894. 'At the beginning, on the first of the month' means a starting point. This is now clear from what has been said above. Everything that this statement embodies is an arcanum so deep that it cannot be described, except for just the point that no definite period of time ever exists when anyone is regenerate enough to be able to say, 'Now I am perfect'. In fact an unlimited number of states of evil and falsity exist with everyone, not only simple states but also varied and complex ones which, as has been stated, have to be disposed of in such a way that they do not recur. In some states a person can be called fairly perfect, but in countless others he cannot. People who have been regenerated during their lifetime, and in whose lives faith in the Lord and charity towards the neighbour have been present, are in the next life being perfected all the time.

7110. 'And Pharaoh gave orders that day' means a strong desire to molest the Church's truths while in that state. This is clear from the meaning of 'giving orders' as a command, and since a command issued by the evil contains a strong desire to do what is evil - for that is the source of any command they issue - 'he gave orders' also means a strong desire; from the representation of 'Pharaoh' as those who molest the Church's truths, dealt with in 6651, 6679, 6683; and from the meaning of 'day' as state, dealt with in 23, 487, 488, 497, 893, 2788, 3462, 3785, 4850.