3653. From all this it is now evident that in these verses there is fully described the state of devastation of the church in respect to the goods of love and the truths of faith, and that at the same time there is given an exhortation to those who are in these goods and truths in regard to what they ought then to do. There are three kinds of men within the church; namely, those who are in love to the Lord; those who are in charity toward the neighbor; and those who are in the affection of truth. Those who belong to the first class, who are in love to the Lord, are specifically signified in the words, “let them that are in Judea flee into the mountains.” Those in the second class, who are in charity toward their neighbor, are specifically signified in the words, “let him that is upon the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.” Those in the third class, who are in the affection of truth, are specifically signified in the words, “and let him that is in the field not return back to take his garment.” (See what has been said and explained above in regard to these words, n. 2454; and what is meant by “returning back,” and “looking behind him.”)

3142. For I have swept the house. That this signifies that all things were prepared, and full of goods, is evident from the signification of “sweeping,” as being to prepare and to be filled (of which we shall speak presently); and from the signification of a “house” as being good (concerning which above, n. 2233, 2234, 2559; and that man himself, from the good which is in him, is called a house, n. 3128). The reason “to sweep” signifies to prepare and to be filled, is that nothing else is required of man than to sweep the house; that is, to reject the cupidities of evil and the derivative persuasions of falsity; for he is then filled with goods, because good is continually flowing in from the Lord-but into “the house,” that is, into the man who is purified from such things as impede the influx, that is, which reflect, or pervert, or suffocate the inflowing good. Hence it was common with the ancients to speak of sweeping or cleaning the house, and of sweeping and preparing the way; and by sweeping the house was meant to purify one’s self from evils, and thereby to prepare one’s self for goods to enter; but by sweeping the way was meant to prepare one’s self so that truths might be received (for by a “house” was signified good, n. 3128; and by a “way,” truth, n. 627, 2333).

[2] As in Isaiah:

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Sweep [prepare] ye the way of Jehovah; make straight in the desert a highway for our God (Isaiah 40:3).

In the same:

Cast up, cast up, sweep [prepare] the way, take away the stumbling-block out of the way of My people (Isaiah 57:14).

Again:

Go through, go through the gates, sweep [prepare] the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway, gather out the stones (Isaiah 62:10).

In Malachi:

Behold I send Mine angel, and He shall sweep [prepare] the way before Me; and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple (Malachi 3:1).

In these passages, to “sweep the way” signifies to make themselves ready and prepare to receive truth. The subject treated of therein is the advent of the Lord, for which they were to prepare themselves for receiving the truth of faith, and thereby the good of charity, and by this eternal salvation.

[3] In David:

Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt, Thou didst drive out the nations and plantedst it; Thou didst sweep before it, and didst cause its root to be rooted, and it filled the land (Psalms 80:8-9); where in the supreme sense the Lord is treated of; the “vine out of Egypt” is truth from memory-knowledges; “driving out the nations” is purifying from evils; “sweeping before it,” is making ready so that goods may fill. In the opposite sense “to sweep the house” is said also of the man who deprives himself of all goods and truths, and thus is filled with evils and falsities; as in Luke:

The unclean spirit, finding no rest, says, I will return into my house whence I came out; and when he is come he findeth it swept and garnished; then goeth he and taketh to him seven other spirits worse than himself, and they enter in and dwell there (Luke 11:24-26; Matthew 12:43-45).