751. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them.- That this signifies the salvation and consequent joy of those who become spiritual by the reception of Divine Truth, is evident from the signification of rejoicing, as denoting joy on account of salvation; from the signification of the heavens, as denoting those who are spiritual (concerning which we shall speak presently); and from the signification of ye that dwell, as denoting those who live, here spiritually. That to dwell signifies to live, may be seen above (n. 133, 479, 662). The heavens signify those who are spiritual, because all who are in the heavens are spiritual, and because men who have become spiritual are also in the heavens, although they are in the world as to the body; therefore ye that dwell in the heavens means not only angels, but also men, for every man with whom the interior mind, which is called the spiritual mind, has been opened, is in the heavens, indeed, he also sometimes appears amongst the angels there. That this is so, has not been known in the world up to the present time. It must therefore be understood, that man as to his spirit is among spirits and angels, and indeed in that society of them into which he is to come after death. The reason of this is that the spiritual mind of man is formed exactly according to the image of heaven, and in such a way that it is a heaven in least form; consequently that mind, although still in the body, must nevertheless be where its form is. But this has been more fully dealt with in Heaven and Hell 51-58), where it is shown that every angel, and also every man as to his interiors, if he be spiritual, is a heaven in its least form, corresponding to heaven in its greatest form. For this reason where the Word treats of the creation of heaven and earth, the internal and external church is in general meant, and, in particular, the internal and external man, that is the spiritual and natural man. From these things it is evident that the heavens and those that dwell in them signify all who are there, and also those men who are becoming spiritual by the reception of Divine Truth in doctrine and life.

8309. 'In Your strength You have brought them to the dwelling-place of Your holiness' means that the Lord's Divine power has raised them to heaven, to the Divine there. This is clear from the meaning of 'leading in strength', when used in reference to being raised into heaven by the Lord, as being raised by Divine power, 'strength' meaning power, as is self-evident; and from the meaning of 'the dwelling-place of holiness' as heaven, where the Divine is. For holiness is an attribute of the Divine Truth that emanates from the Lord, 8302, and this Divine Truth makes heaven.

[2] The truth that Jehovah's or the Lord's 'dwelling-place' is heaven, and also good, because good has heaven within it, is clear from the following places: In Moses,

Look from the dwelling-place of Your holiness, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel. ¹ Deuteronomy 26:15

In Isaiah,

Look out from heaven, and see from the dwelling-place of [Your] holiness and of Your glory. Isaiah 63:15.

In David,

Surely I will not give sleep to my eyes, until I find a place for Jehovah, the dwelling-places for the Mighty One of Jacob Behold, we heard of Him in Ephrathah; we found Him in the fields of the wood. We will enter His dwelling-places. Psalms 132:4-7.

[3] The truth that Jehovah's, that is, the Lord's, 'dwelling-place' is within good may be seen in Zechariah,

Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Zion! Behold I am coming in order that I may dwell in Your midst. Many nations will cling to Jehovah on that day and will be My people; for I will dwell in you. Zechariah 2:10-11.

And in Ezekiel,

I will set My sanctuary in their midst forever, so will My dwelling-place be among them. Ezekiel 37:26-27.

'Sanctuary' is where Divine Truth having Divine Good within it resides.

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