9372. And He said unto Moses. That this signifies that which concerns the Word in general, is evident from the representation of Moses, as being the Word (of which below); and from the signification of “He said,” as involving those things which follow in this chapter, thus those which concern the Word (see n. 9370). (That Moses represents the Word, can be seen from what has been often shown before about Moses, as from the preface to Genesis 18; and n. 4859, 5922, 6723, 6752, 6771, 6827, 7010, 7014, 7089, 7382, 8601, 8760, 8787, 8805.) Here Moses represents the Word in general, because it is said of him in what follows, that he alone should come near unto Jehovah (verse 2); and also that, being called unto out of the midst of the cloud, he entered into it, and went up the mount (verses 16-18).

[2] In the Word there are many who represent the Lord in respect to truth Divine, or in respect to the Word; but chief among them are Moses, Elijah, Elisha, and John the Baptist. That Moses does so, can be seen in the explications just cited above; that so do Elijah and Elisha, can be seen in the preface to Genesis 18; and n. 2762, 5247; and that John the Baptist does so is evident from the fact that he was “Elias who was to come.” He who does not know that John the Baptist represented the Lord as to the Word, cannot know what all those things infold and signify which are said about him in the New Testament; and therefore in order that this secret may stand open, and that at the same time it may appear that Elias, and also Moses, who were seen when the Lord was transfigured, signified the Word, some things may here be quoted which are spoken about John the Baptist; as in Matthew:

After the messengers of John had departed, Jesus began to speak concerning John, saying, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? a reed shaken by the wind? But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft things are in kings’ houses. But what went ye out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, even more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, Behold I send Mine angel before Thy face, who shall prepare Thy way before Thee. Verily I say unto you, Among those who are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist; nevertheless he that is less in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he. All the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye are willing to believe, he is Elias who was to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear (Matthew 11:7-15; and also Luke 7:24-28).

No one can know how these things are to be understood, unless he knows that this John represented the Lord as to the Word, and unless he also knows from the internal sense what is signified by “the wilderness” in which he was, also what by “a reed shaken by the wind,” and likewise by “soft raiment in kings’ houses;” and further what is signified by his being “more than a prophet,” and by “none among those who are born of women being greater than he, and nevertheless he that is less in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he,” and lastly by his being “Elias.” For without a deeper sense, all these words are uttered merely from some comparison, and not from anything of weight.

[3] But it is very different when by John is understood the Lord as to the Word, or the Word representatively. Then by “the wilderness of Judea in which John was” is signified the state in which the Word was at the time when the Lord came into the world, namely, that it was “in the wilderness,” that is, it was in obscurity so great that the Lord was not at all acknowledged, neither was anything known about His heavenly kingdom; when yet all the prophets prophesied about Him, and about His kingdom, that it was to endure forever. (That “a wilderness” denotes such obscurity, see n. 2708, 4736, 7313.) For this reason the Word is compared to “a reed shaken by the wind” when it is explained at pleasure; for in the internal sense “a reed” denotes truth in the ultimate, such as is the Word in the letter.

[4] That the Word in the ultimate, or in the letter, is crude and obscure in the sight of men; but that in the internal sense it is soft and shining, is signified by their “not seeing a man clothed in soft raiment, for behold those who wear soft things are in kings’ houses.” That such things are signified by these words, is plain from the signification of “raiment,” or “garments,” as being truths (n. 2132, 2576, 4545, 4763, 5248, 6914, 6918, 9093); and for this reason the angels appear clothed in garments soft and shining according to the truths from good with them (n. 5248, 5319, 5954, 9212, 9216). The same is evident from the signification of “kings’ houses,” as being the abodes of the angels, and in the universal sense, the heavens; for “houses” are so called from good (n. 2233, 2234, 3128, 3652, 3720, 4622, 4982, 7836, 7891, 7996, 7997); and “kings,” from truth (n. 1672, 2015, 2069, 3009, 4575, 4581, 4966, 5044, 6148). Therefore by virtue of their reception of truth from the Lord, the angels are called “sons of the kingdom,” “sons of the king,” and also “kings.”

[5] That the Word is more than any doctrine in the world, and more than any truth in the world, is signified by “what went ye out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet;” and by, “there hath not arisen among those who are born of women a greater than John the Baptist;” for in the internal sense “a prophet” denotes doctrine (n. 2534, 7269); and “those who are born,” or are the sons, “of women” denote truths (n. 489, 491, 533, 1147, 2623, 2803, 2813, 3704, 4257).

