2
υιε ανθρωπου διαμαρτυραι τη ιερουσαλημ τας ανομιας αυτης
Jeremiah 1:16
16
και λαλησω προς αυτους μετα κρισεως περι πασης της κακιας αυτων ως εγκατελιπον με και εθυσαν θεοις αλλοτριοις και προσεκυνησαν τοις εργοις των χειρων αυτων
Arcana Coelestia #773
773. 'They' means in general the member of the Church or everything that belonged to that Church. This is clear from the fact that 'they' refers to the characters who have just been mentioned by name, Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Although there are four of them, they nevertheless together constitute a single whole. For Noah, who is used in general to mean the Ancient Church, includes, as the parent or seed, the Churches that sprang from it. Hence 'they' means the Ancient Church. All of the Churches which are called Shem, Ham, and Japheth, together constitute the Church called the Ancient Church.
