10248. And it shall be to them a statute of an age. That this signifies an eternal law of order, is evident from the signification of “a statute,” as being a law of order (see n. 7884, 7995, 8537); and from the signification of “an age,” as being what is eternal. That “an age” denotes what is eternal, is because by “an age” is meant duration even to the end; and in the internal sense this duration signifies what is eternal; moreover, the word by which “an age” is here expressed in the original tongue signifies eternity. That “an age” denotes what is eternal, is because “an age,” when said in the Word about the church, signifies its duration even to the end; and consequently when it is said of heaven, where there is no end, and when it is said of the Lord, it signifies what is eternal. This is predicated in general of every church, but specifically of the celestial church. Moreover, “an age” also signifies the world and life there, and likewise life thereafter to eternity.

[2] As regards the FIRST meaning: That “an age” when said of the church, signifies its duration even to the end, is evident from the following passages, in Matthew:

The disciples said unto Jesus, Tell us what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the consummation of the age? (Matthew 24:3).

By “the consummation of the age” is signified the last time of the church, thus its end, when there is no longer any faith because no charity. That this is the consummation of the age, consequently that “an age” denotes the duration of the church even to its end, can be seen from all that was said by the Lord in that chapter, which may be seen unfolded in this work before the chapters of Genesis, from chapter 26 to chapter 40. The like is signified elsewhere by “an age” and its “consummation” in the same Gospel:

The harvest is the consummation of the age (Matthew 13:39-40, 49).

I am with you all the days even unto the consummation of the age (Matthew 28:20).

Here also the “age” means the duration of the church from beginning to end.

[3] In Ezekiel:

They shall dwell upon the land, they and their sons, and their sons’ sons, even to an age; David shall be their prince for an age. My sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for an age (Ezekiel 37:25, 28).

These things are said of Israel, by whom in the internal sense is meant the spiritual church; by the “land on which they shall dwell” is also signified the church; by the “sanctuary,” everything of the church; and by “David,” the Lord; from which it is evident that by “to an age” is signified even to the end. (That “Israel” in the Word denotes the spiritual church, see the places cited in n. 9340; that the “land” denotes the church, see the places cited in n. 9325; that the “sanctuary” denotes everything of the church, and that it is predicated of the good and truth of the spiritual church, n. 8330, 9479; and that “David” denotes the Lord, n. 1888, 9954)

[4] In David:

Before the mountains were born, and the earth and the world were formed, even from age to age, Thou art God (Psalms 90:2).

By “the mountains being born,” and by “the earth and the world being formed,” is not meant the creation of the world, but the setting up of the church; for “mountains” in the Word signify celestial love, thus the church in which is this love; the “earth” also and the “world” signify the church; hence “from age to age” signifies from the setting up of churches to their ends; for churches follow on, one after another, because when one has been ended or vastated another is set up. (That a “mountain” denotes celestial love, consequently the church which is in this love, see n. 795, 796, 4210, 6435, 8758; and that “land” denotes the church specifically, and the “world” the church generally, see the places cited in n. 9325)

[5] SECONDLY: That “an age,” when said of heaven where there is no end, and of the Lord, signifies what is eternal, is evident from the following passages, in David:

Jehovah is King for an age, and forever (Psalms 10:16; also Exodus 15:18).

Thy kingdom is a kingdom of all the ages; and Thy dominion is to every generation and generation (Psalms 145:13).

The living God, the King of an age (Jeremiah 10:10).

His dominion is the dominion of an age which shall not pass away. Afterward the saints of the highests shall receive the kingdom, and shall confirm the kingdom even to an age, and even to ages of ages (Daniel 7:14, 18, 27).

Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, unto ages (Matthew 6:13).

God shall give unto Him the throne of David, that He may reign over the house of Jacob for ages (Luke 1:32-33).

[6] To Jesus Christ be glory and strength unto ages of ages (Revelation 1:6).

Behold I am alive unto ages of ages (Revelation 1:18).

To the Lamb be blessing, and honor, and glory, and strength, unto ages of ages. The twenty-four elders worshiped Him that liveth unto ages of age (Revelation 5:13-14; 10:6; 11:15).

