9917. 'And you shall make on its hem' means in the most external parts, where the natural is. This is clear from the meaning of 'the hem of the robe' as the most external parts, where the natural is; for in particular 'the robe' means Divine Truth in the spiritual kingdom in its inward form, and in general the spiritual kingdom, 9825, while 'the hem' that is underneath round about means its most external parts, the most external of the spiritual kingdom being things on the natural level. For forms of good and truths in the heavens follow one another in this order. In the highest or inmost parts they are celestial forms of good and truths; in the middle parts they are spiritual forms of good and truths; and in the lowest parts they are natural forms of good and truths. Regarding their following one another in this order in heaven and with the individual human being, see what has been stated just above in 9915. And since factual knowledge of truth and good exists in the external or natural man pomegranates were placed on the hem; for factual knowledge of good is meant by 'pomegranates'. Also in [among] the pomegranates there were bells of gold, and this was because such things as are derived from factual knowledge are meant by 'bells'.

[2] The fact that 'the hem of the robe' means the most external parts, where the natural is, is clear from places in the Word where 'the hem' is mentioned, as in Isaiah,

I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His hem filling the temple. Isaiah 6:1.

'The throne' on which the Lord was seated means heaven, and in particular the spiritual heaven, 5313, 8625. His 'hem' there means Divine Truths on lowest or most external levels, such as the truths of the Word in the sense of the letter are. Those truths are said 'to fill the temple' when they fill the Church. Something similar is meant by 'the hem filling the temple' as is meant by smoke and cloud filling the tabernacle and also the temple, referred to several times in the Word. For the meaning of 'smoke' in those places as Divine Truth on lowest levels, such as the sense of the letter of the Word is, see 8916, 8918, and for that also of 'cloud', 4060, 4391, 5922, 6343.

[3] The healing of the woman suffering from the flow of blood when she touched the hem of the Lord's garment, Matthew 9:20, 22, and in general the healing of as many as touched the hem of His garment, Matthew 14:36; Mark 6:56, was a sign that salvation went out from God as He is present on most external or lowest levels. For on the lowest levels of good and truth which spring from the Divine there is might and power, see 9836; and also on these levels answers are given, 9905. In Matthew,

Jesus said regarding the scribes and Pharisees that they do all their works to be seen by people, that they make their phylacteries broad, and enlarge the hems of their robes. Matthew 23:5.

Here it is plainly evident that 'the hem of the robe' means outward things which are clearly visible, and that 'enlarging it' means doing works on that level of things in order that they may be apparent or be seen.

[4] In Jeremiah,

Jerusalem sinned grievously; her uncleanness was in her hem. Lamentations 1:8-9.

'Uncleanness in the hem' stands for uncleanness in deeds and words, thus in things that are outermost. For outermost things derive their true nature from inner ones, and therefore when inner things are unclean, the outermost are also unclean, though no uncleanness is apparent to human eyes, because people regard only the outward form and so fail to see the inner things. But that uncleanness in inner things is apparent to angels' eyes; and furthermore it is uncovered with every one in the next life, because there external things are taken away. And this then shows what the true nature of someone's works has been.

[5] In Nahum,

I will uncover your hem upon your face, ¹ and I will show the nations your nakedness. Nahum 3:5.

'Uncovering the hem upon the face' means removing external things, in order that internal ones may be apparent. For external things, which belong to the natural man, in various ways conceal internal ones, which are varieties of hypocrisy, deceit, lying, hatred, vengeance, adultery, and other similar vices. When therefore the external things are taken away the internal ones in their uncleanness and foulness are apparent.

[6] In Jeremiah,

... if you say in your heart, Why have these things happened to me? On account of the greatness of your iniquity your hem has been revealed, your heels have been violated. ² I will lay bare your hem upon your face ¹ , that your shame, your adulterous acts, may be seen. Jeremiah 13:22, 26-27.

This refers to the abominations of Jerusalem. 'Revealing the hem' and 'laying it bare' stand for taking away external things that serve to veil and conceal, in order that more internal ones may be seen. For a person who is bad learns - for the sake of reputation, position, and gain - to make a pretence of being good, honest, and upright, when in fact he has various kinds of evil desires and false notions hidden away inside himself. Since 'the hem' means external things 'heels' too are spoken of, because the lowest parts of the natural are meant by 'heels', see 259, 4938-4952. From all this it is now clear that 'the hem of the robe' means forms of good and truths in the lowest or most external parts, which exist in the natural world.

