
26
They weren't able to trap him in his words before the people. They marveled at his answer, and were silent.
27
Some of the Sadducees came to him, those who deny that there is a resurrection.
28
They asked him, "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should take the wife, and raise up children for his brother.
29
There were therefore seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died childless.
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The second took her as wife, and he died childless.
31
The third took her, and likewise the seven all left no children, and died.
32
Afterward the woman also died.
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Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them will she be? For the seven had her as a wife."
34
Jesus said to them, "The children of this age marry, and are given in marriage.
35
But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage.
36
For they can't die any more, for they are like the angels, and are children of God, being children of the resurrection.
37
But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord 'The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'
38
Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all are alive to him."
39
Some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you speak well."
40
They didn't dare to ask him any more questions.
41
He said to them, "Why do they say that the Christ is David's son?
42
David himself says in the book of Psalms, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand,
43
until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet."'
44
"David therefore calls him Lord, so how is he his son?"
45
In the hearing of all the people, he said to his disciples,
46
"Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts;
47
who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these will receive greater condemnation."
