230. (Verse 15) I know thy works. That this signifies the life of faith alone is evident from the signification of works as being those things that belong to the interior life of man, because works proceed from those things, and are their effects (concerning which see above, n. 157, 185). Here therefore they signify the life of faith alone, because this is treated of in what is written to the angel of this church. To each of the churches it is premised, "I know thy works," and in every case it signifies the things belonging to the church there treated of (see above, n. 98); therefore the quality of the life of faith alone, or of faith separated from charity, is described in what now follows.

10148. 'And there I will meet with the children of Israel' means the Lord's presence in the Church. This is clear from the meaning of 'meeting with' as presence, as immediately above in 10147; and from the representation of 'the children of Israel' as the Church, dealt with in 9340.