184. And the seven stars, signifies from whom are all the knowledges of truth and good. This is evident from the signification of "seven," as being what is full and all things (See above, n. 20, 24), also from the signification of "stars" as being the knowledges of truth and good (See also above, n. 72). It is said to the angel of this church, "These things saith He that hath the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars," because those within the church who are living a moral but not a spiritual life, because they have little regard for the knowledges of spiritual things and thence for intelligence and wisdom, are here treated of; for "the seven spirits of God" signify all the truths of heaven and of the church, and "the seven stars" the knowledges of truth and good; and through these two come all intelligence and wisdom. To the angel of each church is premised something respecting the Lord, which indicates what is treated of (See above, n. 113).

293. The Lord came into the world that He might save the human race, which otherwise would have perished in eternal death; and He saved them by this, that He subjugated the hells, which infested every man coming into the world and going out of the world; and at the same time by this, that He glorified His Human: for thus He can keep the hells in subjugation to eternity. The subjugation of the hells, and the glorification of His Human at the same time, were effected by means of temptations admitted into the human which He had from the mother, and by continual victories therein. His passion on the cross was the last temptation and full victory.