The Bible

 

Genesis 8:6

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6 And it came to pass at the end of forty days that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #879

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879. Verses 10-11 And he waited yet another seven days, and then proceeded to send out the dove from the ark. And the dove came back to him at evening time; and behold, in its mouth an olive leaf plucked off. And Noah knew that the waters had abated from over the earth.

'He waited yet another seven days' means the beginning of the second state of regeneration, 'seven days' meaning that which is holy, because now charity is the subject. 'And he proceeded to send out the dove from the ark' means a state of receiving the goods and truths of faith. 'And the dove returned to him at evening time' means that these started to show themselves a little, 'evening time' being similar in meaning to pre-morning twilight. 'And behold, in its mouth an olive leaf plucked off means a small measure of the truth of faith, 'leaf' meaning truth,' olive good that stems from charity, 'plucked off' the fact that the truth of faith derives from that charity, and 'in its mouth' the fact that it was made visible. 'And Noah knew that the waters had abated from over the earth' means that all this was so because the obstructive falsities were now fewer than previously.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.