[6] That in the internal sense, or such as it is in heaven, the Word is in a degree above the Word in the external sense, or such as it is in the world, and such as John the Baptist taught, is signified by, “he that is less in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he;” for as perceived in heaven the Word is of wisdom so great that it transcends all human apprehension. That the prophecies about the Lord and His coming, and that the representatives of the Lord and of His kingdom, ceased when the Lord came into the world, is signified by, “all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.” That the Word was represented by John, as by Elijah, is signified by his being “Elias who is to come.”

[7] The same is signified by these words in Matthew:

The disciples asked Jesus, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come? He answered and said, Elias must needs first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, that Elias hath come already, and they knew him not, but did unto him whatsoever they wished. Even so shall the Son of man also suffer of them. And they understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist (Matthew 17:10-13).

That “Elias hath come, and they knew him not, but did unto him whatsoever they wished” signifies that the Word has indeed taught them that the Lord is to come, but that still they did not wish to comprehend, interpreting it in favor of the rule of self, and thus extinguishing what is Divine in it. That they would do the same with the truth Divine itself, is signified by “even so shall the Son of man also suffer of them.” (That “the Son of man” denotes the Lord as to truth Divine, see n. 2803, 2813, 3704)

[8] From all this it is now evident what is meant by the prophecy about John in Malachi:

Behold I send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Jehovah cometh (Malachi 4:5).

Moreover, the Word in the ultimate, or such as it is in the external form in which it appears before man in the world, is described by the “clothing” and “food” of John the Baptist, in Matthew:

John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, had His clothing of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:1, 4).

In like manner it is described by Elijah in the second book of Kings:

He was a hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins (2 Kings 1:8).

By “clothing,” or a “garment,” when said of the Word, is signified truth Divine there in the ultimate form; by “camel’s hair” are signified memory-truths such as appear there before a man in the world; by the “leathern girdle” is signified the external bond connecting and keeping in order all the interior things; by “food” is signified spiritual nourishment from the knowledges of truth and of good out of the Word; by “locusts” are signified ultimate or most general truths; and by “wild honey” their pleasantness.

[9] That such things are signified by “clothing” and “food” has its origin in the representatives of the other life, where all appear clothed according to truths from good, and where food also is represented according to the desires of acquiring knowledge and growing wise. From this it is that “clothing,” or a “garment,” denotes truth (as may be seen from the citations above; and that “food” or “meat” denotes spiritual nourishment, n. 3114, 4459, 4792, 5147, 5293, 5340, 5342, 5576, 5579, 5915, 8562, 9003; that “a girdle” denotes a bond which gathers up and holds together interior things, n. 9341; that “leather” denotes what is external, n. 3540; and thus “a leathern girdle” denotes an external bond; that “hairs” denote ultimate or most general truths, n. 3301, 5569-5573; that “a camel” denotes memory-knowledge in general, n. 3048, 3071, 3143, 3145, 4156; that “a locust” denotes nourishing truth in the extremes, n. 7643; and that “honey” denotes the pleasantness thereof, n. 5620, 6857, 8056). It is called “wild honey,” or “honey of the field,” because by “a field” is signified the church (n. 2971, 3317, 3766, 7502, 7571, 9139, 9295). He who does not know that such things are signified, cannot possibly know why Elijah and John were so clothed. And yet that these things signified something peculiar to these prophets, can be thought by everyone who thinks well about the Word.

[10] Because John the Baptist represented the Lord as to the Word, therefore also when he spoke of the Lord, who was the Word itself, he said of himself that he was “not Elias, nor the prophet,” and that he was “not worthy to loose the latchet of the Lord’s shoe,” as in John:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory. The Jews from Jerusalem, priests and Levites, asked John who he was. And he confessed, and denied not, I am not the Christ. Therefore they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? But he said, I am not. Art thou the prophet? He answered, No. They said therefore unto him, Who art thou? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet. They said therefore, Why then baptizest thou, if thou art not the Christ, nor Elias, nor the prophet? He answered, I baptize with water; in the midst of you standeth one whom ye know not; He it is who is to come after me, who was before me, the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to unloose. When he saw Jesus, he said, Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, After me cometh a man who was before me; for he was before me (John 1:1, 14, 19-30).

From these words it is plain that when John spoke about the Lord Himself, who was Truth Divine itself, or the Word, he said that he himself was not anything, because the shadow disappears when the light itself appears, that is, the representative disappears when the original itself makes its appearance. (That the representatives had in view holy things, and the Lord Himself, and not at all the person that represented, see n. 665, 1097, 1361, 3147, 3881, 4208, 4281, 4288, 4292, 4307, 4444, 4500, 6304, 7048, 7439, 8588, 8788, 8806.) One who does not know that representatives vanish like shadows at the presence of light, cannot know why John denied that he was Elias and the prophet.

