436. From these things it is now evident what the three tribes, Judah, Reuben, and Gad, first named, signify individually, and also collectively. For the names of persons and places in the Word signify things; not only each of them some one thing in particular, but also collectively, something in a series. In a series these three names, Judah, Reuben, and Gad, signify that all those who are in love to the Lord, and from that in truths, and by means of these in the good of life, are in the inmost or third heaven. For in them the three degrees of life are opened; the inmost degree is where love to the Lord resides, the middle degree where truths from that good reside, and the ultimate degree where the good of life resides. Every man has three degrees of life. The inmost degree is open in those who are in the third heaven, this being opened immediately from the Lord in those who are in love to Him; for by means of love there is conjunction, and thence reception; they are therefore in all truths, and these they see in themselves, and by means of them they are in the good of life. That there are three degrees of life with every angel, may be seen in Heaven and Hell 33, 34); and that the third degree is opened in those who are in the third heaven (n. 208, 209). The nature and quality of the angels of the third heaven may be seen in n. 24, 25, 26, 267, 270, 271.

4761. 'And Reuben returned to the pit' means the Church's faith in general. This is clear from the representation of 'Reuben' as the Church's confession of faith in general, dealt with in 4731, 4734, and from the meaning of 'the pit' as falsities, dealt with in 4728. Consequently the statement that 'Reuben returned to the pit' means that the Church's faith in general came to behold the falsities that belong to faith separated from charity.