131. Internal Meaning of Ezekiel, Chapter 8

Profanation of what is holy. (3)

1-2 The Lord is represented in respect to Divine love, (1)

3 and it is shown how the holy of the Word has been profaned, (3, 17)

5-6 namely, that they have separated themselves from the holy of the worship of the church. (3, 17)

7-10 Diabolical loves have perverted the lowest sense of the Word. (3)

11-12 They have instituted a worship in accordance with those loves, (3)

13-14 by adulterating all things of good, (3, 8)

15-16 and adoring the devil in place of the Lord. (3)

17-18 They have closed against themselves the way to all mercy. (3)

All changes of place in the Bible represent changes in spiritual state. “Entering” – usually used as entering someone’s house or “going in unto” someone – particularly means adopting a spiritual state that is compatible with someone else in order to communicate with them or be conjoined with them. This is easily seen in the fact that a man “going in unto” a woman is sort of a Biblical euphemism for a physical relationship. In a broader sense, all the spiritual changes we go through in our lives involve “entering” and “leaving,” so when the Bible uses the phrasing “going in and coming out,” it symbolizes someone’s entire spiritual life.

To enter, as in Genesis 7:1, signifies to be prepared.