Arcana Coelestia #16
16. Verse 1. In the beginning God created heaven and earth. The most ancient times of all are called 'the beginning', and are throughout the Prophets referred to as 'days of antiquity' and also 'days of eternity'. 'The beginning' also embodies within it that first Period when a person is being regenerated, for at that time he is being born anew and receiving life. Regeneration itself is therefore called a new creation of man. Almost everywhere in the prophetical sections 'to create', 'to form', and 'to make' mean to regenerate, though each of these verbs has a different shade of meaning, as in Isaiah,
Every one who is called by My name - I have created him for My glory, I have formed him, I have also made him. Isaiah 43:7
This is why the Lord is called Redeemer, One who forms from the womb, Maker, and also Creator, as in the same prophet,
I am Jehovah, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King. Isaiah 43:15.
In David,
A people to be created will praise Jah. Psalms 102:18.
In the same author,
You send forth Your Spirit; they are created; and You renewest the face 1 of the ground. Psalms 104:30.
'Heaven' means the internal man, and 'earth' the external man prior to regeneration. This will be seen further on.
Notes de bas de page:
1. literally, the faces
Daniel 12
1
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
2
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3
And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
4
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
5
Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.
6
And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
7
And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
8
And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
9
And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
10
Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
11
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
12
Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
13
But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
