3145. And loosed the camels. That this signifies freedom for those things which were to serve, is evident from the signification of “loosing,” as being to make free; and from the signification of “camels,” as being general memory-knowledges, and thus the things which were to serve (as just above, n. 3143). The real case herein is this: Without freedom no production of truth in the natural man is possible, nor any calling forth therefrom into the rational, and conjunction with good there. All these things take place in a free state; for it is the affection of truth from good which produces freedom. Unless truth is learned from affection, thus in freedom, it is not implanted; still less is it exalted toward the interiors and there made faith. That all reformation is effected in freedom, and that all freedom is of affection, and that the Lord keeps man in freedom, so that he may from himself and from what is his own be affected with truth and good and thereby be regenerated, may be seen above (n. 2870-2893). This is what is signified by “loosing the camels;” for if they were not significative of such things, these particulars would be too trifling to be recorded.

10528. 'And I will send an angel before you' means that which is Divine and the Lord's, from which the Church and its worship spring. This is clear from the meaning of 'an angel' in the highest sense as the Lord's Divine Human, and in the relative sense as that which is Divine and the Lord's in heaven among angels, and also in the Church among people on earth, dealt with below; and from the meaning of 'sending before you' as preparing. For the meaning of 'an angel' in the highest sense as the Lord's Divine Human, see 1925, 3039, 6280, 6831, 9303, and in the relative sense as that which is Divine and the Lord's in heaven among angels, 1925, 2821, 4085, 6831, 8192. And from this it follows that 'an angel' also means that which is Divine and the Lord's among people on earth who receive it. For those people who have within themselves from the Lord the good of love to Him and the truths of faith in Him become angels after death; and those who become angels are also inwardly such while they live in the world. This is why John the Baptist is called 'an angel' in the Word, as in Luke,

This is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send My angel ¹ before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You. Luke 7:27.

And the fact that 'angel' in this declaration means that which was Divine and the Lord's with him is evident in Malachi,

Behold, I send My angel, who will prepare the way before Me. And suddenly there will come to His temple the Lord whom you are seeking, and the angel of the covenant in whom you delight. Malachi 3:1.

The reason why that which is Divine and the Lord's is meant by 'angel' in this instance is that John the Baptist represented the Lord in respect of the Word, as did Elijah, and the Word is Divine Truth that comes from the Lord. (For Elijah, that he represented the Word, see Preface to Genesis 18, and 2762, 5247(end); and that John the Baptist did so, 9372.) And it is because the Lord's Divine Human is meant in the highest sense by 'angel' that the words 'there will come to His temple the Lord, and the angel of the covenant' are used. 'The temple' is His Divine Human, as is evident in John 2:18-23. Both expressions - 'the Lord' and 'the angel' - are used because He is called 'the Lord' on account of Divine Good and 'the angel' on account of Divine Truth. And it is because Jehovah in the Word is the Lord Himself that it says, 'I send My angel, who will prepare the way before Me', this being said by Jehovah.

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