My salvation shall be for an age, and My righteousness to generation of generations (Isaiah 51:6, 8).

The angel of His faces carried them all the days of an age (Isaiah 63:9).

Many of them that sleep shall awake to the life of an age (Daniel 12:2).

If anyone shall eat of this bread, he shall live for an age (John 6:51, 58).

I give unto them eternal life, and they shall not perish for an age (John 10:28).

Lead me in the way of an age (Psalms 139:24).

He hath established them forever and for an age, He hath made a statute which shall not pass away (Psalms 148:6).

[7] In these passages “an age” signifies what is eternal, because it is said of the Lord and of His kingdom, and of heaven and the life there, whereof there is no end; “ages of ages” do not mean eternities of eternities, but denote what is eternal; and the expression is used relatively to churches on earth of which one succeeds another. It is evident from the Word that on our earth a church has been set up four times, of which the first was the Most Ancient Church, which was before the flood; the second was the Ancient Church, which was after the flood; the third was the Israelitish and Jewish Church; and lastly there was the Christian Church. The period of each Church, from beginning to end is “an age;” moreover, after this last mentioned Church, a new one will begin. These successions of churches are meant by “ages of ages.” (That “an age” denotes the duration of a church even to the end, was shown above.)

[8] THIRDLY: That “an age” is predicated in general of every church, but specifically of the celestial church, is evident from the following passages, in Amos:

I will set up the tent of David that is fallen, and will build according to the days of an age (Amos 9:11); where by “the days of an age” is meant the time of the Most Ancient Church, which was celestial. And in Micah:

Bethlehem Ephrathah, out of thee shall He come forth unto Me who shall be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from the days of an age (Micah 5:2); where the sense is the same. And in Moses:

Remember thou the days of an age; understand ye the years of generation and generation (Deuteronomy 32:7).

Here “the days of an age” denote the time of the Most Ancient Church, which was celestial; and “the years of generation and generation” denote the time of the Ancient Church, which was spiritual.

[9] In Isaiah:

Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of Jehovah; awake according to the days of antiquity, of the generation of ages (Isaiah 51:8-9).

“According to the days of the generation of ages” denotes according to the states of love and faith in the Ancient Churches derived from the Most Ancient Church.

In David:

I have considered the days of old, the years of ages (Psalms 77:5); where the sense is the same.

[10] In Isaiah:

Remember the former things from an age (Isaiah 46:9).

Then shall the meat-offering of Judah and Jerusalem be sweet to Jehovah, according to the days of an age, and according to the ancient years (Malachi 3:4).

Judah shall be seated for an age, and Jerusalem to generation and generation (Joel 3:20); where by “Judah” is signified the celestial church, of which it is therefore said, “according to the days of an age,” and “for an age;” and by “Jerusalem” is signified the spiritual church, of which it is said, “according to the ancient days,” and “to generation and generation.” (That “Judah” denotes the celestial church, see n. 3654, 3881, 6363, 8780; and “Jerusalem,” the spiritual church, n. 402, 3654)

[11] FOURTHLY: That “an age” signifies the world and life there, is evident from Matthew:

He that was sown among the thorns, this is he that heareth the Word, but the care of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word (Matthew 13:22).

The sons of this age are more prudent than the sons of light (Luke 16:8).

The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage (Luke 20:34).

The wicked and the secure of the age multiply riches (Psalms 73:12).

[12] FIFTHLY: That “an age” signifies the life after death to eternity:

He shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, and in the age to come life eternal (Mark 10:30).

When I shall bring thee down with them that go down into the pit, to the people of an age (Ezekiel 26:20).

And in other passages, as Luke 18:9, 30; 20:35; Isaiah 34:10, 17; Revelation 14:11; 20:10; 22:5.

