966. And it became blood as of one dead. That this signified that all were falsified, is evident from the signification of blood, as denoting Divine truth; and, in the opposite sense, Divine truth falsified (concerning which see n. 30, 328, 329, 476, 748). In this case, therefore, that all the knowledges of truth from the Word were falsified. The knowledges of truth from the Word are the truths of the sense of the letter, or the truths in the Word for the natural man, which also are Divine truths. These altogether falsified are signified by the sea becoming blood, as of one dead.

The Divine truths of the sense of the letter of the Word are said to be falsified, when they are perverted even to the destruction of interior Divine truth, or of Divine truth in the heavens. They then also appear in the heavens with man as the blood of one dead. That those who separate faith from the goods of life falsify the Word has been often shown above; and it is of such that these things are said, as is evident from the second verse of this chapter.

Concerning the Fourth Precept of the Decalogue, that parents are to be honoured.

This precept also was given, because the honour of parents represented and thence signified love to the Lord, and love towards the church. For father, in the heavenly sense, or the heavenly Father, is the Lord; and mother, in the heavenly sense, or the heavenly mother, is the church. Honour signifies the good of love; and length of days, which is the consequence, signifies the felicity of life eternal. This precept is thus understood in heaven, where no other father is known but the Lord, and no other mother but the Lord's kingdom, which is also the church. For the Lord gives life from Himself, and by the church He gives spiritual nourishment. That in the heavenly sense of this precept, not any father in the world is meant, or indeed to be named, while man is in a heavenly idea, the Lord teaches in Matthew:

"Call no one your father on earth; for one is your Father, who is in the heavens" (23:9).

That Father signifies the Lord as to Divine Good may be seen above (n. 32, 200, 254, 297). That mother signifies the Lord's kingdom, the church, and Divine truth may be seen in Arcana Coelestia 289, 2691, 2717, 3703, 5581, 8897). That length of days signifies the felicity of eternal life, n. 8898 in the same work; and that honour signifies the good of love, n. 8897 there, and above, n. 288, 345.

From these things it is now evident that the third and fourth precepts involve mysteries concerning the Lord; that is, the acknowledgment and confession of His Divine, and the worship of Him from the good of love.

476. And make their robes white in the blood of the Lamb.- This signifies the implantation of Divine Truth from the Lord, as is evident from the signification of making their robes white, as denoting to put off falsities and to put on truths, for white, and to whiten are said in reference to truths, which are signified by robes. That white, and to whiten, are said in reference to truths, may be seen above (n. 196); and that robes signify truths in general may also be seen above (n. 395). It is said that they made their robes white, because the garments of those who are in falsities in the spiritual world appear to be dusky, and also spotted, and the garments of those who are in temptations appear squalid; but as soon as they come out of temptations, because they are then imbued with Divine Truths, they appear to be clad in garments white and shining, without blemishes, as mentioned just above; therefore by making their robes white is signified that they had put off falsities and put on truths. The blood of the Lamb, signifies the Divine Truth proceeding from the Lord; see above (n. 329); and because falsities are shaken off in temptations, and truths implanted, therefore, in general, by making their robes white in the blood of the Lamb, is signified the implantation of Divine Truth from the Lord. In the sense of the letter of the Word, the blood of the Lamb means the passion of the cross, but in the internal or spiritual sense it means the Divine Truth proceeding from the Lord; for by means of this, man is purified from falsities and evils, that is, his garments are made white.

The passion of the cross was the last temptation of the Lord, through which He completely subjugated the hells, and glorified His Human; and having fulfilled and completed these things, the Lord sent the Paraclete (Paracletum), the Spirit of Truth, by which is meant the Divine Truth proceeding from His glorified Human, as the Lord Himself teaches in John (7:39), and elsewhere. Man then is reformed and regenerated by the Lord, and saved by means of the Divine Truth when received, but not by the shedding of blood upon the cross. On this subject more may be seen in the Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 293, 294); and in the passages cited therein from the Arcana Coelestia. The same is also evident from this fact, that the garments of the angels appear to shine with a white and bright appearance, not from faith and from thought concerning the blood of the Lord [shed] upon the cross, but from the Divine Truth from the Lord with the angels. For, as stated above, all their garments accord with the truths which they have, neither is any angel allowed to think of the passion of the Lord, but of His glorification, and of the reception of the Divine from Him.