[11] From all this it can now be seen what is signified by Moses and Elias, who were seen in glory, and who spoke with the Lord when transfigured, of His departure which He should accomplish at Jerusalem (Luke 9:29-31); namely, that they signified the Word (“Moses” the historic Word, and “Elias” the prophetic Word), which in the internal sense throughout treats of the Lord, of His coming into the world, and of His departure out of the world; and therefore it is said that “Moses and Elias were seen in glory,” for “glory” denotes the internal sense of the Word, and the “cloud” its external sense (see the preface to Genesis 18, and n. 5922, 8427).

5248. And changed his garments. That this signifies as to what is of the interior natural, by putting on what is suitable, is evident from the signification of “changing,” as being to remove and reject; and from the signification of “garments,” as being what is of the interior natural (of which presently); hence it follows that what was suitable (signified by the new “garments”) was put on. “Garments” are often mentioned in the Word, and thereby are meant things beneath or without, and that cover things above or within; and therefore by “garments” are signified man’s external, consequently his natural, because this covers his internal and spiritual. Specifically by “garments” are signified truths that are of faith, because these cover the goods that are of charity. This signification has its origin from the garments in which spirits and angels appear clothed. Spirits appear in garments devoid of brightness, but angels in garments that are bright and are as it were made of brightness, for the very brightness around them appears as a garment, as appeared the raiment of the Lord when He was transfigured, which was “as the light” (Matthew 17:2), and was “white and flashing” (Luke 9:29). From their garments also the quality of spirits and angels can be known in respect to the truths of faith, because these are represented by garments, but truths of faith such as they are in the natural; for such as they are in the rational appears from the face and its beauty. The brightness of their garments comes from the good of love and of charity, which by shining through causes the brightness. From all this it is evident what is represented in the spiritual world by the garments, and consequently what is meant by “garments” in the spiritual sense. But the garments that Joseph changed, that is, put off, were the garments of the pit or prison, and by these are signified things fallacious and false, which in a state of temptations are excited by evil genii and spirits; and therefore by his “changing his garments” is signified rejection and change in respect to what is of the interior natural, and the garments he put on denoted such things as would be suitable, and therefore the putting on of things suitable is signified. See what has before been said and shown concerning garments: that what is celestial is not clothed, but what is spiritual and natural (n. 297); that “garments” denote truths relatively lower (n. 1073, 2576); that changing the garments was a representative of holy truths being put on, whence also came the changes of garments (n. 4545); that rending the garments was representative of mourning over truth lost and destroyed (see n. 4763 and what is signified by him that came in, not having on a wedding garment (n. 2132).

821. And he causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast. That this signifies whence those in the church who are in falsities and in evils therefrom, acknowledge in heart the agreement, is evident from the signification of the earth and of them which dwell therein, as denoting those in the church who are in falsities and in evils therefrom. For by the earth is signified the church which is in truths or in falsities, here, that which is in falsities. And by them which dwell therein, are signified the goods or evils of the church, here, the evils. Thus as applied to persons there, by the earth and by them who dwell therein, are signified those in the church who are in falsities, and in evils therefrom. That the earth signifies the church as to truths and as to falsities, may be seen above (n. 304, 413, 417, 697, 741, 752); and that those dwelling therein signify those in the church who are good, and also those who are evil; and, in the abstract sense, goods or evils (see above, n. 479); and from the signification of worshipping, as denoting to acknowledge for certain, to acknowledge in heart, and to believe (see above, n. 790, 805); and from the signification of the first beast, as denoting reasonings from the natural man confirming the separation of faith from life, as may be seen above (n. 774), in this case the agreement of such reasonings with the sense of the letter of the Word, because by this beast are signified confirmations therefrom, as may also be seen above (n. 815). From these things it is evident, that by the beast which ascended out of the earth, causing the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, is signified, that those in the church who are in falsities and in evils therefrom, acknowledge in heart that agreement.

[2] In the preceding article it was shown that Peter signified truth and faith in both senses, namely, truth from good, and truth without good; also faith from charity, and faith without charity.

