630. And the court which is without the temple cast out, and measure it not.- That this signifies that the external of the Word, and therefore of the church and of worship, is not to be explored, is evident from the signification of the court, which denotes the external of the Word, and therefore of the church and worship. The court has this signification because the temple signifies heaven and the church as to Divine Truth, as shown above, and consequently the court, which was without the temple, or before the front of the temple, signifies the first or ultimate heaven. For the temple, considered in itself, signifies the higher heavens. The adytum (or oracle), where the ark of the covenant was, signified the inmost or third heaven, and the temple without the adytum, the middle or second heaven, and therefore the court signified the ultimate or first heaven. And that which signifies heaven, signifies also the church, for the church is the Lord's heaven on earth, and that which signifies the church, signifies also the Word, and also worship, for the Word is the Divine Truth, from which heaven and the church exist, and worship is according to Divine Truth, which is the Word. For this reason the court signifies the external or ultimate of heaven and of the church, and also the external or ultimate of the Word and of worship.

[2] The Word and worship resemble heaven and the church; for in the Word there are three distinct senses, just as there are three heavens. The inmost sense, which is called the celestial sense, is for the inmost or third heaven; the middle sense, which is called the spiritual sense, is for the middle or second heaven; and the ultimate sense, which is called the celestial and spiritual-natural sense, is for the ultimate or first heaven. These three senses, in addition to the natural, which is for the world, are in the Word and in every detail of it. And because the three heavens possess the Word, and each heaven is in its own sense of the Word, and their heaven and also their worship exist in consequence, it therefore follows that that which signifies heaven signifies also the Word and worship. Now it is from this fact that the court signifies the external of the Word, and therefore the external of the church and of worship.

[3] Moreover, it must be noted that there were two courts to the temple, one without the temple, and the other within; the court without the temple signifies the very entrance into heaven and the church, where those are who are being introduced into heaven, and the court within the temple represents the ultimate heaven. It is similar with the church as it is both with the Word and with worship; for the court without the temple signifies the external of the Word, that is, the Word such as it is in the natural sense, which is for the world, by means of which man is introduced into its spiritual sense, in which are the angels of heaven. But the signification of each court, the inner and the outer, will be shown in what follows; the reason also why it is said here that the court without the temple should be cast out and not measured, will be shown in the following article, where the signification of its being given to the nations will be explained.

[4] From what has been said the signification of court and courts in the Word can now be seen in some degree in the following passages.

In Moses:

"Thou shalt make the court of the habitation at the corner of the south towards the south, hangings for the court," twenty pillars, twenty bases, the hooks of the pillars and the fillets of silver; the gate of the court with the veil; the length thereof shall be one hundred cubits from the south to the north, and the breadth thereof fifty from the east to the west (Exodus 27:9-18).

This court was the court of the tent of meeting, which similarly represented and signified the ultimate or first heaven. For the tent of meeting represented heaven; its inmost, where the ark was, over which was the propitiatory, represented the inmost or third heaven. The law in the ark represented the Lord Himself as to Divine Truth or the Word; and the tent without the veil, where the table for the loaves, the altar of incense, and the lampstand were, represented the middle or second heaven; while the court represented the ultimate or first heaven. That the three heavens were represented by that tent may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia 3478, 9457, 9481, 9485); but what is specifically signified by the court, and by all things pertaining to it, may be seen (n. 9741-9775).

[5] Because the court represented the ultimate heaven, and consequently also the external of the church, of the Word, and of worship, therefore the residue of the meat-offerings and of the sacrifices for sin were eaten by Aaron and his sons in the court (Leviticus 6:16, 26). By eating those sanctified things in the court was signified to appropriate to themselves the goods of the church, signified by the meat-offerings and sacrifices; and all appropriation of holy things is effected by means of ultimates, for there can be no appropriation of interior and holy things except by means of ultimates.

[6] Moreover, concerning the courts of the temple it is thus written in the First Book of Kings:

Solomon made "a court before the front of the temple of the house," and "afterwards he built the inner court, three rows of hewn stones, and a row of hewn cedar" (6:3, 36).