795. All the high mountains that were under the whole heaven were covered. That this signifies that all the goods of charity were extinguished, is evident from the signification of mountains among the most ancient people. With them mountains signified the Lord, for the reason that they held their worship of Him on mountains, because these were the highest places on earth. Hence “mountains” signified celestial things (which also were called the “highest”), consequently love and charity, and thereby the goods of love and charity, which are celestial. And in the opposite sense those also are called “mountains” who are vainglorious; and therefore a “mountain” stands for the very love of self. The Most Ancient Church is also signified in the Word by “mountains” from these being elevated above the earth and nearer as it were to heaven, to the beginnings of things.

[2] That “mountains” signify the Lord, and all things celestial from Him, or the goods of love and charity, is evident from the following passages in the Word, from which it is plain what they signify in particular cases, for all things in the Word, both in general and in particular, have a signification according to the subject to which they are applied.

In David:

The mountains shall bring peace, and the hills, in righteousness (Psalms 72:3).

“Mountains” denote here love to the Lord; “hills” love toward the neighbor, such as was with the Most Ancient Church, which because of this character is also signified in the Word by “mountains” and “hills.”

In Ezekiel:

In the mountain of My holiness, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovih, there shall all the house of Israel serve Me, that whole land (Ezekiel 20:40).

The “mountain of holiness” here denotes love to the Lord; the “mountain of the height of Israel” charity toward the neighbor.

In Isaiah:

It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of Jehovah shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills (Isaiah 2:2),

where “mountains” denote the Lord, and thence all that is celestial.

Again:

In this mountain shall Jehovah Zebaoth make unto all peoples a feast of fat things, and He will take away in this mountain the face of the covering (Isaiah 25:6-7).

“Mountain” here denotes the Lord, and hence all that is celestial.

[3] Again:

And there shall be upon every lofty mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers, streams of waters (Isaiah 30:25),

where “mountains” denote goods of love; “hills” goods of charity, from which are truths of faith, which are the “rivers and streams of waters.” Again:

Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy feast is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of Jehovah, to the rock of Israel (Isaiah 30:29).

The “mountain of Jehovah” here denotes the Lord with reference to the goods of love; the “Rock of Israel” the Lord with reference to the goods of charity. Again:

Jehovah Zebaoth shall come down to fight upon Mount Zion and upon the hill thereof (Isaiah 31:4).

“Mount Zion” here and elsewhere in many places, denotes the Lord, and hence all that is celestial and which is love; and “hills” denote what is celestial of lower degree, which is charity.

[4] Again:

O Zion that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength (Isaiah 40:9).

To “go up into the high mountain and bring good tidings” is to worship the Lord from love and charity, which are inmost, and are therefore also called “highest” because what is inmost is called highest. Again:

Let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains (Isaiah 42:11).

The “inhabitants of the rock” denote those who are in charity; to “shout from the top of the mountains” is to worship the Lord from love. Again:

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation (Isaiah 52:7).

To “bring good tidings upon the mountains” is likewise to preach the Lord from the doctrine of love and charity, and from these to worship Him. Again:

The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands (Isaiah 55:12);

denoting worship of the Lord from love and charity, which are “the mountains and the hills;” and from the faith thence derived, which are the “trees of the field.”

[5] Again:

I will make all My mountains a way, and My highways shall be exalted (Isaiah 49:11); where “mountains” denote love and charity; and “way” and “highways” the truths of faith thence derived, which are said to be “exalted” when they are from love and charity as their inmost.

Again:

He that putteth his trust in Me shall possess the land as a heritage, and shall inherit the mountain of My holiness (Isaiah 57:13); denoting the Lord’s kingdom, wherein is nothing but love and charity.

Again:

I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of My mountains, and Mine elect shall possess it (Isaiah 65:9).

“Mountains” here denote the Lord’s kingdom and celestial goods; “Judah” the celestial church.

And again:

Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is holy, I dwell in the high and holy place (Isaiah 57:15).

“High” here denotes what is holy; and hence it is that on account of their height above the earth, mountains signify the Lord and His holy celestial things. And it was for this reason that the Lord promulgated the Law from Mount Sinai. Love and charity are also meant by the Lord, by “mountains” where, speaking of the consummation of the age, He says:

Then let them that are in Judea flee into the mountains (Matthew 24:16; Luke 21:21; Mark 13:14), where “Judea” denotes the vastated church.