220#但也有必要解释一下在圣言中，“殿”表示什么。“殿”在至高意义上表示主的神性人身，在相对意义上表示天堂；它因表示天堂，故也表示教会，因为教会是主在地上的天堂；“殿”因表示天堂和教会，故也表示从主发出的神性真理，因为这神性真理构成天堂和教会；事实上，构成天堂和教会的，是那些以灵魂和内心，也就是以信和爱来接受神性真理的人。由于这就是“殿”的含义，所以经上说“我神殿”；“我的神”当由主来说时，表示天堂和那里的神性真理，也就是天上的主。主在众天堂之上，向那些在天堂里的人显为一轮太阳。光和热从显为太阳的主发出。天堂里的光本质上是神性真理，天堂里的热本质上是神性良善；这两者构成天堂，无论总体还是细节。神性真理就是“我的神”所表示的；因此，在旧约圣言中，主被称为“耶和华”和“神”；在论述神性良善的地方被称为“耶和华”，在论述神性真理的地方被称为“神”；由于同样的原因，天使也被称为“神”(gods)；在希伯来语，神这个词用的是复数形式，耶洛因。这表明为何经上说：“我神殿。”主在论述神性良善的地方被称为“耶和华”，在论述神性真理的地方被称为“神”(参看《属天的奥秘》，709, 732, 2586, 2769, 2807, 2822, 3921, 4283, 4402, 7010, 9167节)；祂凭存在，因而凭本质而被称为“耶和华”，凭实存，因而凭显现而被称为“神”(300, 3910, 6905节)；此外，神性存在是神性良善，神性实存或显现是神性真理(3061, 6280, 6880, 6905, 10579节)；一般来说，良善是存在，真理是由此而来的显现(5002节)；天使凭他们从主接受神性真理而被称为“神”(4295, 4402, 7268, 7873, 8301, 8192节)；主在众天堂的神性是与神性良善合一的神性真理(参看《天堂与地狱》，13, 133, 139, 140节)；天堂里的光本质上是神性真理，那里的热是神性良善，两者都来自主(参看HH126–140, 275节)。
在圣言中，“殿”表示主的神性人身，在相对意义上表示天堂和教会，因而也表示神性真理，这一点从以下经文可以看出来。约翰福音：
犹太人问，你既作这些事，还显什么神迹给我们看呢？耶稣回答他们说，你们拆毁这殿，我三日内要再建立起来。犹太人便说，这殿是四十六年才建成的，你三日内就再建立起来吗？但耶稣是指着祂身体的殿说的。(约翰福音2:18–23)
“殿”表示主的神性人身，此处公开声明了这一点，因为“拆毁这殿，三日内要再建立起来”表示主的死亡、埋葬和复活。
玛拉基书：
看哪，我要差遣我的使者，在我前面预备道路；你们所寻求的主，就是立约的使者，必忽然进入祂的殿。(玛拉基书3:1)
此处“殿”也表示主的神性人身，因为此处论述的是主的降临；因此，“进入祂的殿”表示来到祂的人身这里。
启示录：
我看见新耶路撒冷没有殿，因主神全能者和羔羊，为它的殿。(启示录21:22)
此处论述的是新天堂和新地，就是它们将处于内在，不处于外在的时候；故经上说“没有殿”，而是有“主神全能者和羔羊”。“主神全能者”是指主的神性本身，“羔羊”是指祂的神性人身；由此也清楚可知，祂在天堂里的神性由“殿”来表示。
以赛亚书：
我见主坐在高高举起的宝座上，祂的衣襟遮满殿。(以赛亚书6:1)
所看见主所坐的“高高举起的宝座”表示在高层天堂的神性真理方面的主；而“祂的衣襟”表示祂在教会里的神性真理。“衣襟”当论及主时，表示祂在终端的神性真理(参看《属天的奥秘》，9917节)。主受难之后，殿里的幔子，从上到下裂为两半(马太福音27:51; 马可福音15:34, 38; 路加福音23:45)表示主的神性人身与神性本身的合一(参看《属天的奥秘》，9670节)。
在以下经文中，“殿”表示主的神性人身，同时表示天堂和教会。诗篇：
我要向你的圣殿下拜，称赞你的名。(诗篇138:2)
约拿书：
我说，我说，我从你眼前虽被驱逐，然而我仍要仰望你的圣殿，我的祷告进入你的圣殿，达到你的面前。(约拿书2:4, 7)
哈巴谷书：
惟耶和华在你的圣殿中。(哈巴谷书2:20)
马太福音：
你们这瞎眼领路的有祸了。你们说，凡指着殿起誓的，这算不得什么；只是凡指着殿中金子起誓的，他就是欠债的。你们这愚蠢瞎眼的人哪；哪个更大呢？是金子，还是使金子成圣的殿呢？(马太福音23:16, 17)
约翰福音：
耶稣对在殿里卖东西的说，把这些东西拿去；不要将我父的家当作买卖的家。门徒就想起经上记着说，为你家的这种热心把我烧灭了。(约翰福音2:16, 17)
220b.除此之外，圣言中还有其它许多经文提到“殿”或家。为叫人们可以知道“殿”表示天堂和教会，如同也表示从主发出的神性真理，我将在此引用这些经文，免得心智粘附着这样的观念，所指的是纯粹的殿，而不是某种更神圣的东西；事实上，耶路撒冷的殿是神圣的，因为它代表，因而表示神圣之物。“殿”(或“家”、“房屋”)表示天堂，这一点从这些经文明显看出来；诗篇：
我求告耶和华，向我的神呼求；祂从祂的殿中听了我的声音。(诗篇18:6)
又：
在你的院子一日，胜似千日。我宁可站在我神家的门口，不愿住在恶人的帐棚里。(诗篇84:10)
又：
义人要发旺如棕树，生长如黎巴嫩的香柏树。他们栽于耶和华的家中，发旺在我们神的院里。(诗篇92:12, 13)
又：
有一件事，我曾求耶和华；就是我可以住在耶和华的家中，早早拜访祂的殿。(诗篇27:4)
又：
我必日子长久地安息在耶和华的家中。(诗篇23:6)
约翰福音：
耶稣说，在我父的家里，有许多住处。(约翰福音14:2)
显然，在这些经文中，“耶和华的家”和“父的家”表示天堂。
在以下经文中，它也表示教会；以赛亚书：
我们圣洁华美的家，就是我们列祖赞美你的所在，被火焚烧。(以赛亚书64:11)
耶利米书：
我撇下了我的家，丢弃了我的产业。(耶利米书12:7)
哈该书：
我必震动一切民族；一切民族所拣选的都必来到，我就使这房屋满了荣耀。银子是我的，金子也是我的。这后起房屋的荣耀必大过先前的荣耀。(哈该书2:7–9)
以赛亚书：
祂对耶路撒冷说，你必被建造；对圣殿说，你必被建立。(以赛亚书44:28)
此处论述的是主的降临和那时的一个新教会。在撒迦利亚书，意思也一样：
耶和华的家被建造，使殿可以建立。(撒迦利亚书8:9)
但以理书：
伯沙撒吩咐人将他父尼布甲尼撒从耶路撒冷殿中所掠的金银器皿拿来，叫他们好用这器皿饮酒。他们饮酒，赞美金、银、铜、铁、木、石所造的神，当时字就来到墙上。(但以理书5:2-4等)
“从耶路撒冷殿中所掠的金银器皿”表示教会的良善和真理；他们“用这器皿饮酒，赞美金、银、铜、铁、木、石所造的神”表示对这些良善和真理的亵渎；因此，字显在墙上，王(不是伯沙撒，而是尼布甲尼撒)从一个人变成一个野兽。
马太福音：
门徒上前来把殿的建筑指给耶稣看。耶稣对他们说，你们看见这一切了吗？将来在这里，没有一块石头留在石头上不被拆毁了。(马太福音24:1, 2; 马可福音13:1–5; 路加福音21:5–7)
“将来殿里没有一块石头留在石头上不被拆毁了”表示教会的彻底毁灭和荒废，“石头”表示教会的真理；由于这就是所表示的，所以教会的相继荒废就是福音中的这些章节所论述的。启示录：
天使站着说，起来，将神的殿和祭坛，并在殿中礼拜的人都量一量。(启示录11:1)
此处“殿”也表示教会，“量”表示探查它的品质。新殿及其尺寸(以西结书40–47节)具有类似含义。