The temple similarly represented heaven and the church. The adytum (or oracle) where the ark was, represented the inmost or third heaven, also the church with those who are in inmost things, which is called the celestial church. The temple without the adytum (or oracle) represented the middle or second heaven, also the church with those who are in the middle, which is called the internal-spiritual church. The inner court represented the ultimate or first heaven, also the church with those who are in ultimates, which is called the internal-natural church; but the outer court represented the entrance into heaven.

[7] And because the temple, in the highest sense, signifies the Lord as to His Divine Human, and also as to Divine Truth, therefore it also signifies the Divine Truth proceeding from the Lord, consequently the Word, for this is the Divine Truth in the church. That the Divine Human of the Lord is signified by the temple, is evident from the Lord's words, where He saith,

"Destroy this temple, but in three days I will raise it up; and He spake of the temple of His body" (John 2:18-23).

That the temple signifies the church, is evident from these words of the Lord, that

"there should not be left of the temple one stone upon another which should not be thrown down" (Matthew 24:1, 2; Luke 21:5-7).

These words mean that all Divine Truth, consequently every thing of the church, would perish; for the end of the church, called the consummation of the age, is there treated of.

[8] That there were two courts built, an inner and an outer, with little chambers, porticoes or colonnades, and many other things, is evident from the description of them in Ezekiel:

The angel "brought me to the outer court, where behold were chambers, and a pavement made for the court round about, thirty chambers upon the pavement," which he measured as to the length and the breadth, and he also measured the bed chambers, and the porticoes, and the gate, every thing as to length and breadth (40:17-22, 31, 34, and following verses; chap. 42:1-14).

And concerning the inner court in the same prophet; he measured the inner court, the gates thereof towards the north, the east, and the south; the porticoes, the steps with the ascents, the bed-chambers, the chambers of the singers, the upper lintels (40:23-31, 44, and the following verses).

And in Jeremiah:

"In the chamber of Gemariah the scribe, in the upper court, at the door of the gate of the new house" (36:10).

In the prophet Ezekiel, from chap. 40 to chap. 48, a new city, a new temple, and a new earth are treated of, which signify the new church which was to be established by the Lord. The chambers, bed-chambers, porticoes, and the rest, signify such things as pertain to the church, its doctrine and worship; and their dimensions signify the quality of these, as shown in the article above. But it does not belong to this place to explain the signification of the details, except to say that the courts signify the external things of heaven and of the church, and thence the externals of the Word and of worship. And this is evident from this fact alone, that the temple in general signifies heaven and the church, therefore the three divisions of the temple, or the courts, the temple itself, and the adytum (or oracle), signify the three heavens, according to their degrees. The nature and quality of the three heavens, according to their degrees, may be seen in Heaven and Hell 29-40).

[9] That heaven and the church are signified by the temple and the court, may appear more fully from these words in Ezekiel:

"The spirit lifted me up, and brought me into the inner court" of the temple, "when behold the glory of Jehovah filled the house; and I heard one speaking unto me out of the house," saying, "Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the sons of Israel for ever" (43:4-7).

That these courts signify the ultimate heaven, or the external of the church, is evident from its being said, that he was brought into the court, and thence saw the house filled with the glory of Jehovah, the glory of Jehovah denoting the Divine Truth, which makes heaven and the church; also because that house was the place of the throne of Jehovah, and the place of the soles of His feet, where He will dwell in the midst of the sons of Israel for ever. That the throne of Jehovah means heaven, may be seen above (n. 253, 297, 343, 460, 462, 477, 482); and that the place of the soles of the feet of Jehovah means the church, may also be seen above (n. 606). The sons of Israel mean all who are of the church of the Lord; therefore to dwell with them for ever, signifies the continual presence of the Lord with them.

[10] In the same:

"The glory of Jehovah lifted up itself from above the cherub over the threshold of the house, and the house was filled with a cloud, and the cloud filled the inner court, and the court was full of the shining of the glory of Jehovah; and the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard even to the outer court" (10:4, 3, 5).

