894. 'At the beginning, on the first of the month' means a starting point. This is now clear from what has been said above. Everything that this statement embodies is an arcanum so deep that it cannot be described, except for just the point that no definite period of time ever exists when anyone is regenerate enough to be able to say, 'Now I am perfect'. In fact an unlimited number of states of evil and falsity exist with everyone, not only simple states but also varied and complex ones which, as has been stated, have to be disposed of in such a way that they do not recur. In some states a person can be called fairly perfect, but in countless others he cannot. People who have been regenerated during their lifetime, and in whose lives faith in the Lord and charity towards the neighbour have been present, are in the next life being perfected all the time.

3176. 'A week or ten days; after that you will go' means a state of departure, which was seen by them as a complete state. This is clear from the meaning of 'day' as state, dealt with in 23, 487, 488, 493, 893, 2788, from the meaning of 'ten' as that which is complete, dealt with in 1988, 3107, here that seen by the natural man, as that which is complete, and from the meaning of 'going' as departing. From this it is evident that 'a week or ten days; after that you will go' means a state of departure which was seen by them as a complete state. This is why the words 'he said to them, Do not delay me' come immediately after, by which the will of the affection for good is meant.