“殿”表示从主发出的神性真理，这一点从以下经文明显看出来。以西结书：
耶和华的荣耀从基路伯上面上升，停在房屋门槛以上；房内满了云彩；院子也充满了耶和华荣耀的光辉。(以西结书10:4)
此处“房屋”表示天堂和教会，“云彩”和“荣耀”表示神性真理。“云”是指神性真理(参看AE36节)；“荣耀”也是(参看AE33节)。
弥迦书：
必有许多民族前往，说，来吧，让我们登上耶和华的山，到我们神的家；祂必将祂的道路指教我们，我们也要行祂的路；因为教导必出于锡安，话必出于耶路撒冷。(弥迦书4:2)
“耶和华的山，神的家”表示教会，“锡安”和“耶路撒冷”同样表示教会；“被指教祂的道路，行祂的路”是指在神性真理上被教导；故经上说：“教导必出于锡安，话必出于耶路撒冷。”
以赛亚书：
有耶和华(注：希伯来语中没有耶和华)喧哗的声音出自城中，耶和华的声音出于殿中。(以赛亚书66:6)
“城”表示真理的教义；“殿”表示教会，“出于殿内的耶和华的声音”表示神性真理。启示录：
就有大声音从天堂的殿中，从宝座上出来，说。(启示录16:17)
此处“声音”同样表示神性真理。又：
神天上的殿开了，在殿中现出祂的约柜；随后有闪电，声音，雷轰。(启示录11:19)
在圣言中，“闪电，声音，雷轰”表示出于天堂的神性真理(参看《属天的奥秘》，7573, 5914节)。又：
天上那存法柜的帐幕的殿开了；那掌管七灾的七位天使，从殿中出来。因神的荣耀和祂的能力，殿中充满了烟。(启示录15:5-6, 8)
此处说七位天使从天上的殿中出来，是因为“天使”表示神性真理(参看AE130, 200节)。至于“因神的荣耀充满的烟”表示什么，这在对这些话的进一步解释中会看到。此外，要知道，所罗门建的殿和黎巴嫩的林宫，以及属于它们的每个具体事物(如列王纪上6, 7章所描述的)，表示属于教会和天堂的属灵和属天事物。
220. But it shall also be explained what is signified in the Word by temple. Temple, in the highest sense, signifies the Divine Human of the Lord, and in the relative sense, heaven; and because it signifies heaven, it also signifies the church, for the church is the Lord's heaven upon earth. And whereas temple thus signifies heaven and the church, it also signifies the Divine truth proceeding from the Lord: the reason is, that this makes heaven and the church; for those who receive Divine truth in soul and heart, that is, in faith and love, constitute heaven and the church. Such being the signification of temple, it is therefore said, the temple of my God; and by my God, when said by the Lord, is meant heaven, and the Divine truth therein, which also is the Lord in heaven. The Lord is above the heavens, and appears to its inhabitants as a Sun, and from the Lord as a Sun proceed heat and light; heat which in its essence is Divine good, and light which in its essence is Divine truth; those two constitute heaven in general and in particular. Divine truth is that which is meant by my God; this is why in the Word of the Old Testament the Lord is called Jehovah and God, - Jehovah where the subject treated of is the Divine good, and God where it is the Divine truth. This also is the reason why angels are called gods, and that God in the Hebrew tongue is in the plural Elohim. From these considerations it is evident what is here meant by the temple of my God.
(That the Lord is called Jehovah where the Divine good is treated of, but God where the Divine truth is treated of, may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 709, 732, 2586, 2769, 2807, 2822, 3921, 4283, 4402, 7010, 9167. That He is called Jehovah from Being (esse), and thus from essence, but God from Manifestation (existere), and thus from existence, n. 300, 3910, 6905; that the Divine as Being (esse) also is Divine good, and that the Divine as Manifestation (existere) is Divine truth, n. 3061, 6280, 6880, 6905, 10579; and in general that good is the being, (esse), and truth the manifestation (existere) thence, n. 5002. That angels are called gods from their reception of Divine truth from the n. 4295, 4402, 7268, 7873, 8301, 8192. That the Divine of the Lord in the heavens is Divine truth united with Divine good, may be seen in the work, Heaven and Hell 13, 133, 139, 140. That the light in the heavens is in its essence Divine truth, and the heat there Divine good, both from the Lord, may be seen in the same work, n. 126-140, 275.)
