12. The sixth state is when he utters truths and performs good deeds from faith and consequently from love. What he brings forth at this point are called a living creature and a beast. And because at this point he starts to act from faith and also simultaneously from love, he becomes a spiritual man, who is called an image. The spiritual life of that man finds its delight in, and is sustained by, the things which are associated with cognitions of faith and with charitable acts, which are called his food; and his natural life finds its delight in, and is sustained by, those which belong to the body and the senses. The latter give rise to conflict until love rules and he becomes a celestial man.

723. Verse 5. And she brought forth a male child, who is to tend (pascere) ¹ all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up unto God and his throne.

"And she brought forth a male child," signifies the doctrine of truth for the church which is called the New Jerusalem, "who is to tend all the nations with a rod of iron," signifies that this doctrine, by the power of natural from spiritual truth, will refute and convict those who are in falsities and evils, and yet are in the church, where the Word is; "and her child was caught up unto God and his throne," signifies protection of the doctrine by the Lord, because it is for the New Church.

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