496. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with the fire of the altar. This signifies the conjunction of celestial and spiritual love, as is evident from the signification of a censer, which denotes spiritual good (see above, n. 491); therefore also, spiritual love, since all good is of love; and from the signification of fire of the altar, as denoting celestial love, for fire signifies in the Word love in both senses, that is, celestial love and infernal love. The fire of the altar signifies celestial love, because the altar of burnt-offering, upon which was the fire, was the chief representative of the worship of the Lord from that love, as may be seen above (n. 490). And because this love of the Lord is perpetual, it was therefore appointed that fire should be kept burning continually upon the altar, and that they should take of that fire in the censers, and burn incense, which was done to represent the conjunction of celestial love with spiritual love.

[2] That the fire burned continually upon the altar, is plain in Moses:

"The fire upon the altar shall be kept burning thereon; it shall not go out; and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt-offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace-offerings. The fire shall be kept burning upon the altar continually, it shall not go out" (Leviticus 6:12, 13).

This represented that the Lord's Divine Love is perpetual and eternal.

[3] That they were to take of the fire of the altar in censers and burn incense is also seen in Moses:

"And" Aaron "shall take burning coals of fire from off the altar before Jehovah in a censer, and he shall put the incense upon the fire before Jehovah" (Leviticus 16:12, 13).

And Aaron took fire from off the altar, and "put incense thereon and made an expiation for the people" (Num. 16:46, 47).

This represented, that all propitiation and expiation were from the Divine Love of the Lord; likewise that every thing is heard and received by the Lord in which that love is. The ascending of the smoke of the incense represented also hearing and reception.

[4] And because Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and their company, took fire from the altar and burned incense, and consequently sanctified their censers, therefore, after they had been swallowed up by the earth, it was commanded that their censers, which were of brass, should be taken up, and that after the fire had been scattered abroad, they should be beaten out into plates to cover the altar (Num. 16:36-39). This also represented the sanctity of the Lord's Divine Love. And because the incenses derived their sanctity from the fire of the altar, therefore offerings of incense from strange fire were profane; wherefore Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, were consumed by fire from heaven, because they offered incense from strange fire (Leviticus 10:1, 2). Incense from strange fire represented worship from love other than the Divine, and worship from any other love is profane.

[5] These passages are adduced to shew, that the fire of the altar signifies the Divine Love of the Lord, and this love in heaven is called celestial Divine Love and spiritual Divine Love; celestial Divine Love in the celestial kingdom of the Lord, and spiritual Divine Love in the spiritual kingdom of the Lord. All the heavens are distinguished into two kingdoms, the celestial kingdom and the spiritual kingdom; celestial Divine Love makes the celestial kingdom, and spiritual Divine Love the spiritual kingdom. That all the heavens are distinguished into those two kingdoms, may be seen in the work concerning Heaven and Hell 20-28); and that those two loves make those two kingdoms, or all the heavens (n. 13-19). It must, however, be understood, that the Divine Love of the Lord in the heavens is called celestial and spiritual from its reception by the angels, and not from any division in itself; also, that spiritual love exists from celestial love, as an effect from its efficient cause, and as truth exists from good; for the good of spiritual love in its essence is the truth of the good of celestial love. Hence it is that those two kingdoms are conjoined, and form one in the sight of the Lord. These observations are made for those who love to search into things of an interior nature. That fire signifies love in both senses, will be seen confirmed from the Word in what follows.

3195. 'And was dwelling in the land of the south' means consequently in Divine light. This is clear from the meaning of 'dwelling' as living, dealt with in 1293, and from the fact that it has reference to good, 2268, 2451, 2712; and from the meaning of 'the land of the south' as Divine light. For 'the south' means light, indeed the light of intelligence, which is wisdom, 1458, but 'the land of the south' the place and state where that light exists. Thus the whole verse here 'Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, and was dwelling in the land of the south' means that Divine Rational Good, because it had been born from Divine Truth, was in Divine light.

[2] Light is mentioned many times in the Word, and in the internal sense it means truth springing from good. In the highest internal sense however 'light' means the Lord Himself since He is Good and Truth themselves. He Himself is also in actual fact the light in heaven, but this is infinitely brighter than the light on earth, see 1053, 1117, 1521-1533, 1619-1632. In that light spirits and angels behold one another, and by means of it all the glory that exists in heaven is clearly visible. In brightness that light seems to be much the same as the light in the world, but this is not the case, for it is not a natural light but a spiritual one. It holds wisdom within itself, so much so that it is nothing else than wisdom that shines in this manner before the eyes of those in heaven. Consequently the wiser the angels are, the brighter the light surrounding them, 2776. This light also enlightens the understanding of man, especially of one who is regenerate, but man does not discern it during his lifetime because the light of the world reigns at that time. Evil spirits too in the next life behold one another, and also behold many representatives which manifest themselves in the world of spirits. They do so indeed by the light of heaven. Yet it is an inferior light like that coming from a coal fire, for when the light of heaven reaches them it is turned into this inferior light.

