813. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. This signifies that these are the things by means of which temptation takes place, and afterwards the implantation of truth from good among those who are made spiritual by the Lord, is evident from the signification of the patience of the saints, of which we shall speak presently; and from the signification of faith, as denoting the implantation of truth; and from the signification of saints, as denoting those who are in truths from good from the Lord (concerning which see above, n. 204). Thus those who are made spiritual by the Lord are meant; for man is made spiritual by means of truths from good.

The reason why faith signifies the implantation of truth is, that faith in man is truth acknowledged in the heart; for unless it is acknowledged in the heart it cannot be his own faith. This is why, in the Old Testament, faith is nowhere mentioned, but truth instead of it. Indeed, the ancients, among whom the church existed, had not the least notion that faith was anything else but truth. They said, indeed, that they believed in God; but they understood by this the knowledge and understanding of truths, and at the same time, the willing and doing of them, and this from the Lord. It is, therefore, evident that faith signifies the implantation of truth.

[2] The reason why the patience of the saints signifies the temptation of the faithful, or of those who are made spiritual by the Lord is, that patience signifies spiritual patience, which is patience in sustaining temptations. And those are in that patience who, in themselves, fight against the falsities that are contained in and adhere to the dogma of faith alone, confirmed by reasonings from the natural man, also from a sinister application, and thereby a falsification, of the Word. The temptations which they sustain while they fight against falsities, are meant by patience. The signification of patience in Luke is similar:

[3] "Ye shall be delivered up by parents, and brethren, and kindred, and friends; they shall also put some of you to death; yea, ye shall be hated of all, on account of my name; in your patience possess ye your souls" (21:16, 17, 19).

These words are spoken of the last time of the church, when judgment takes place. The temptations which the faithful shall then undergo on account of truths, are described by being delivered up by fathers, brethren, kindred, and friends, and by being put to death; also by being hated on account of the Lord's name. By parents, brethren, kindred, and friends, are meant those who belong to the same church, but are in evils and falsities. That these will undergo temptations are meant by being delivered up to death and being hated. Hence now the preservation of the life of truth amongst falsities, is signified by possessing their souls in patience, the soul signifying the life of truth.

[4] To the same purpose are these words:

"Those who are sowed in good land, are they who hear the Word in a simple and good heart, and retain it, and bring forth fruit in patience" (8:15).

To bring forth fruit in patience signifies to do truths and goods, although they live amongst falsities and evils, that is, amongst those who are in falsities and evils. The Lord's patience in temptations, of which He suffered the most grievous, is described in these words in Isaiah:

"He sustained exaction, and he was afflicted, yet as a lamb he opened not his mouth" (53:7).

To sustain exaction signifies temptations. To be afflicted signifies their grievousness. To open not His mouth signifies patience.

203. (Verse 7) And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write. That this signifies those of the church who are in the faith of charity is evident from the things written to the angel of this church, understood in the internal sense. For, as said above (n. 20), by the seven churches are not meant seven churches, but all who belong to the church, or all things pertaining to man which constitute the church; for by seven in the Word are meant all persons, and all things, because by each number mentioned in the Word is signified something either of thing or state, as is very evident in this prophetic book, in which numbers are so frequently mentioned. The same is evident from Ezekiel (chap. 40-48), where the new temple and the new earth are described, which is done by measures given in numbers. By the new temple and the new earth is there meant the New Church, and by each number or each measure is signified something belonging to the church. (That all numbers in the Word signify things and states, may be seen in the work, Heaven and Hell 263.)

285. And they had no rest day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy. That these words signify what is most holy proceeding from the Lord is evident from the signification of having no rest day and night, when said of the Divine providence and guardianship of the Lord signified by the four cherubim which appeared as four animals, as being universally and perpetually, because the Divine providence and guardianship of the Lord do not rest and cease to eternity; and from the signification of holy, holy, holy, as being what is most holy proceeding from the Lord; for by holy, thrice named, is signified most holy, for the reason that three in the Word signifies what is full, complete and continuous (as may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 2788, 4495, 7715). The same is signified by these things in Isaiah:

"I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his skirts filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphim; each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain, he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, Jehovah Zebaoth; the whole earth is the fullness of his glory" (6:1-3).

By the seraphim here mentioned are signified things similar to those meant by the cherubim; and by the throne high and lifted up is signified the proceeding Divine, from which is heaven: by the skirts which filled the temple is signified the Divine truth proceeding from the Lord, in the ultimates of heaven and in the church. By the wings with which the seraphim covered their faces and their feet, and with which they did fly, is signified the spiritual Divine in first principles and in ultimates, and the extension thereof on every side, thus omnipresence. By Holy, holy, holy, is signified what is most holy; that this is the Divine truth which fills all things is signified by the whole earth is full of his glory. (That glory is the Divine truth may be seen above, n. 33, and that the Lord is alone holy, and that holy is said of the Divine truth which proceeds from Him, may also be seen above, n. 204.)