Notas de rodapé:

4535. The preliminary sections of previous chapters - Chapter 26 onwards - explained what the Lord foretold about His Coming or THE CLOSE OF THE AGE. Frequently in those sections it has been shown that His Coming or the Close of the Age means the last period of the Church, which in the Word is called the Last Judgement. Those who do not look beyond the literal sense cannot know of the Last Judgement as anything else than the destruction of the world, the particular source for such an idea being the Book of Revelation. There it is said that [John] saw 'a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away; and there was no more sea', and in addition that he saw 'the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven', Revelation 21:1-2. Prophetical utterances in Isaiah, where similar predictions occur, are also a source of the same idea,

Behold, I am creating new heavens and a new earth; therefore the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. ¹ Be glad and rejoice for ever in the things I am creating; behold, I will create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. Isaiah 65:17-18; 66:22.

[2] Those who do not look beyond the literal sense cannot conceive of anything else than this - that the whole sky together with this planet will be annihilated, and then the dead - for the first time - will rise again and dwell in the new heaven and on the new earth. But these places in the Word should not be understood in that way, as may be recognized from other places in the Word where the heavens and the earth are referred to. Those who have any belief in an internal sense can see plainly that 'a new heaven' and 'a new earth' are used to mean a new Church which takes over when the previous one passes away, 1733, 1850, 3355 (end), and that 'heaven' is the internal aspect of that new Church and 'earth' the external aspect of it.

[3] This last period of the previous Church and the first of the new one are also called the Close of the Age, about which the Lord has spoken in Matthew 24. They are called also His Coming, for at that time the Lord departs from the previous Church and comes to the new. The description of that period as the Close of the Age may also be seen from other places in the Word, as in Isaiah,

On that day a remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the God of power. For though your people Israel will be as the sand of the sea, a remnant of it will return. The close has been determined, overflowing with righteousness, for the Lord Jehovih Zebaoth is bringing the whole earth to its close and to its determined end. Isaiah 10:20-23.

In the same prophet,

Now do not be derisive, lest your punishments increase, for a close and a cutting off I have heard from the Lord Jehovih Zebaoth over the whole earth. Isaiah 28:22.

In Jeremiah,

Thus said Jehovah, The whole earth will be a waste, yet I will not bring it to a close. Jeremiah 4:27.

In Zephaniah,

I will bring men into distress, and they will go as the blind, because they have sinned against Jehovah; and their blood will be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. For Jehovah will bring to a close, indeed to a hasty one, all the inhabitants of the earth. Zephaniah 1:17-18.

From each detail stated here it is evident that 'a close' means the last period of the Church and 'the earth' the Church itself.

[4] The reason why 'the earth (or land)' means the Church is that the land of Canaan was the land where the Church had existed since most ancient times, and later on where among the descendants of Jacob a representative of the Church existed. When this land is said to have been 'brought to a close' it is not the nation dwelling there that is meant but the holiness of worship which existed with the nation where the Church was. For the Word is spiritual; but the actual land is not spiritual, nor is the nation dwelling in it, only that which constitutes the Church there. For evidence that the land of Canaan was the land where the Church had existed from most ancient times, see 567, 3686, 4447, 4454, 4516, 4517; and this explains why 'the land' or 'the earth' in the Word means the Church, 566, 662, 1066, 1067, 1262, 3355, 4447. From all this one may see what is meant in Isaiah by 'bringing the whole earth to a close', and in Zephaniah by 'bringing all the inhabitants of the earth to a hasty one'. It is well known that the Jewish nation which inhabited that land was not 'brought to a close' but that the holiness of worship among them was.

[5] This meaning of 'the close' is even clearer in Daniel,

Seventy weeks have been decreed concerning your people and your holy city to bring transgression to a close and to seal up sins and to atone for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophet, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. In the middle of the week he will cause sacrifice and offering to cease. At length upon the bird of desolations will come desolation; until a close and a cutting off will it drop upon the devastation. Daniel 9:24, 27.

[6] From this one may now see that the close of the age - about which the disciples were asking when they said to the Lord 'What will be the sign of Your coming and of the close of the age?' Matthew 24:3 - does not mean anything else than the final period of the Church. The same is also meant by the Lord's words, which are the very last in the same gospel,

Jesus said to the disciples, Teaching them to observe ² all things whatever I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you at all times ³ even to the close of the age. Matthew 28:20.

The reason why the Lord said that He would be with the disciples even to the close of the age is that the Lord's twelve disciples are similar in meaning to the twelve tribes of Israel. That is to say, they mean all things of love and faith, and therefore all things of the Church, see 3354, 3488, 3858, as do the twelve tribes, 3858, 3926, 3939, 4060. The fact that the Church reaches its close when no charity exists there any longer, nor consequently any faith, has been shown several times already; and that within the Church at the present day, called the Christian Church, scarcely any trace of charity or consequently of faith survives there; and that the close of the age is accordingly now at hand, will in the Lord's Divine mercy be shown further on.

Notas de rodapé: