138. Where Satan dwelleth. That this signifies those who are in the doctrine of all kinds of falsity is evident from what was adduced and shown above, n. 120 and 134. In preceding passages is described those amongst whom those are who are in temptations, that is those who are in all kinds of falsities. For a man, as to his body, is associated with men in the natural world, but as to thoughts and intentions he is conjoined with spirits in the spiritual world; when he comes into spiritual temptation he is then amongst those spirits who are in falsities, who bind his thoughts and hold them, as it were, shut up in prison, and continually infuse into his mind scandals against the truths of faith, and call forth the evils of his life. But the Lord continually defends man by influx from the interior, and thus holds him in the constancy of resisting; such are spiritual temptations. That the man who is in temptations, is amongst spirits who are in falsities is meant by these words in this verse, "I know where thou dwellest, where Satan's throne is"; and also by these, "Even in the days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth;" and the constancy of resisting is meant by these words, "Thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith." But none are admitted into spiritual temptations but those who acknowledge the Divine of the Lord in His Human, and are in the spiritual affection of truth; all others are natural men, and consequently cannot be tempted. (But concerning temptations, see what is shown in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 187-201.)