5
And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
Genesis 2:5
Arcana Coelestia #9596
9596. 'From fine twined linen and violet and purple and twice-dyed scarlet' means the spiritual and celestial realities from which those truths are derived. This is clear from the meaning of 'fine twined linen' as truth from a celestial origin, dealt with in 9469; from the meaning of 'violet' as the celestial love of truth, dealt with in 9466; from the meaning of 'purple' as the celestial love of good, dealt with in 9467; and from the meaning of 'twice-dyed scarlet' as spiritual good or the good of truth, dealt with in 9468. Such is the order in which the spiritual and celestial realities, or the truths and forms of good, present with a person or an angel who is in the middle or second heaven follow one another. For truth from a celestial origin, meant by 'fine twined linen' comes first; then the love of or affection for truth, meant by 'violet'; after that the resulting love of or affection for good, meant by 'purple'; and finally spiritual good, meant by 'twice-dyed scarlet'.
[2] Because this is the order in which the spiritual and celestial realities follow one another 'fine twined linen' is here mentioned first; but in the case of the veil that hung between the dwelling-place and the ark, or between the holy place and the holy of holies, dealt with in verse 31 of the present chapter, it is mentioned last. The reason why 'fine twined linen' is mentioned last in the case of the veil is that 'the veil' means the intermediary uniting the inmost heaven to the middle heaven, and therefore within this intermediary it must come last, in order that - to link the two heavens - it may then be first in the second of them.
[3] But properly 'fine twined linen' means the understanding part of the mind as it exists with the spiritual man or with an angel in the Lord's spiritual heaven. The reason why the understanding part is meant by 'fine twined linen' is that with the spiritual man a new will part is implanted by the Lord within the understanding part of his mind, see 863, 875, 895, 927, 1023, 1043, 1044, 1555, 2256, 4328, 4493, 5113; and since the understanding part in the spiritual man is meant by 'fine twined linen', so too is spiritual truth meant. This is because all truth belongs to the understanding part, and all good to the will part, 3623, 9300; for the understanding part is the receiver (subjectum) or container and the truth is what belongs to it, and these two make one. From these considerations also it may be seen that the actual understanding part of the mind with those who belong to the Lord's spiritual kingdom is in the strict sense 'the dwelling-place', 9296, 9297, and that the spreading out of the curtains serves to describe it.
[4] From all this what 'spreading and stretching out the heavens' means in the following places may be recognized, such as in Isaiah,
Jehovah is He who stretches out the heavens, spreads out the earth, gives breath 1 to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it. Isaiah 42:5.
In the same prophet,
I am Jehovah who makes all things, stretches out the heavens Alone, [and] spreads out the earth by Myself. Isaiah 44:24.
In the same prophet,
It was I that made the earth and created man on it. It was I - My hands - that stretched out the heavens. Isaiah 45:12.
In Jeremiah,
... He who makes the earth by His power, prepares the world by His wisdom, and stretches out the heavens by His intelligence. Jeremiah 51:15.
In Zechariah,
Jehovah is He who stretches out the heavens, and founds the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him. Zechariah 12:1.
[5] 'Stretching out the heavens and spreading out the earth' is plainly similar in meaning to stretching and spreading out a dwelling-place by the use of curtains. And by this is meant regenerating a person and thereby creating or forming a new understanding in which there is a new will, which is the spiritual person's actual heaven in which the Lord dwells with that person. The fact that the regeneration or the formation of a new understanding, and of a new will within it, and so of a new person, is what 'stretching out the heavens and spreading out the earth' means is evident from actual explanations provided in the places quoted above. For they speak of Him who gives breath to the people on the earth, and spirit to those who walk on it, and also of Him who forms the spirit of man within him. 'Heaven and earth' means the Church, internal and external, see 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118, 3355, 4535, and 'the earth' in general means the Lord's kingdom and the Church, 9334; and these meanings too are plainly apparent in those places. For if 'the earth' did not have that meaning what sense could be made of 'spreading out the earth' and 'founding the earth', or 'forming the spirit of man within him 2 '?
[6] The fact that 'stretching out the heavens and spreading out the earth' here is similar in meaning to stretching and spreading out a dwelling-place by the use of curtains is clear from other places where the same idea is stated even more plainly, as in Isaiah,
Jehovah is He who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. Isaiah 40:22.
In the same prophet,
Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwelling-places. Isaiah 54:2.
And in David,
Jehovah covers Himself with light, as if with a garment; He stretches out the heavens as a curtain. Psalms 104:2.
These places also show what 'the expanse' or that which is spread out means in the first chapter of Genesis,
God said, Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let there be a distinguishing of the waters from the waters. And God made the expanse and He made a distinction between the waters that were under the expanse and the waters that were above the expanse, And God called the expanse Heaven. Genesis 1:6-8.
That first chapter describes the regeneration of a member of the celestial Church, 'the expanse' describing his new will and understanding. 'The waters under the expanse and those above the expanse' are the truths of the external man and those of the internal man. For the meaning of 'waters' as truths, see 2702, 3058, 3424, 4976, 8568, 9323.
Bilješke:
1. literally, soul
2. The Latin here is in ea (in it, i.e. in the earth). But in his rough draft Swedenborg has, as in other places, in medio ejus which is usually taken to mean within him but could possibly mean in the midst of it.
Luke 1
1
Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,
2
even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,
3
it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;
4
that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
5
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6
They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.
8
Now it happened, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his division,
9
according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10
The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
11
An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12
Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
13
But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
14
You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.
15
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
16
He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God.
17
He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord."
18
Zacharias said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."
19
The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.
20
Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn't believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."
21
The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.
22
When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.
23
It happened, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
24
After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,
25
"Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men."
26
Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27
to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
28
Having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!"
29
But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.
30
The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31
Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name 'Jesus.'
32
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David,
33
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom."
34
Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?"
35
The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.
36
Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37
For everything spoken by God is possible."
38
Mary said, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word." The angel departed from her.
39
Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,
40
and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
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It happened, when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, that the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42
She called out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43
Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44
For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!
45
Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!"
46
Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord.
47
My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
48
for he has looked at the humble state of his handmaid. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
49
For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.
50
His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.
51
He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52
He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.
53
He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.
54
He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,
55
As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed forever."
56
Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.
57
Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she brought forth a son.
58
Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her.
59
It happened on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of the father.
60
His mother answered, "Not so; but he will be called John."
61
They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."
62
They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.
63
He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." They all marveled.
64
His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.
65
Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66
All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, "What then will this child be?" The hand of the Lord was with him.
67
His father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
68
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and worked redemption for his people;
69
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
70
(as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old),
71
salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;
72
to show mercy towards our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,
73
the oath which he spoke to Abraham, our father,
74
to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,
75
In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.
76
And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,
77
to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins,
78
because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,
79
to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace."
80
The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
