3448. “他的同伴亚户撒, 他的军长非各” 表其信之教义的首要特征. 这从 “亚比米勒” 的代表清楚可知, “亚比米勒” 是指关注理性事物的信之教义. 因此, “他的同伴和他的军长” 表那些首要事物, 事实上是其教义的首要事物; 因为 “军长” 和 “首领” 一样, 表示首要事物 (1482, 2089节); “军 (队)” 表示教义事物本身. “军队” 之所以表示属于真理或为低级真理的教义事物, 是因为在圣言中, “作战” 和 “战争” 是指那些与属灵的作战并战争有关的事物 (1664, 1788, 2686节). “武器” 也一样, 如 “枪”, “盾”, “弓”, “箭”, “剑” 等等, 这在别处已经说明. 由于它们是进行属灵争战所借助的真理或教义事物, 故 “军队” 表示这些真理或教义事物, 在反面意义上则表示虚假或异端思想.

在圣言中, “军队” 或 “天象” 是指真理或虚假. 这一点从许多经文可以看出来, 如但以理书:

公山羊的一角向南, 向东, 向荣美之地, 渐渐成为强大. 它渐渐强大, 高及天象, 将些天象和星宿抛落在地, 并践踏它们. 并且它自高自大, 直达天象之君. 因罪过的缘故, 有军队和常献的燔祭交付它; 它将真理抛在地上. 我听见有一位圣者说话, 又有一位圣者问那说话的圣者说, 这经常献的祭, 带来荒凉的罪过, 圣所与军队被践踏的异象, 要持续到几时呢? (但以理书 8:9-13)

“向南, 向东, 向荣美之地, 渐渐成为强大的角” 是指源于邪恶的虚假的力量 (2832节); “天象” 是指真理; “天象之君” 是指主的神圣真理. 就正面意义而言, “军队” 或 “天象” 是指真理, 故经上说那角 “将天象抛落在地”, 然后又说 “它将真理抛在地上”.

又:

北方王必回来摆列大军, 比先前的更多, 满了所定的年数, 他必率领大军, 带极多的装备来. 他必奋力鼓勇, 率领大军攻击南方王, 南方王也必以极大极强的军兵去作战, 却站立不住, 因为吃王膳的, 必败坏他, 他的军队必被冲没, 仆倒被杀的甚多. (但以理书 11:13, 25-26)

这一整章论述的主题是北方王和南方王之间的战争; “北方王” 表示虚假, 他的 “军队” 也是; “南方王” 和他的 “军队” 表示真理. 这是关于教会荒废的预言.

启示录:

我看见天开了, 见有一匹白马, 骑在马上的称为诚信真实. 他穿着溅了血的衣服. 在天上的众军骑着白马, 穿着细麻衣, 又白又洁, 跟随他. 我看见那兽和地上的君王, 并他们的众军都聚集, 要与骑马的并他的军队争战. (启示录 19:11, 13-14, 19)

“骑白马的” 表主的圣言, 或圣言方面的主 (2760-2762节); “跟随他的天上众军” 表来自圣言的真理, 因而表天上那些拥有真理的人; “兽” 表属于自我之爱的邪恶; “地上的君王并他们的众军” 表虚假. 此处描述的是虚假与真理的争战.

诗篇:

诸天藉耶和华的话而造; 其万象藉祂口中的气而成. (诗篇 33:6)

“其万象” 或天象表真理. 由于 “军队” 表真理, 故王国之子和天使凭他们所拥有的真理而被称为天军或天兵或天象, 如路加福音:

忽然, 有一大队天兵同那天使赞美神. (路加福音 2:13)

诗篇:

你们作祂的诸军, 作祂的仆役, 行他所喜悦的, 都要称颂耶和华! (诗篇 103:21)

又:

祂的众使者都要赞美祂, 祂的诸军都要赞美祂. (诗篇 148:2)

以赛亚书:

你们向上举目, 看谁创造这万象, 按数目领出它们. 他一一称其名, 因他大有权柄, 满有能力, 连一个都不缺. (以赛亚书 40:26)

又:

我造地, 又造人在地上; 我亲手铺张诸天, 天上万象也是我所命定的. (以赛亚书 45:12)

此处 “天上万象” 表真理, 因而表天使, 因为他们拥有真理, 如前所述.

列王纪:

我看见耶和华坐在宝座上, 天上的万军侍立在祂左右. (列王纪上 22:19)

约珥书:

耶和华在祂军旅前发声, 他的营兵甚大; 遵行祂命令的是强盛者. (约珥书 2:11)

撒迦利亚书:

我必在我家的四围安营, 使敌军不得任意往来, 暴虐的人也不再经过. 锡安的女子哪, 应当大大喜乐! 耶路撒冷的女子哪, 应当欢呼! 看哪, 你的王来到你这里! (撒迦利亚书 9:8-9)

这论述的是主的到来; 祂的 “军队” 表神圣真理. 由于这个原因, 还因为唯独主为人与不断奋力攻击他的地狱争战, 所以在圣言中, 主经常被称为 “万军之耶和华”, “万军之神”, “万军之主”, 也就是耶和华, 神, 或万主之主, 如以赛亚书:

列族之国聚集哄嚷的声音; 万军之耶和华点齐军队, 预备打仗. (以赛亚书 13:4)

“列族之国” 表源邪恶的虚假; “点齐军队, 预备打仗” 表代表人争战.

由于以色列的十二支派代表主的天国, 并且 “支派”, 以及 “十二” 表作为一个整体的信的一切事物, 也就是该国度的一切真理 (577, 2089, 2129, 2130, 3272节), 故他们还被称为 “耶和华的军队” (如出埃及记 7:4; 12:17, 41, 51); 并且还要按着 “他们的军队” 把他们从埃及领出来 (出埃及记 6:26); 要 “照他们的军队” 各归本营 (民数记 1:52); 要分散到他们的 “军队” 中 (民数记 2章).

“军队” 是指真理, 这也明显可见于以西结书:

波斯人, 路德人, 弗人在你军队中作你的战士. 他们在你中间悬挂盾牌和头盔, 彰显你的尊荣. 亚发人和你的军队都在你四围的墙上, 你的望楼也有歌玛底人. (以西结书 27:10-11)

这论及推罗, 推罗表示对良善与真理的内在认知, 因而那些拥有它们的人 (1201节); “军队” 表真理本身; “路德人, 弗人” 也是指那些拥有认知的人 (参看1163, 1164, 1166, 1195, 1231节); “盾牌和头盔” 是指诸如属于属灵争战或战争之类的事物

就反面意义而言, “军队” 表虚假. 这一点明显可见于以赛亚书:

到那日, 耶和华在高处必惩罚高处的众军, 在地上必惩罚地上的列王. (以赛亚书 24:21)

此处 “高处的众军” 表由自我之爱所产生的虚假. 以西结书:

我要把你掉转过来, 用钩子钩住你的腮颊, 将你和你的军队, 马匹, 马兵带出来, 都披挂整齐, 成了大队, 有大牌小盾, 都拿刀剑. 你从你的地方, 从北方极处率领同你一起的许多民族前来, 他们都骑着马, 是一大队强盛的军兵. (以西结书 38:4, 15)

这论及哥革, 他表示脱离内在的外在敬拜, 因而变成偶像崇拜 (1151节); 他的 “军队” 表虚假.

耶利米书:

我要派弓箭手, 他要拉弓, 贯甲挺身, 射向巴比伦; 不要怜惜她的少年人, 要灭尽她的全军. (耶利米书 51:2-3)

“巴比伦” 表外在显得神圣, 而内在却是亵渎的敬拜 (1182, 1283, 1295, 1304, 1306-1308, 1321, 1322, 1326节); “她的全军” 表具有这类内在亵渎的虚假, 在其它经文中, 巴比伦的军队也有这样的含义 (如耶利米书 32:2; 34:1, 21; 39:1). 以西结书:

法老看见他们, 便为他的众人, 法老和他的全军被剑刺死受安慰. 因为我将对我的畏惧放在活人之地. (以西结书 32:31-32)

这论及埃及, 埃及表示那些通过基于记忆知识的推理而歪曲真理的人 (1164, 1165节); 他的 “全军” 或法老的军队表由此而来的虚假; 在其它经文中, “法老的军队” 也是这个意思 (如耶利米书 37:5, 7, 11; 46:2; 以西结书 17:17). 路加福音:

你们看见耶路撒冷被军队围困, 那时就可以知道她的荒凉近了. (路加福音 21:20)

这论及世代的末了, 或教会的末期, 这时信不复存在. “耶路撒冷” 表教会 (参看2117节), 当被虚假围困时, 它就被 “军队围困”.

