Apocalypse Explained #664
664. And after three days and a half.- That this signifies when completed, thus the end of the old church, and the beginning of a new church, is evident from the signification of three days and a half, as denoting fulness or completion at the end of the old church, when there is the beginning of a new church, concerning which see above (n. 658). The reason why it is said, after three days and a half, is, that days, in the Word, signify states, here, the last state of the church. For all times, in the Word, as hours, days, weeks, months, years, and ages, signify states in the Word, as in this case, the last state of the church, when there is no longer any good of love or truth of faith remaining. Because days signify states, and since in the first chapter of Genesis the establishment of the Most Ancient Church is treated of which was accomplished successively from one state to another, therefore it is said there that there was evening and there was morning the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, and sixth days, unto the seventh, when it was completed (Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31), and the days there do not mean days, but the successive states of the regeneration of men at that time, and the consequent establishment of the church with them. So also elsewhere in the Word.
1 Timothy 3
1
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5
(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6
Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7
Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8
Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9
Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10
And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11
Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13
For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
14
These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
15
But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