[3] As for the source itself of light, this from eternity has existed from the Lord alone, for Divine Good itself and Divine Truth itself, the source of light, is the Lord. The Divine Human which existed from eternity, John 17:5, was that actual light. Because such light was unable any longer to influence the human race which had retreated so far from good and truth, and so from the light, and had cast itself into darkness, the Lord was therefore willing to be born and assume the Human itself. Indeed in so doing He was able to bring light not only to man's rational concepts but also to his natural ideas. For the Lord made Divine within Himself both the Rational and the Natural so that people who were in such gross darkness could have light.

[4] As regards the Lord's being 'the light', that is, Good and Truth themselves, and so the source of all intelligence and wisdom, and consequently of salvation, this becomes clear from many places in the Word, as in John,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. John came to bear witness to the light. He was not that light but [came] to bear witness to the light. He was the true light which enlightens every man coming into the world. John 1:1, 4, 7-9.

'The Word' was Divine Truth, and so the Lord Himself as regards the Divine Human, of which it is said that 'the Word was with God, and the Word was God'.

[5] In the same gospel,

This is the judgement, that light has come into the world, but men preferred darkness rather than light. John 3:19.

'Light' stands for Divine Truth. In the same gospel,

Jesus said, I am the light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk darkness but will have the light of life. John 8:12.

In the same gospel,

The light is with you for a brief while longer. Walk, as long as you have the light, lest the darkness overtakes you. As long as you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be sons of the light. John 12:35-36.

In the same gospel,

He who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as light into the world in order that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness.

John 12:45-46.

In Luke,

My eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light for revelation to the gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel. Luke 2:30-32.

This is Simeon's prophecy regarding the Lord which was made after

His birth.

[6] In Matthew,

The people sitting in darkness have seen a great light; and for those sitting in the region and shadow of death, the light has arisen. Matthew 4:16; Isaiah 9:2.

From all these places it is quite evident that as regards Divine Good and Truth within the Divine Human the Lord is called 'the light'. The same is also seen in prophetical parts of the Old Testament, as in Isaiah,

The light of Israel will be a fire, and his Holy One a flame. Isaiah 10:17.

In the same prophet,

I Jehovah have called You in righteousness, and I will give You for a covenant of the people, and a light of the nations. Isaiah 42:6.

In the same prophet,

I have given You as a light of the nations, that You may be My salvation right to the ends of the earth. Isaiah 49:6.

In the same prophet,

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of Jehovah has risen upon you. Nations will walk to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:1, 3.

[7] All the light of heaven, consequently wisdom and intelligence, come from the Lord. This is taught in John,

The Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband, has no need of the sun or of the moon to shed light in it; the glory of God will give it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

Revelation 21:2-3.

And further regarding the same city,

There will be no night there, nor do they need a lamp or light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. Revelation 22:5.

[8] Also in Isaiah,

The sun will no longer be to you a light by day, and for brightness the moon will not give light to you, but Jehovah will be to you an everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will no longer go down and your moon will not be withdrawn, for Jehovah will be to you an everlasting light. Isaiah 60:19-20.

'The sun will no longer be a light by day, and for brightness the moon will not give its light' stands for the fact that it is not the things that belong to natural light but those that belong to spiritual light which are meant by 'Jehovah will be an everlasting light'. The name Jehovah used here and elsewhere in the Old Testament means the Lord, see 1343, 1736, 2156, 2329, 2921, 3023, 3035.

[9] His being the light of heaven was also disclosed to the three disciples Peter, James, and John - that is to say, at the Transfiguration when His face shone like the sun, and His garments became white as the light, Matthew 17:2. 'Face like the sun' meant Divine Good, 'garments as the light' Divine Truth. From this one may know what is meant by the words that occur in the blessing,

Jehovah make His face shine upon you and be merciful to you. Numbers 6:25.

'Jehovah's face' is mercy, peace, and good, see 222, 223; and as 'the sun' means Divine Love, the Lord's Divine Love is accordingly seen in the angelic heaven as the sun, 30-38, 1053, 1521, 1529-1531, 2441, 2495.