Something shall now be said concerning the Apostle John, as signifying the works of charity. That the twelve apostles, like the twelve tribes of Israel, represented the church in its whole extent, or all things of truth and good, or all things of faith and charity, was said above. Also, that Peter, James, and John, signified faith, charity, and the works of charity, in their order. It follows, therefore, that when they were together they represented these as one. It is said, as one, because the faith that is a faith without charity has no existence; and the charity that is a charity without works has no existence.

Because those three apostles signified those things therefore they followed the Lord more than the rest, as is evident from Mark, where it is said,

Jesus "suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, James, and John the brother of James" (5:37).

Therefore the Lord first called Peter through Andrew, by whom is signified the obedience of faith; and afterwards called James and John, and gave to these two also a new name. He also took Peter, James, and John up to the mountain, when He was transfigured, and also spoke with these three concerning the Consummation of the Age, and concerning His Advent. They were with the Lord in Gethsemane.

[3] That the Lord called James and John after He had called Peter, appears in the Evangelists:

Jesus "going on from thence, saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother [in a ship], with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him" (Matthew 4:21, 22; Mark 1:19, 20).

That the Lord gave a new name to James and John is evident in Mark:

Jesus "called James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, and named them Boanerges, which is, the sons of thunder" (3:17).

[4] By sons of thunder are signified truths from celestial good. The reason of this signification is, that in the spiritual world also there are heard thunders, which exist from the truths that are from celestial good, when they descend from the higher heavens into the lower. The very light of truth from good then appears as lightning, the good itself as thunder, and the truths themselves therefrom as variations of sound. This is why throughout the Word lightnings, thunders, and voices, are mentioned, by which these things are signified. The reason why good is there heard as thunder is, that good, which pertains to man's affection or love and also to his will, does not speak but only sounds; but truth, which pertains to man's understanding and thence to his thought, articulates that sound into expressions. Celestial good is the same as the good of love in will and in act. Previously to this it is not celestial good; and this is what produces truths by the thought and speech therefrom. From these things it is evident why it was that James and John were called sons of thunder. What lightnings, thunders, and voices, signify in the Word, may also be seen above (n. 273, 702, 704).

[5] That the Lord took Peter, James, and John up to the mountain when He was transfigured, is clear in Mark (9:2), and in Luke (9:28). They alone were taken, because none but those who are in truths from celestial good can see the Lord in His glory; nor can any others be enlightened, and perceive the Word in enlightenment. For the Lord, when He was transfigured before them, represented Divine truth, which is the Word; therefore also Moses and Elias were seen speaking with Him; and by Moses and Elias are signified the Word. But concerning this circumstance see above, n. 594. That the Lord spoke with Peter, James, and John, concerning the Consummation of the Age, and concerning His Advent, is evident in Mark 13:3, and that these three were with the Lord in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:37; Mark 14:33).

[6] Because John represented the church as to good works, and as good works contain everything of love to the Lord, and charity towards the neighbour, therefore he was loved by the Lord more than the rest, as is evident from this fact,

That he leaned upon the bosom of the Lord, and lay upon his breast, when he spake with him (John 13:23, 25).

By the bosom and the breast is signified in the Word spiritual love, which is love in act; and by the bosom and the breast of the Lord, Divine Love itself; therefore in heaven those who are in spiritual love are in the province of the breast.

[7] Hence also John took the Lord's mother to his own house, and abode with her; concerning which it is thus written in John:

Jesus "from the cross saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing by; he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then he saith to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home" (19:26, 27).

This signifies, that the church is where charity exists in act or where good works exist. For by the Lord's mother and by a woman is signified the church, and by John charity in act, which is good works. That by mother is signified the church may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia 289, 2691, 2717, 3703, 4257, 5581, 8897). That the same is signified by woman (see above, n. 555, 707, 721, 730).

[8] That the Lord's church is among those who are in charity in act, or in good works, and not among those who are in faith separate from them, is also signified by those things mentioned concerning Peter and John, as follows,

"Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom the Lord loved following; which also leaned upon his breast at supper. Peter seeing him, saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me" (John 21:20-22).

That by Peter is there signified truth without good, or faith separated from good works, such as shall be the case at the end of the church, may be seen above (n. 820); where also the foregoing words are explained. And because by John are signified the goods of charity, which are called good works, and these pertain to those who constitute the Lord's church, therefore, it was not Peter but John who followed the Lord; and, therefore, to Peter, who had asked, "What shall this man do?" the Lord said, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me"; by which is meant that the good of charity will still remain with those who are the Lord's even to the end of the church, and when there is a new church; but not with those who are in faith separate from that good; and this is signified by these words to Peter, "What is that to thee?"