2862. 'That it was pointed out to Abraham, saying' means the Lord's perception. This becomes clear from the meaning of 'being pointed out' as thought and reflection, and of 'saying' as perceiving, often dealt with already. The Lord's reflection and perception, dealt with in the internal sense of the Word, cannot be expressed in any other way in historical narratives than as 'being pointed out' and 'laying'. Furthermore reflection and perception in itself is an internal pointing out and saying.

2589. THE STATE AND CONDITION IN THE NEXT LIFE OF NATIONS AND PEOPLES BORN OUTSIDE THE CHURCH

It is commonly supposed that those born outside the Church, who are called heathens and gentiles, cannot be saved for the reason that they do not possess the Word and so do not know the Lord, without whom there is no salvation. But that gentiles too are saved may be known from the single consideration that the Lord's mercy is universal - that is, it reaches out to every individual human being. For gentiles are born human beings the same as those within the Church, who are a relative minority; and they are not to blame because they do not know the Lord. Consequently the nature of their state and condition in the next life has in the Lord's Divine mercy been shown to me.