The cherubim seen by the prophet represented the Lord as to Providence and protection that He may not be approached except by means of the good of love; consequently the cherubim signify the higher heavens, specifically the inmost heaven, for that protection (tutela) is there, as may be seen above (n. 277, 313, 322, 362, 370, 462). By the house which was filled with the cloud is therefore signified heaven and the church. The inner court, which the cloud also filled, signifies the ultimate heaven, and the outer court, as far as the part where the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard, signifies the entrance into heaven, which specifically is in the natural world, and afterwards in the world of spirits; for man enters into heaven through the church in the world, and afterwards through the world of spirits. What the world of spirits is, may be seen in Heaven and Hell 421-431), and following paragraphs. But the cloud, and the shining of the glory of Jehovah, signify the Divine Truth proceeding from the Lord.

[11] From these things the signification of courts in the following passages is evident; as in David:

"Blessed is he whom thou choosest, and causest to approach; he shall inhabit thy courts; we shall be satisfied with the good of thy house, with the holy [place] of thy temple" (Psalm 65:4).

These words signify that those who are in charity, or in spiritual affection, shall live in heaven, and be in intelligence and wisdom there from Divine Truth and Divine Good. The elect, or he whom thou choosest, signifies those who are in love towards the neighbour or in charity. By causing to approach is signified spiritual affection or love, for so far as man is in that love or in that affection, so far is he with the Lord, since every one approaches Him according to that love. By inhabiting the courts is signified to live in heaven, to inhabit denoting to live, and the courts denoting heaven. To be satisfied with the good of the house signifies to be in wisdom from Divine Good; and to be satisfied with the holy [place] of the temple is signified to be in intelligence from Divine Truth, and from both to partake of heavenly joy. The house of God signifies heaven and the church as to Divine Good, and the temple, heaven and the church as to Divine Truth, while holy has reference to spiritual good, which is truth.

[12] Again:

"A day in thy courts is better than thousands, I have chosen to stand at the gate in the house of my God" (Psalm 84:10).

The courts here signify the first or ultimate heaven, by means of which there is entrance into the higher heavens, therefore it is added, I have chosen to stand at the door in the house of my God.

Again:

"Give unto Jehovah the glory of His name, bring an offering, and come into His courts" (Psalm 96:8).

Again:

"Praise ye the name of Jehovah, praise, O ye servants of Jehovah, who stand in the house of Jehovah, in the courts of the house of our God" (Psalm 135:1, 2).

Again:

"How amiable are thy habitations, O Jehovah Zebaoth, my soul hath desired, yea, it hath been consumed for the courts of Jehovah" (Psalm 84:1, 2).

Again:

"Enter ye his gates in confession, his courts in praise, confess ye to him, bless his name" (Psalm 100:4).

Again:

"I will pay my vows to Jehovah before all his people, in the courts of the house of Jehovah, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem" (Psalm 116:14, 18, 19).

Again:

"The just shall flourish as the palm, he shall grow as the cedar in Lebanon, they that are planted in the house of Jehovah shall spring up in the courts of our God" (Psalm 92:12, 13).

That the courts mentioned in these passages mean heaven, specifically the ultimate heaven, and the church, is evident without explanation.

[13] Similarly in the following passages; as in Isaiah:

"They shall gather" the corn and the new wine, "they shall eat and shall praise Jehovah, and they who shall gather it together shall drink in the courts of my holiness" (62:9).

By collecting the corn and the new wine (mustum) is signified instruction in the goods and truths of doctrine and of the church. By they shall eat and shall praise Jehovah is signified appropriation and the worship of the Lord. By they who gather it together shall drink in the courts of my holiness is signified the fruition of Divine Truth, and thence of felicity in the heavens.

[14] Again in Joel:

"Between the court and the altar let the priests weep, the ministers of Jehovah, and let them say, Spare thy people, Jehovah" (2:17).

Weeping between the court and the altar signifies lamentation over the vastation of Divine Truth and Divine Good in the church; for the court, like the temple, signifies the church as to Divine Truth, and the altar, the church as to Divine Good, therefore between the court and the altar signifies the marriage of truth and good, which makes heaven and the church; and by weeping is signified lamentation over the vastation thereof. Courts signify the ultimates of heaven, and also the externals of the church, of the Word, and of worship, elsewhere in the Word; as in Isaiah (1:12); Zech. (3:7).