从上述经文明显可知, 犹太人和以色列人的偶像崇拜者所崇拜的 “天象 (或天军或天兵)” 在内义上表示虚假, 论到他们, 列王纪上说:

他们离弃耶和华他们神的一切诫命, 为自己铸了两个牛犊的像, 立了亚舍拉, 敬拜天上的万象. (列王纪下 17:16)

这论及以色列人; 在另一处, 经上论到玛拿西说:

他为天上的万象筑坛. (列王纪下 21:5)

又:

约西亚王将那为巴力和亚舍拉并天上万象所造的器皿, 都从殿里搬出来. (列王纪下 23:4)

耶利米书:

他们必将首领的骸骨, 祭司的骸骨, 先知的骸骨取出来, 抛散在日头, 月亮, 和天上的万象之下, 就是他们从前所喜爱, 所事奉, 所随从的. (耶利米书 8:1-2)

又:

耶路撒冷的房屋和犹大君王的宫殿, 就是一切房屋, 他们在那些房顶上向天上万象烧香或向别神浇奠祭的, 都要像陀斐特一样成为不洁. (耶利米书 19:13)

西番雅书:

我必伸手攻击那些在房顶上敬拜天上万象的. (西番雅书 1:4-5)

被称为 “天上万象” 的, 主要是众星, “众星” 是指真理, 在反面意义上则指虚假 (1128, 1808节).

9. When one knows that all names in the Word signify things, and that the names of the twelve sons of Jacob, or of the twelve tribes, signify all truths and goods of the church in the complex; and in like manner, the names of the twelve disciples of the Lord; and that "Peter," "James," and "John" signify faith, charity, and the good of charity; he can see many arcana in the Word; as for example, why:

The Lord gave the name Peter to Simon, and to James and John the name Boanerges, which means sons of thunder (Mark 3:16-17).

For "Peter," like petra [rock], signifies the Lord as to truth from good, or faith from charity; and "sons of thunder" signify those who from affection, which is of love, receive the truths of heaven. (That "rock" signifies the Lord in respect to truth from good, or faith from charity, see Arcana Coelestia 8581, 10580; in like manner the "stone of Israel," n. 6426; that "thunders" signify Divine truths from heaven 7573, 8914; and "lightning" the splendors thereof, n. 8813; whence thunders were also called "voices," 7573, 8914)

[2] I will here mention some arcana that may be seen by those who are aware that "Peter" signifies faith, and "John" the good of charity. First, why the Lord said to Peter:

I also say unto thee, Thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build My church; and I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of the heavens (Matthew 16:18-19).

It appears from the letter, as if that power was given to Peter, when in fact no power was given to Peter; but it was so said to him because "Peter" signified truth from good, which is from the Lord; and truth from good, which is from the Lord, has all power, thus the Lord has all power from good through truth. (That this is so may be seen illustrated in the small work on The Last Judgment 57.) A second arcanum that may be seen, when it is known that "Peter" signifies faith, is, why the Lord said to him, that:

Before the cock crowed, he would deny Him thrice; which also came to pass (Matthew 26:34).

By these words is signified, that in the last time of the church there would be no faith in the Lord, because no charity; for "cock-crowing," as well as "twilight," signifies the last time of the church (n. Arcana Coelestia 10134); and "three" or "thrice," signifies what is complete to the end (n. Arcana Coelestia 2788, 4495, 5159, 9198, 10127. That the end of the church is when there is no faith, because no charity, see in the small work on The Last Judgment 33-39, seq.).

[3] A third arcanum that may be seen is what is signified by the following words concerning Peter and John:

Jesus saith to Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Feed My lambs. He saith to him again a second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Tend My sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? Peter was grieved because He said unto him the third time, Lovest thou Me? And he saith unto Him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love Thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed My sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, when thou wast younger, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest; but when thou shall be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and bear thee whither thou wouldest not. And when He had thus spoken, He saith unto him, Follow Me. Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved, following, and he saith, Lord, What shall this one [do]? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou Me (John 21:15-22).

What these things signify no one can know unless he knows the internal sense, and knows that "Peter" signifies faith, and "John" the good of charity, thus that "Peter" signifies those in the church who are in faith, and "John" those who are in the good of charity.

