8922. 'Lest perhaps we die' means that this form will destroy the life of heaven with them. This is clear from the meaning of 'dying' as dying spiritually, dealt with in 6119, thus being destroyed so far as the life of heaven is concerned. The fact that God's truth in an unadjusted form has that effect is clear from what has been shown just above in 8920. For truth in an unadjusted form, as it exists in heaven, is too high for it to be understood, and what is too high to be understood is not received. And what is not received does not pass into faith at all, nor accordingly into the life of faith, which is the life of heaven since a person is regenerated, that is, receives the life of heaven, through God's truth composing faith, 2046, 2063, 2189, 2979, 3155, 3876, 3877, 5893, 5912, 6247, 8635 8640, 8772.

3876. 'For I have borne him three sons' means that which happens next. This is clear from what has been stated above in 3871. That which happens next, meant here by 'three sons', is the arrival of charity. For when a person is being regenerated, that is, becoming the Church, the first thing is his need to know and understand what the truth of faith is; the second is his determination to will and do it; and the third comes when he has an affection for it. When a person has an affection for truth, that is, when he experiences delight and blessing in acting in accordance with truth, charity or mutual love has arrived in him. This next stage is what is meant here by 'I have borne him three sons'.