247. Of the Ancient Churches.

The first and Most Ancient Church on this earth, which is described in the first chapters of Genesis, was a celestial church, and the chief of all the rest (n. 607, 895, 920, 1121-1124, 2896, 4493, 8891, 9942, 10545). Of the quality of those in heaven who belonged to it (n. 1114-1125). They are in the highest degree of light (n. 1116-1117). There were various churches after the flood, called in one word, the Ancient Church, concerning which (n. 1125-1127, 1327, 10355). Through how many kingdoms of Asia the Ancient Church was extended (n. 1238, 2385). The quality of the men of the Ancient Church (n. 609, 895). The Ancient Church was a representative church, and its representatives were collected into one by certain men of the Most Ancient Church (n. 519, 521, 2896). The Ancient Church had a Word, but it was lost (n. 2897). The quality of the Ancient Church when it began to decline (n. 1128). The difference between the Most Ancient and the Ancient Churches (n. 597, 607, 640-641, 765, 784, 895, 4493). The Most Ancient Church and the Ancient were also in the land of Canaan, and hence came the representatives of the places therein (n. 3686, 4447, 4454). Of the church that began from Eber, which was called the Hebrew Church (n. 1238, 1241, 1343, 4516-4517). The difference between the Ancient and the Hebrew Churches (n. 1343, 4874). Eber instituted sacrifices which were wholly unknown in the Ancient Churches (n. 1343). The Ancient Churches agreed with the Christian Church as to internals, but not as to externals (n. 3478, 4489, 4772, 4904, 10149). In the Most Ancient Church there was immediate revelation; in the Ancient Church, revelation by correspondences; in the Jewish Church, by a living voice; and in the Christian Church, by the Word (n. 10355). The Lord was the God of the Most Ancient Church, and was called Jehovah (n. 1343, 6846). The Lord is heaven, and He is the church (n. 4766, 10125, 10151, 10157). The Divine of the Lord makes heaven, see the work on Heaven and Hell (n. 7-12 and (Heaven and Hell 78-86) 78-86); and thus also the church, since what constitutes heaven with man, constitutes also the church, as was shown in the doctrine above.

939. The ideas comprising the thought of people who have been disgustingly avaricious are converted into disgusting delusions. How disgusting is clear from their hell, which is deep down underfoot. A steamy vapour exudes from it like that coming from pigs whose bristles are being scraped off in a trough [of hot water]. It is here that the greedy have their dwelling-places. At first the appearance of those who enter that place is black. But then on being shaven like pigs they seem to themselves to become shining white. This is how they appear to themselves at this point, but a mark is nevertheless left after shaving to indicate their true character wherever they go. A certain black spirit who had not yet been taken down into his own hell because he was required to stay on longer in the world of spirits was sent down to where they were. He had not been so avaricious a person, but nevertheless during his lifetime he had gazed with envy and evil intent at other people's wealth. As he drew near, the avaricious people there fled, saying that as he was black he was a robber who, being such, would murder them. For the avaricious flee from such people, fearing greatly for their own lives. At length however they learned that he was no such robber and they then told him that if he wished to become shining white he had merely to get rid of the hair covering him, like the pigs which were in full view, and he would then be shining white. But he did not wish to, and so he was taken up to be among spirits.