625. Over peoples, and nations, and tongues, and many kings.- That this signifies with all those who are in truths and goods as to life, and at the same time in goods and truths as to doctrine according to every one's religion, consequently that the Word may be taught as to goods of life and as to truths of doctrine, is evident from the signification of peoples and nations, as denoting those who are of the spiritual church, and those who are of the celestial church. Those who are of the spiritual church are called in the Word peoples, but those who are of the celestial church are called nations. Those who are of the spiritual church, and are called peoples, are in truths as to doctrine and life; and those who are of the celestial church, and are called nations, are in the good of love to the Lord, and thence in good as to life (concerning this signification of people and nations in the Word, see above, n. 175, 331); and from the signification of tongues, and many kings, as denoting those who are in goods and truths as to life and doctrine, but according to each one's religion. For tongues signify the goods of truth, and confession thereof according to each one's religion (see above, n. 330, 455); and kings signify truths which are from good, and many kings, various truths which are from good, but according to each one's religion (concerning this signification of kings, see above, n. 31, 553).

[2] Various truths from good are signified by "many kings," because the peoples and nations out of the church were for the most part in falsities as to doctrine, but still, because they lived a life of love to God and of charity towards the neighbour, the falsities of their religion were accepted by the Lord as truths, because the good of love was interiorly in their falsities, and the good of love qualifies all truth, and in such case qualifies the falsity that is believed by such to be truth; the good also, which lies concealed within, causes such, when they come into the other life, to perceive genuine truths, and receive them. Moreover there are truths that are only appearances of truth, such as are those contained in the sense of the letter of the Word; these appearances of truth are also accepted by the Lord as genuine truths when the good of love to the Lord, and the good of charity towards the neighbour are in them; in the other life also the good that lies hidden within dissipates appearances, and lays bare spiritual truths, that are genuine truths. From these things the meaning of "many kings" is evident. But concerning falsities with the Gentiles in which there is good, see the Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 21).

[3] From what has been said and shown in this and the preceding article, it is plain, that the command to John that he must prophesy again over peoples, and nations, and tongues, and many kings, signifies that the Word must as yet be taught to those who are in goods and truths as to doctrine, and thence as to life. But because it is said, "over peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings," also these words signify, that the Word must be taught as to goods of life and as to truths of doctrine, for the Word in its whole extent contains these two.

[4] This is the sense of those words apart from persons, which is the truly spiritual sense. The sense of the letter in most places is concerned with persons, and it also names them, but the truly spiritual sense is entirely apart from persons. For the angels, who are in the spiritual sense of the Word, in everything which they think and speak, have no idea of person or place, because the idea of person and place limits and confines the thoughts, and consequently renders them natural. But it is different when the idea is abstracted from persons and places; and this is the reason why they have intelligence and wisdom, and why angelic intelligence and wisdom are inexpressible. For while man lives in the world, he is in natural thought; and natural thought derives its ideas from persons, places, and times, and from material things, and, if these were taken away from man, his thought which comes to perception would perish, for he comprehends nothing without such things. But angelic thought is without ideas derived from persons, places, times, and material things; for this reason angelic thought and speech therefrom are inexpressible, and are also incomprehensible to man.

[5] The man, however, who has in the world lived a life of love to the Lord and of charity towards his neighbour, comes into that inexpressible intelligence and wisdom after his departure out of the world; for his interior mind, which is the very mind of his spirit, is then opened, and the man, when he becomes an angel, then thinks and speaks from it, and therefore thinks and speaks such things as he could neither utter nor comprehend in the world. Every man possesses such a spiritual mind, which is like the angelic mind; but because, in the world, he speaks, sees, hears, and feels, by means of the material body, it lies hid within the natural mind, or lives above it, and he is then altogether ignorant of what he is thinking in the spiritual mind; for the thought of that mind then flows into the natural mind, and is there limited, bounded, and so presented as to be seen and perceived. A man does not know so long as he lives in the body in the world that he interiorly possesses such a mind, and therein angelic wisdom and intelligence, because, as stated, all things that concern that mind flow into the natural mind, and thus become natural according to correspondences. These things are said in order that the quality of the Word in the spiritual sense may be known, when that sense is regarded altogether apart from persons and places, that is apart from those things that take their quality from the material things pertaining to the body and the world.