Arcana Coelestia #9666
9666. 'And the middle bar in the midst of the boards that passes through from end to end' means the chief power from which the power everywhere else extends. This is clear from the meaning of 'bar' or 'pole' as power, dealt with in 9496; from the meaning of 'middle' as what is inmost and chief, dealt with in 1074, 2940, 2973, 5897, 6084, 6103; from the meaning of 'passing through from end to end', when it refers to 'the bar' by which power is meant, as the power everywhere else that is derived and extends from it.
[2] None can have any real knowledge of these matters unless they know about the nature of things which are more internal and those which are more external in the spiritual world. Things that are the best and purest, and so more perfect than all others, exist in the inmost part. Those which are spread out from there towards more external parts are less and less perfect the further away they lie from inmost things, ending in those in the outermost parts, which are the least perfect of all, 9648. Things are said to be less perfect when they can be more easily twisted out of the shape and beauty they possess, and so out of the order that is theirs. The situation in all this is like that with fruits. Within them they have seeds, surrounded by the flesh. The seeds exist in a state more perfect than the flesh outside them, as becomes clear from the fact that when the flesh decays the seeds still remain intact. The like applies to the seeds themselves. Inmostly in these there is the reproductive germ, which exists in a perfect state compared with the parts outside it; for the germ remains in its intactness, producing a new tree or young plant when the more external parts of the seed are broken down. Things in heaven are arranged in the same way. The inmost things there, being closer to the Lord, exist in a perfect state compared with more external ones. For this reason the inmost heaven enjoys greater wisdom and intelligence, and consequently greater happiness than the heavens below. The like applies within each heaven; the inmost is more perfect than the surrounding parts. The like applies also to the person with whom the good of love and the truths of faith are present. That person's internal exists in a more perfect state than the external; for the internal man dwells in the heat and light of heaven, but the external in the heat and light of the world. In every form that is perfect the situation is the same, in that its inmost part is the best, the inmost being what is meant by 'the middle'.
[3] The reason why 'passing through from end to end', said in reference to a bar or pole, means the power everywhere else that is derived and extends from the chief power is that 'from end to end' means the first end and the final end, 1 thus from beginning to end since the first end is the beginning. Consequently by 'the ends' all things and everywhere are meant, as in Jeremiah,
The sword of Jehovah is devouring from [one] end of the land to the [other] end of it. Jeremiah 12:12.
'The sword' stands for truth engaged in conflict against falsity and destroying it, and in the contrary sense falsity engaged in conflict against truth and destroying it, 2799, 4499, 6353, 7102, 8294. 'Devouring from [one] end of the land to the [other] end of it' stands for all things of the Church, 'the land' being the Church, 9334. In David,
From the end of the heavens is His going forth, and His circuit to the ends of them. Psalms 19:6.
Here also 'from the end of the heavens to the ends of them' stands for all things and everywhere.
[4] In Mark,
He will send His angels and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth even to the end of heaven. Mark 13:27.
'The end of the earth' and 'the end of heaven' stand for all the external and the internal things of the Church, 'the earth' being the external part of the Church and 'heaven' the internal part of it, see 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118 (end), 3355 (end), 4535, where it explains what a new earth and a new heaven are. The plural 'ends' has the same meaning, in Isaiah,
Look to Me, that you may be saved, all ends of the earth. Isaiah 45:22.
In David,
O God of our salvation, [You are] the confidence of all the ends of the earth and of the far-off parts of the sea. Psalms 65:5.
And the singular has the same meaning in the expression 'even to the end': In Isaiah,
... [that] you may be 2 My salvation even to the end of the earth. Isaiah 49:6.
In the same prophet,
Jehovah will cause it to be heard even to the end of the earth, Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your salvation will come. Isaiah 62:11.
In Jeremiah,
A clamour will come even to the end of the earth. Jeremiah 25:31.
'Even to the end' implies from end to end.
[5] But when 'end' is used to denote solely what is outermost or last and lowest it means that which is the lowest part of heaven or of the Church, as in Isaiah,
Sing to Jehovah a new song; [sing] His praise, you end of the earth falling away to the sea, and you fullness of it (the islands and their inhabitants). Isaiah 42:10.
'You end of the earth falling away to the sea' stands for the last and lowest part of the Church where goodness and truth dwell in obscurity. For this meaning of 'the sea', see 9653. 'The islands' stands for those more remote from truths, and consequently from [true] worship, 1158.
[6] In the same prophet,
Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the end of the earth. Isaiah 43:6.
'Sons from afar' are those who dwell in obscurity in respect of truths, 'daughters from the end of the earth' those who do so in respect of forms of good, as gentile nations did. By 'sons' those in possession of truths are meant, and in the abstract sense truths themselves, see 264, 489, 491, 1147, 2623, 2803, 2813, 3373, 3704, and by 'daughters' those with whom forms of good exist, and in the abstract sense the forms of good themselves, 489-491, 2362, 3963, 8994. From this it is also evident that 'end' has regard to good and 'afar' to truth, as also in Psalms 65:5 and Isaiah 13:5. But it should be remembered that by 'the end of heaven' not an end that is spatial but a state of goodness and truth should be understood; for there is no space in heaven, only an appearance of it that is determined by states of goodness and truth.
Notas a pie de página:
1. i.e. the initial end in view and the subsequent accomplishment of that end
2. Reading Sis (you may be) for Sit (he may be)
Isaiah 43
1
But now thus says Yahweh who created you, Jacob, and he who formed you, Israel: "Don't be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine.
2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and flame will not scorch you.
3
For I am Yahweh your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I have given Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
4
Since you have been precious and honored in my sight, and I have loved you; therefore I will give people in your place, and nations instead of your life.
5
Don't be afraid; for I am with you. I will bring your seed from the east, and gather you from the west.
6
I will tell the north, 'Give them up!' and tell the south, 'Don't hold them back! Bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth--
7
everyone who is called by my name, and whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, yes, whom I have made.'"
8
Bring out the blind people who have eyes, and the deaf who have ears.
9
Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled. Who among them can declare this, and show us former things? Let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, "That is true."
10
"You are my witnesses," says Yahweh, "With my servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he. Before me there was no God formed, neither will there be after me.
11
I myself am Yahweh; and besides me there is no savior.
12
I have declared, I have saved, and I have shown; and there was no strange god among you. Therefore you are my witnesses," says Yahweh, "and I am God.
13
Yes, since the day was I am he; and there is no one who can deliver out of my hand. I will work, and who can hinder it?"
14
Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "For your sake, I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring all of them down as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their rejoicing.
15
I am Yahweh, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King."
16
Thus says Yahweh, who makes a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;
17
who brings forth the chariot and horse, the army and the mighty man (they lie down together, they shall not rise; they are extinct, they are quenched like a wick):
18
"Don't remember the former things, and don't consider the things of old.
19
Behold, I will do a new thing. It springs forth now. Don't you know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
20
The animals of the field shall honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; because I give water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21
the people which I formed for myself, that they might set forth my praise.
22
Yet you have not called on me, Jacob; but you have been weary of me, Israel.
23
You have not brought me of your sheep for burnt offerings; neither have you honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, nor wearied you with frankincense.
24
You have bought me no sweet cane with money, nor have you filled me with the fat of your sacrifices; but you have burdened me with your sins. You have wearied me with your iniquities.
25
I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.
26
Put me in remembrance. Let us plead together. Set forth your case, that you may be justified.
27
Your first father sinned, and your teachers have transgressed against me.
28
Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary; and I will make Jacob a curse, and Israel an insult."
