8143. And the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people. That this signifies a change of state into evil in the case of those who were in falsities from evil, is evident from the signification of “the heart being turned,” as being a change of state into evil; (that “to be turned,” denotes to be changed, here as to the mind, thus as to the state, is evident, and that “heart” denotes evil see ab ove, n. 8135); from the representation of Pharaoh, as being those who are in falsities from evil (n. 8132); from the signification of “servants,” as being those who are of lower condition, and who minister, consequently all and each who are in falsities from evil (n. 7396), and from the representation of the sons of Israel, as being those who are of the spiritual church. Hence it is evident that by “the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants being turned against the people,” is signified a change of state into evil in the case of all those who are in falsities from evil, against those who are of the spiritual church.

7396. Till when shall I supplicate for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people? That this signifies intercession for those who are in falsities and infest, is evident from the signification of “supplicating” because for another, as being intercession; and from the representation of Pharaoh, as being those who are in falsities and infest (n. 7107, 7110, 7126, 7142, 7317); and as when his servants and his people are also added, these are represented by Pharaoh, then all and each are meant, for “servants” denote those who are of a lower sort and minister, and “people” denote the individuals. Empires and kingdoms are represented in heaven as a man, and the societies therein as the members of that man; but the king as the head. This representation has its ground in the fact that the universal heaven represents one man, and the societies therein his members, and this according to their functions. This shows how beautiful and delightful would be the representation of an empire, kingdom, and society in heaven, if they in like manner were conjoined among themselves by charity and faith. Moreover, wherever possible the Lord joins societies together in this way, for the Divine truth itself which proceeds from the Lord introduces this order wherever it is received, and this is the source of this order in heaven. It exists also on earth, but the societies which constitute it are scattered through the whole world, and are those who are in love to Him and in charity toward the neighbor. But these scattered societies have been gathered together by the Lord in order that they also, like the societies in heaven, may represent one man. These societies are not only within the church, but also outside of it, and taken together are called the Lord’s Church scattered and gathered from the good in the universal world, which is also called a communion. This communion, that is, this church, is the Lord’s kingdom on earth conjoined with the Lord’s kingdom in the heavens, and thus is conjoined with the Lord Himself.