256. It was said above, that by the seven churches here written to, are not meant seven churches, but all those who belong to the church, and, in the abstract, all things of the church; that this is the case is evident from the consideration, that by seven are signified all, and all things, and that by the names are signified things. That all who belong to the church, or all things of the church, are meant by what is written to those seven churches is also evident from the explanation of those things. For all things of the church have reference to the following four general principles, doctrine, life according to it, faith according to life. These are treated of in what is written to six of the churches - doctrine, to the churches in Ephesus and Smyrna; life according to doctrine, to the churches in Thyatira and Sardis; and faith according to life, to the churches in Philadelphia and Laodicea. And because doctrine cannot be implanted in man's life and become a matter of faith unless he fights against the evils and falsities which he possesses from heredity, therefore that combat is also treated of in what is written to the church in Pergamos; for the subject there treated of is temptations; and temptations are combats against evils and falsities.

(That temptations are treated of in what is written to the church in Pergamos may be seen above, n. 130; that doctrine is the subject treated of in what is written to the churches in Ephesus and Smyrna may be seen above also, n. 93, 95, 112; that a life according to doctrine is treated of in what is written to the churches in Thyatira and Sardis, (n. 150, 182, and that faith according to life is treated of in what is written to the churches of Philadelphia and Laodicea, n. 203 and 227.) Because in what is written to this last church, namely, that in Laodicea, those who are in the doctrine of faith alone are treated of, and also, at the end, the nature of faith originating in charity, to what has already been said, it is here to be added, that love constitutes heaven; and because it does so, it also forms the church. For all the societies of heaven, which are innumerable, are arranged according to the affections of love, and also all within each society; so that it is affection, or love, according to which all things are arranged in the heavens, and not in any case faith alone. Spiritual affection, or love, is charity. It is therefore clear that no one can ever enter heaven unless he is in charity.

212. Behold, I will make them to come, and worship at thy feet. That this signifies their state after death, that they will be excluded from heaven and are not to be admitted thereto is evident from the series of the things which precede and follow. The subject treated of in this verse is those who say that they are in truths, when nevertheless they are in falsities, because not in charity; of such it is said in the Word, that they will come to the door and knock, but will not be admitted. To come to the door and knock, is to worship at the feet. It is said, at thy feet, because heaven in its whole extent relates to one man; the highest or third heaven has reference to the head, the middle or second heaven to the body, and the ultimate or first heaven to the feet; therefore, to stand before the feet and worship is to be outside heaven, and to desire to be admitted, but in vain. (That the heavens in one whole have reference to one man, may be seen in the work, Heaven and Hell 59-67; that there are three heavens, n. 29-40; and that the highest heaven forms the head, the middle the body, and the ultimate the feet, n. 65.) From these considerations it is evident why it is said of those who are out of heaven that they stand at the feet. The reason why they cannot be admitted is, that the whole heaven is formed according to the affections of good and truth, and is distinguished into societies according to the varieties of those affections. Those therefore who are not in charity, are not in any affection in which heaven is; for charity, or love towards the neighbour, is the affection of heaven; therefore those who are not in such affection can have no place in heaven, but are out of it, and such of them as have been in evils and thence in falsities are conjoined, according to their loves or affections, with those who are in the hells, and are cast down thither.

[2] That such a lot remains for those who are in faith alone, and not in charity, is predicted by the Lord in many passages in Matthew:

"Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire, for by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in the heavens. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied by thy name, and by thy name have cast out demons, and in thy name done many mighty works! And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Whosoever heareth my words and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock. And every one that heareth my words and doeth them not, shall be likened to a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand" (7:19-27).

In this passage those who are in faith from charity, and those who are in faith but not in charity are described; those who are in faith from charity, by the tree bearing good fruit, and by the house which was built upon a rock. Fruits in the Word also signify the works of charity, and a rock faith from charity. But those who are in faith separated from charity are meant by the tree not bearing good fruit, and by the house built upon the sand. Evil fruits also in the Word signify evil works, and sand, faith separated from charity. It is said of these, therefore, that they will say,

"Lord, Lord, open to us," but that they will receive for answer, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

[3] Similarly in Luke:

"Strive to enter through the strait gate; for many will seek to enter in, and will not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; but he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are; then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity" (13:24-27).

In this passage also those who are in faith and not in charity are treated of, of whom it is said that they would stand without and knock at the door, but that they would not be admitted. To eat and to drink in the presence of the Lord, and to be taught by Him in the streets, signifies to hear the Word and preachings from the Word, and to know the things of faith; but because such persons are not in charity, it is said to them, "I know you not whence ye are, depart from me;" for all are known by the Lord from love, and not from faith separated from love.

[4] Similar things are meant

By the five foolish virgins, who had not oil in their lamps, of whom it is also said, that they came, saying, "Lord, Lord, open to us;" but He answered, "Verily I say unto you, I know you not " (Matthew 25:1-12).

By virgins in the Word are signified those who belong to the church; by lamps the things of faith; and by oil is signified the good of love. Hence by the five foolish virgins, who had no oil in their lamps, are signified those who are in faith and not in love. The same is also signified

By the goats on the left hand, to whom it is said by the Lord that He hungered and thirsted, and they did not give him to eat and to drink; that He was a stranger, and they took Him not in; that He was naked, and they clothed Him not; that He was sick and in prison, and they visited Him not (Matthew 25:41, 42, 43).

By the sheep at the right hand are there signified those who are in charity; by the goats, those who are in faith and not in charity. (That such are signified by goats, may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 4769; and that those who are in charity are signified by sheep, n. 4169, 4809.)