Arcana Coelestia #16
16. Verse 1. In the beginning God created heaven and earth. The most ancient times of all are called 'the beginning', and are throughout the Prophets referred to as 'days of antiquity' and also 'days of eternity'. 'The beginning' also embodies within it that first Period when a person is being regenerated, for at that time he is being born anew and receiving life. Regeneration itself is therefore called a new creation of man. Almost everywhere in the prophetical sections 'to create', 'to form', and 'to make' mean to regenerate, though each of these verbs has a different shade of meaning, as in Isaiah,
Every one who is called by My name - I have created him for My glory, I have formed him, I have also made him. Isaiah 43:7
This is why the Lord is called Redeemer, One who forms from the womb, Maker, and also Creator, as in the same prophet,
I am Jehovah, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King. Isaiah 43:15.
In David,
A people to be created will praise Jah. Psalms 102:18.
In the same author,
You send forth Your Spirit; they are created; and You renewest the face 1 of the ground. Psalms 104:30.
'Heaven' means the internal man, and 'earth' the external man prior to regeneration. This will be seen further on.
Footnotes:
1. literally, the faces
Arcana Coelestia #8375
8375. Those who live in the hot parts of their planet go naked, except for a garment round their hips. And they are not embarrassed by nakedness, since they are pure in mind, loving only their married partner and detesting adultery. They were utterly amazed that when spirits belonging to our planet saw them walking in their particular manner, and also naked, they should mock them and also have lewd thoughts, paying no attention whatever to their heavenly life, only to those kinds of details. They said it was a sign that these spirits were more interested in bodily and earthly things than heavenly ones, and that improper thoughts filled their minds. They were told that nakedness was neither shameful nor offensive to those who led pure lives in a state of innocence only to those whose lives were lewd and wanton.
