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.

4746. 'And they lifted up their eyes and saw' means further thought. This is clear from the meaning of 'lifting up the eyes and seeing' as directing one's attention and giving thought to something, that is, thinking attentively, dealt with in 2789, 2829, 3198, 3202, 4339. In this case further thought is meant, as is evident from the sequence of ideas.