102. That the Word among ancient peoples was written solely in terms of correspondences, but has since been lost, is something reported to me by angels in heaven. And I have been told that this Word is still preserved among them and used by the ancient peoples in that heaven who had that Word when they lived in the world.

Those ancient peoples, among whom that Word is still used in heaven, came partly from the land of Canaan and the lands surrounding it — Syria, Mesopotamia, Arabia, Chaldea, Assyria, Egypt, Sidon, Tyre, and Nineveh — and the inhabitants of all those kingdoms practiced a representational worship and so possessed a knowledge of correspondences. The wisdom of that time flowed from that knowledge, and because of it they had an inner perception and communication with the heavens.

Those who had a more interior knowledge of the correspondences of that Word were called wise and intelligent, but later diviners and magi.

[2] However, because that Word was full of correspondences which only remotely symbolized celestial and spiritual things, and many people consequently began to falsify it, therefore in the course of time, of the Lord’s Divine providence it vanished and finally was lost. And another Word, written in terms of correspondences not so remote, was given, and this through prophets among the children of Israel.

Still, this latter Word retained many names of places in the land of Canaan and in Asia round about, which had the same symbolic meanings as in the Ancient Word.

It was for this reason that Abram was commanded to go to that land, and that his posterity descended from Jacob was led into it.

676. And there were killed in the earthquake names of men seven thousand.- That this signifies that in that change of state all the truths of good and thus all things of heaven and the church, perished with them, is evident, from the signification of being killed, as denoting to be spiritually killed, which is to perish by evils and falsities (see above, n. 315, 547, 572, 589); from the signification of earthquake, as denoting a change of the state of the interiors with those who are of the church (see above, n. 674); from the signification of names of men, as denoting the truths of good, and the consequent understanding of truth, concerning which we shall speak presently; and from the signification of seven thousand as denoting all things of heaven and of the church. For seven signifies all things, and is used of the holy things of heaven and of the church (the signification of this number may be seen above, n. 257); and its signification is retained when it is multiplied by 10, or 100, or 1000, for these numbers signify all things. From these things it is evident that there were killed in the earthquake names of men seven thousand, signifies that in that change of state all the truths of good perished, and thus all things of heaven and of the church.

[2] That by names of men are signified truths of good, and the consequent understanding of truth, is evident from the signification of name, as denoting the quality of a thing and of state with man; and from the signification of man, as denoting intelligence, thus also the understanding of truth. Name signifies the quality of a thing and of state with man, because there are no names of persons in the spiritual world as in the natural world; but in the spiritual world all are named according to the quality of their life, thus, with a difference within the societies and out of them. Within the societies the quality of the state of each one's life is constant, for each one there dwells in a certain quarter, and at a distance from the midst, according to the quality of his affection and intelligence, therefore his name is according to this quality; when therefore the name of any one in a society is heard, his quality is also recognised. It is from this fact, that name, in the spiritual sense, signifies the quality of a thing and of the state of life. But outside the societies, this naming according to the quality of the state of the life of any one is not constant; for before a man-spirit enters into any society, he passes through many states, in order that he may put off those things that are not in agreement with his ruling love, and put on such as agree with it. Still every one is named according to the state in which he is, and also according to the idea and perception of the quality of his state.

That names, in the spiritual world, are expressed spiritually, may be seen above (n. 102[2]); that name, in the Word, signifies the quality of the state of the life (n. 148); and therefore the name of Jehovah, and the name of the Lord, signify all things by which He is worshipped, thus all things of love and of faith (n. 102, 135); and man, in the Word, signifies the spiritual affection for truth, and the consequent understanding of truth (n. 280, 546). From these things the signification of the names of men is evident.

[3] The reason why the truths of good, and consequently understanding derived from these perished by the remarkable change of state signified by a great earthquake, was stated in the preceding article, namely, that at the end of the church, when a last judgment is at hand, those who are spiritually good are taken away from those who are only naturally good, and when this is the case, then from the latter are also taken away all truths of good, consequently also all understanding of truth. For with the natural, in whom there is nothing spiritual, truths and goods reside in externals, and falsities and evils in internals; when therefore the good with whom they had communication as to externals are taken away, externals are also taken away, and internals are disclosed, which, as stated, are filled with mere falsities of evil. It is for this reason that these words signify that with those who remained all truths of good, and with these all understanding of truth, perished.