3623. 'What would life hold for me?' means, and so there would not be any conjunction. This is clear from the meaning of 'life' as conjunction by means of truths and goods. For when it was not possible for any truth from a common stem or genuine source to be joined to natural truth, there could not be any alliance of the natural to the truth of the rational, in which case it seemed to the rational as though its own life were no life, 3493, 3620. This is why here 'what would life hold for me?' means, and so there would not be any conjunction. Here and in other places the word 'life' in the original language is plural, and the reason for this is that in man there are two powers of life. The first is called the understanding and is the receptacle of truth, the second is called the will and is the receptacle of good. These two forms or powers of life make one when the understanding is rooted in the will, or what amounts to the same, when truth is grounded in good. This explains why in Hebrew the noun 'life' is sometimes singular, sometimes plural. The plural form of that noun is used in all the following places, Jehovah God formed the man, dust from the ground; and He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. Genesis 2:7. Jehovah God caused to spring up out of the ground every tree desirable to the sight and good for food, and the tree of life in the middle of the garden. Genesis 2:9. Behold, I am bringing a flood of waters over the earth, to destroy all flesh in which there is the spirit of life. Genesis 6:17.

They went in to Noah into the ark, two by two from all flesh in which there is the spirit of life. Genesis 7:15 (in 780).

Everything which had the breath of the spirit of life in its nostrils breathed its last. Genesis 7:12.

In David,

I believe [I am going] to see the goodness of Jehovah in the land of the living. Psalms 27:13.

In the same author,

Who is the man who desires life, who loves [many] days, that he may see good? Psalms 34:12

In the same author,

With You, O Jehovah, is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light. Psalms 36:9.

In Malachi,

My covenant with Levi was [a covenant] of life and peace. Malachi 2:5.

In Jeremiah,

Thus said Jehovah, Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. Jeremiah 21:8.

In Moses,

To love Jehovah your God, to obey His voice, and to cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days, so that you may dwell in the land. Deuteronomy 30:20.

In the same author,

It is not an empty word from you; for it is your life, and through this word you will prolong your days in the land. Deuteronomy 32:47.

And in other places too the plural form of the noun 'life' is used in the original language because, as has been stated, there are two kinds of life which yet make one. It is similar with the word 'heavens' in the Hebrew language, in that the heavens are many and yet make one, or like the expression 'waters' above and below, in Genesis 1:7-9 , by which spiritual things in the rational and in the natural are meant which ought to be one through being joined together. As for the plural form of 'life', when this is used both the life of the will and that of the understanding are meant, and therefore both the life of good and that of truth are meant. For man's life consists in nothing else than good and truth which hold life from the Lord within them. Devoid of good and truth, and of the life which these hold within them, no one is human. For devoid of these no one would ever have been able to will or to think anything. Everything that a person wills originates in good or in that which is not good, and everything he thinks originates in truth or in that which is not truth. Consequently man possesses two kinds of life and these make one when his thinking flows from his willing, that is, when truth which is the truth of faith flows from good which is the good of love.

92. CHAPTER 2.

1. UNTO the angel of the Ephesian church write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden lampstands;

2. I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy endurance, and that thou canst not bear them that are evil; and hast explored them that say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars;

3. And hast borne, and hast endurance, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

4. But, I have against thee, that thou hast left thy first charity.

5. Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy lampstand out of its place except thou repent.

6. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

7. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches: To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

8. And unto the angel of the church of the Smyrnaeans write: These things saith the First and the Last, who was dead and is alive.

9. I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty (but thou art rich), and I know the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days; be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

11. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches: he that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

12. And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write: These things saith he that hath the sharp two-edged sword.

13. I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's throne is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in the days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

14. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

15. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

16. Repent, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

17. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches: To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna; and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth.

18. And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet like burnished brass:

19. I know thy works, and charity, and ministry, and faith, and thy endurance, and thy works; and the last to be more than the former.

20. But I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess, to teach, and to seduce my servants to commit whoredom and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

21. And I gave her time to repent of her whoredom; and she repented not.

22. Behold, I cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great affliction, except they repent of their deeds.

23. And I will kill her sons with death. And all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts and I will give unto every one of you according to his works.

24. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I put upon you none other burden.

25. Nevertheless, that which ye have, hold fast till I come.

26. And he that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations;

27. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as earthen vessels shall they be broken in pieces, even as I received of my Father.

28. And I will give him the morning star.

29. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

IN the preceding pages it has been explained what is meant by the seven churches, and by the angels thereof, which is as follows:- the seven churches mean all those who are in truths from good; and the seven angels, all those who correspond to them in heaven (as may be seen, n. 20 and 90). And because heaven and the church make one, by correspondence, therefore it is said in what follows, "Write to the angel of the church," and not, "Write to the church." The reason why it is thus said, is also that there must be correspondence, in order that the church may be the church with man; for if there were not correspondence, there would be no communication with heaven, thus heaven would not be with man; and if heaven were not with him, the church would not be with him (as may be seen in the work, The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 241-248. What the correspondence of the man of the church with heaven is, cannot be stated in a few words; but he who desires to know it, may be instructed on the subject from the things said and shown in the work, Heaven and Hell 87-115, 291-310). In a word, there is correspondence when man is made spiritual, and man becomes spiritual when he acknowledges that which is Divine, and specifically the Lord, and loves to live according to the precepts contained in the Word; for when he does this, he is conjoined with heaven and then the Spiritual corresponds with his Natural. I know, however, that these things will seem to many to be beyond their apprehension; but the reason is, that it is not the delight of their love to know them; for if it were, they would not only see them clearly, but would also desire to know more of such things; for what a man loves he desires, and what he loves is his delight; whatever also is loved, enters with joy, and at the same time with light, into the idea of the mind.