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.

9641. 'And you shall make twenty boards for the dwelling-place' means good lending support to heaven in every respect and totally. This is clear from the meaning of 'the boards of the dwelling-place' as good lending support to heaven, dealt with in 9634; and from the meaning of 'twenty' as what is complete, thus what exists in every respect and totally. This is what 'twenty' means because multiple numbers have the same meaning as the simple ones of which they are the products, 5291, 5335, 5708, 7973, so that the number 'twenty' has the same meaning as ten and two which when multiplied together produce that number. For the meaning of 'ten' as that which is complete, and all, see 3107, 4638, and likewise 'two', 9103, 9166.