That Jesus said to Peter three times, "Lovest thou Me?" and that Peter said three times, "Thou knowest that I love Thee," and that Jesus then said, "Feed My lambs," and "Feed My sheep," signifies that those who are in faith from love, ought to instruct those who are in the good of love to the Lord, and in the good of charity towards the neighbor; for those who are in faith from love are also in truths, and those who from this are in truths, instruct concerning good, and lead to good; for all spiritual good that a man has, is gained and implanted by truths.

(That "lambs" signify those who are in the good of innocence and of love to the Lord, may be seen inArcana Coelestia 3994, 10132; that "sheep" signify those who are in the good of charity towards the neighbor, n. 4169, 4809; and that "to feed" is to instruct, n. 5201, 6078)

[4] Faith, as it was to be in the first period of the church and as it was to be in the last, is then described by the Lord. The first period of the church is meant by "when thou wast younger," and its last by "when thou shalt be old." That when Peter "was younger he girded himself and walked whither he would," signifies that in the first period of the church men would imbibe truths from the good of charity and would act from freedom; for to act from freedom is to act from the affection of truth from good. "When thou shalt be old thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee and lead thee whither thou wouldest not," signifies that in the last period of the church they would no longer imbibe truths from the good of charity, thus would not know them in any other way than as declared by another; and thus would be in a servile state; for a servile state ensues when good does not lead. (That "garments" signify truths, see Arcana Coelestia 1073, 2576, 5319, 5954, 9212, 9216, 9952, 10536; and that therefore to "gird oneself" denotes to imbibe and perceive truths, n. 9952. That to "walk" is to act and live; to act from freedom is to act from love or affection, since what a man loves that he does freely, n. 2870, 3158, 8987, 8990, 9585, 9591. That every church begins from charity, but that in process of time it turns aside to faith, and at length to faith alone, n. 1834, 1835, 2231, 4683, 8094.)

[5] Since, in the last period of the church, faith becomes such that it rejects the good of charity, saying that faith alone constitutes the church and is saving, and not the good of life which is charity, Jesus said to Peter, by whom such faith is here meant, "Follow Me; and Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved, following; and he saith, Lord, what shall this one [do]?" By this is signified that faith, in the last period of the church, would turn itself away from the Lord; for it is said of Peter, by whom such faith is signified, that "turning about, he saw;" also that he said of the disciple whom Jesus loved, or of John, by whom is signified the good of charity, "what shall this one [do]?" that is, that he is not anything. But Jesus said to him, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou Me." By this is signified that the good of charity will follow the Lord, and will acknowledge Him, even to the last period of the old church, and the first of the new. (That the last period of the old church is called "the consummation of the age," and the beginning of the new church "the coming of the Lord," see Arcana Coelestia 4535, 10622) A fourth arcanum that may be seen is, why the Lord loved John above the rest of the disciples, and consequently why John lay on the breast or in the bosom of the Lord (John 13:23; 21:20); namely, because the good of love was what the Lord saw when He beheld John, who represented and signified that good; since it is that good that constitutes heaven and the church (See the work on Heaven and Hell 13-19). A fifth arcanum is manifest when it is known that John represented the good of love, namely, what is signified by the words of the Lord from the cross to the mother Mary and to John:

When Jesus therefore seeth His mother, and the disciple standing by whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, Woman, behold thy son. Then He saith to the disciple, Behold thy mother. And from that hour the disciple took her unto his own home (John 19:26, 27).

By "mother" and by "woman" is here meant the church, and by "John" the good of charity; and by the things here said, that the church will be where the good of charity is. (That by "woman," in the Word, is meant the church, may be seen in Arcana Coelestia 252-253, 749, 770, 3160, 6014, 7337, 8994; that the like is signified by "mother," n. 289, 2691, 2717, 3703, 4257, 5581, 8897, 10490. That to "take her unto his own home" is that these should dwell together, is evident.)

From this it can now be seen how great arcana lie concealed in the Word, which are laid open to those only who know its internal or spiritual sense. Apart from that sense it cannot be known, moreover, what is signified when it is said:

That the apostles shall sit upon twelve thrones, and shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30).

By "apostles" here are meant not apostles, but all truths from good, which are from the Lord; thus by these words is signified that the Lord alone will judge all from truths that are from good, thus that everyone will be judged according to those truths.