821. And he causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast. That this signifies whence those in the church who are in falsities and in evils therefrom, acknowledge in heart the agreement, is evident from the signification of the earth and of them which dwell therein, as denoting those in the church who are in falsities and in evils therefrom. For by the earth is signified the church which is in truths or in falsities, here, that which is in falsities. And by them which dwell therein, are signified the goods or evils of the church, here, the evils. Thus as applied to persons there, by the earth and by them who dwell therein, are signified those in the church who are in falsities, and in evils therefrom. That the earth signifies the church as to truths and as to falsities, may be seen above (n. 304, 413, 417, 697, 741, 752); and that those dwelling therein signify those in the church who are good, and also those who are evil; and, in the abstract sense, goods or evils (see above, n. 479); and from the signification of worshipping, as denoting to acknowledge for certain, to acknowledge in heart, and to believe (see above, n. 790, 805); and from the signification of the first beast, as denoting reasonings from the natural man confirming the separation of faith from life, as may be seen above (n. 774), in this case the agreement of such reasonings with the sense of the letter of the Word, because by this beast are signified confirmations therefrom, as may also be seen above (n. 815). From these things it is evident, that by the beast which ascended out of the earth, causing the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, is signified, that those in the church who are in falsities and in evils therefrom, acknowledge in heart that agreement.

[2] In the preceding article it was shown that Peter signified truth and faith in both senses, namely, truth from good, and truth without good; also faith from charity, and faith without charity.

Something shall now be said concerning the Apostle John, as signifying the works of charity. That the twelve apostles, like the twelve tribes of Israel, represented the church in its whole extent, or all things of truth and good, or all things of faith and charity, was said above. Also, that Peter, James, and John, signified faith, charity, and the works of charity, in their order. It follows, therefore, that when they were together they represented these as one. It is said, as one, because the faith that is a faith without charity has no existence; and the charity that is a charity without works has no existence.

Because those three apostles signified those things therefore they followed the Lord more than the rest, as is evident from Mark, where it is said,

Jesus "suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, James, and John the brother of James" (5:37).

Therefore the Lord first called Peter through Andrew, by whom is signified the obedience of faith; and afterwards called James and John, and gave to these two also a new name. He also took Peter, James, and John up to the mountain, when He was transfigured, and also spoke with these three concerning the Consummation of the Age, and concerning His Advent. They were with the Lord in Gethsemane.

[3] That the Lord called James and John after He had called Peter, appears in the Evangelists:

Jesus "going on from thence, saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother [in a ship], with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him" (Matthew 4:21, 22; Mark 1:19, 20).

That the Lord gave a new name to James and John is evident in Mark:

Jesus "called James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, and named them Boanerges, which is, the sons of thunder" (3:17).

[4] By sons of thunder are signified truths from celestial good. The reason of this signification is, that in the spiritual world also there are heard thunders, which exist from the truths that are from celestial good, when they descend from the higher heavens into the lower. The very light of truth from good then appears as lightning, the good itself as thunder, and the truths themselves therefrom as variations of sound. This is why throughout the Word lightnings, thunders, and voices, are mentioned, by which these things are signified. The reason why good is there heard as thunder is, that good, which pertains to man's affection or love and also to his will, does not speak but only sounds; but truth, which pertains to man's understanding and thence to his thought, articulates that sound into expressions. Celestial good is the same as the good of love in will and in act. Previously to this it is not celestial good; and this is what produces truths by the thought and speech therefrom. From these things it is evident why it was that James and John were called sons of thunder. What lightnings, thunders, and voices, signify in the Word, may also be seen above (n. 273, 702, 704).

[5] That the Lord took Peter, James, and John up to the mountain when He was transfigured, is clear in Mark (9:2), and in Luke (9:28). They alone were taken, because none but those who are in truths from celestial good can see the Lord in His glory; nor can any others be enlightened, and perceive the Word in enlightenment. For the Lord, when He was transfigured before them, represented Divine truth, which is the Word; therefore also Moses and Elias were seen speaking with Him; and by Moses and Elias are signified the Word. But concerning this circumstance see above, n. 594. That the Lord spoke with Peter, James, and John, concerning the Consummation of the Age, and concerning His Advent, is evident in Mark 13:3, and that these three were with the Lord in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:37; Mark 14:33).

[6] Because John represented the church as to good works, and as good works contain everything of love to the Lord, and charity towards the neighbour, therefore he was loved by the Lord more than the rest, as is evident from this fact,

That he leaned upon the bosom of the Lord, and lay upon his breast, when he spake with him (John 13:23, 25).

By the bosom and the breast is signified in the Word spiritual love, which is love in act; and by the bosom and the breast of the Lord, Divine Love itself; therefore in heaven those who are in spiritual love are in the province of the breast.

[7] Hence also John took the Lord's mother to his own house, and abode with her; concerning which it is thus written in John:

Jesus "from the cross saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing by; he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then he saith to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home" (19:26, 27).

This signifies, that the church is where charity exists in act or where good works exist. For by the Lord's mother and by a woman is signified the church, and by John charity in act, which is good works. That by mother is signified the church may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia 289, 2691, 2717, 3703, 4257, 5581, 8897). That the same is signified by woman (see above, n. 555, 707, 721, 730).

[8] That the Lord's church is among those who are in charity in act, or in good works, and not among those who are in faith separate from them, is also signified by those things mentioned concerning Peter and John, as follows,

"Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom the Lord loved following; which also leaned upon his breast at supper. Peter seeing him, saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me" (John 21:20-22).

That by Peter is there signified truth without good, or faith separated from good works, such as shall be the case at the end of the church, may be seen above (n. 820); where also the foregoing words are explained. And because by John are signified the goods of charity, which are called good works, and these pertain to those who constitute the Lord's church, therefore, it was not Peter but John who followed the Lord; and, therefore, to Peter, who had asked, "What shall this man do?" the Lord said, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me"; by which is meant that the good of charity will still remain with those who are the Lord's even to the end of the church, and when there is a new church; but not with those who are in faith separate from that good; and this is signified by these words to Peter, "What is that to thee?"