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:

7178. EXODUS CHAPTER 6.

TEACHINGS ABOUT CHARITY

No one can know what good is, good understood in a spiritual sense, unless he knows what love towards the neighbour and love to God are; and no one can know what evil is unless he knows what self-love and love of the world are. Neither can anyone within himself acknowledge and therefore know what truth composing faith is unless he knows what good is and is governed by it; nor can anyone know what falsity is unless he knows what evil is. No one therefore can engage in self-examination unless from the two kinds of love that go with good he knows what good is, and from good what truth is, and unless from the two kinds of love that go with evil he knows what evil is, and from evil what falsity is.