21# “亚细亚的”表示那些处于聪明之光的人。这仅从诸如天使关于这个地球的各个地区所拥有的属灵观念就能看出来。当提到亚细亚，即亚洲时，天使感知到南方；当提到欧洲时，他们感知到北方；当提到非洲时，他们感知到东方；由于“南方”表示聪明的清晰之光，所以“亚细亚或亚洲”表示这光。每当我处于属灵观念，并且想到亚细亚，即亚洲时，这种感知也被赋予我。这就是亚细亚，即亚洲的属灵观念，因为古时，教会就在那里，并且那时延伸到那里的许多地区；因此，那些从那里进入天堂的人拥有聪明之光。这就是为何当想到亚细亚，即亚洲时，一种像是在天堂南方的光就会流入。在古代和上古时代，教会在亚细亚，即亚洲，并延伸到那里的许多国家(参看《新耶路撒冷及其属天教义》247节所引用的《属天的奥秘》的内容)；“南方”表示聪明之光(参看《天堂与地狱》，141–153节，那里论述了天堂里的四个方位)。然而，“亚细亚或亚洲”在此不是指亚洲的居民，而是指所有拥有聪明的属灵之光，或也可说，处于源于良善的真理之人；因为那些处于源于良善的真理之人就拥有聪明的属灵之光；所有这样的人都构成主的教会。主的教会也存在于外邦人当中，尽管具体地存在于认识主并阅读圣言的地方(参看《天堂与地狱》，318–328；《新耶路撒冷及其属天教义》，244, 246节)。
21. In Asia. That this signifies those who are in the light of intelligence, is evident only from a spiritual idea, such as the angels have, concerning the regions of this earth. When Asia is named, they have a perception of the south, when Europe, the north, and when Africa, the east. And because by the south is signified the clear light of intelligence, therefore that light is signified by Asia. This perception has been granted me also, whenever I have been in a spiritual idea and thought of Asia. The reason such is the idea concerning Asia is, that the church was there in ancient times, being then extended throughout many regions in that quarter, and therefore those who have come thence into heaven, have the light of intelligence. This is why when Asia is thought of there is an influx of light, like that in the south of heaven. (That in ancient, and also in the most ancient times, the church was in Asia, and extended throughout many kingdoms there, may be seen in the quotations from Arcana Coelestia in the small work, The New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine 247; and that the south signifies the light of intelligence may be seen in the work, Heaven and Hell 141-153, where the four quarters in heaven are treated of.) In this place, however, by Asia are not meant the inhabitants of Asia, but all, wherever they are, who have the spiritual light of intelligence, or, what is the same thing, who are in truths from good; for those who are in truths from good have the spiritual light of intelligence; all such constitute the church of the Lord. (That the church of the Lord exists also among the Gentiles, although specifically where the Lord is known and where the Word is read, may be seen in the work, Heaven and Hell 318-328; and The New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine 244, 246.)
21. In Asia, signifies those who are in the light of intelligence. This can be seen by a spiritual idea only, such as angels have, concerning the regions of this earth. When Asia is named, angels perceive the south; when Europe is named, the north; and when Africa, the east; and as by the "south" is signified the clear light of intelligence, so that light is signified by "Asia." This perception has been granted also to me, as often as I have been in the spiritual idea and have thought of Asia. Such is the spiritual idea of Asia, because the church was there in ancient times, and then extended over many regions there; therefore, those who are in heaven from that country are in the light of intelligence. For this reason, when Asia is thought of, a light like that which is in the south of heaven flows in. (That in ancient times, and also in the most ancient, the church was in Asia, extending through many kingdoms there, see the quotations from the Arcana Coelestia in the little work on The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 247; and that the "south" signifies the light of intelligence, see in the work on Heaven and Hell 141-153, where the Four Quarters in Heaven are treated of.) By "Asia," however, the inhabitants of Asia are not here meant, but all, wheresoever they are, who are in the spiritual light of intelligence, or, what is the same, who are in truths from good; for those who are in truths from good are in the spiritual light of intelligence; and all such constitute the Lord's church.
(That the Lord's church exists also among the Gentiles, although specifically where the Lord is known and the Word is read, see in the work on Heaven and Hell 318-328; and on The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 244, 246.)
21. "In Asia." - Quod significet illos qui in luce intelligentiae non constare potest aliunde quam ex idea spirituali, qualis est angelorum, de regionibus hujus telluris; illi cum nominatur Asia percipiunt meridiem, cum nominatur Europa percipiunt septentrionem, et cum Africa percipiunt orientem; et quia per "meridiem" significatur lux intelligentiae clara, ideo per "Asiam" illa lux significatur; hoc quoque mihi datum est percipere, quoties in idea spirituali fui et cogitavi de Asia. Quod talis idea de Asia sit, est quia ecclesia ibi antiquis temporibus fuit, tunc extensa per plures regiones ibi; et ideo illi qui inde in caelo sunt in luce intelligentiae sunt; unde est, cum cogitatur de Asia, quod lux, qualis est in meridie caeli, influat. (Quod antiquis temporibus, et quoque antiquissimis, ecclesia fuerit in Asia, extensa per plura regna ibi, videatur ex Arcanis Caelestibus in opusculo De Nova Hierosolyma et ejus Doctrina, n. 1147; et quod "meridies" significet lucem intelligentiae, in opere De Caeli et Inferno, n. 141-153, ubi agitur De Quatuor Plagis in Caelo.) Verum usque per "Asiam" hic non intelliguntur illi qui in Asia, sed omnes, ubicunque sunt, qui in luce intelligentiae spirituali, sive, quod idem, qui in veris ex bono sunt; qui enim in veris ex bono sunt, in luce intelligentiae spirituali sunt; illi omnes ecclesiam Domini constituunt. (Quod ecclesia Domini etiam apud gentes sit, tametsi in specie ubi Dominus notus est et Verbum legitur, videatur in opere De Caelo et Inferno n. 318-328; et De Nova Hierosolyma et ejus Doctrina, n. 244, 1146.)