[2] That temple in the Word signifies the Divine Human of the Lord, and in the relative sense, heaven and the church, consequently also Divine truth, is evident from the following passages. In John:
To the Jews who asked, "What sign showest thou unto us, that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body" (John 2:18-21).
That temple signifies the Lord's Divine Human is here plainly declared; for by destroying the temple and raising it up in three days is meant His death, burial and resurrection.
[3] In Malachi:
"Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me; and the Lord shall suddenly come to his temple, and the angel of the covenant whom ye seek" (3:1).
Here also by temple is meant the Lord's Divine Human; for the subject treated of is the Lord's advent, therefore coming to His temple signifies assuming the Human.
[4] Again, in the Apocalypse:
"I saw no temple" in the new Jerusalem, "for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it" (21:22).
The subject here treated of is the new heaven and the new earth, when they will be in internals, and not in externals; hence it is said that there was seen no temple, but the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb. The Lord God Almighty is the very Divine of the Lord, and the Lamb is His Divine Human; whence also it is evident, that His Divine Human in the heavens is meant by temple.
[5] Again, in Isaiah:
"I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his skirts filling the temple" (Arcana Coelestia 9670.)
[6] That by temple is signified the Lord's Divine Human, and at the same time heaven and the church, is evident in the following passages. In David:
"I will bow myself down toward thy holy temple, and I will confess thy name" (Psalms 138:2).
In Jonah:
"I said I am cast out from before thine eyes, but yet will I add to look back to the temple of thy holiness, and my prayer came to thee to the temple of thy holiness" (2:4, 7).
In Habakkuk:
"Jehovah in the temple of his holiness" (2:20).
In Matthew:
"Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! Ye fools and blind; for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?" (23:16, 17).
In John:
Jesus said unto them that sold in the temple, "Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandize. Whence his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up" (2:16, 17).
[7] Besides the above, there are many passages in the Word where temple is mentioned, which I wish to adduce, in order that it may be known that heaven and the church are thereby meant, as also the Divine truth proceeding from the, Lord, lest the mind should adhere to the idea, that the temple alone is meant instead of something more holy; for the holiness of the temple of Jerusalem arose from the fact that it represented and signified what is holy.
That the temple signified heaven is clear from these passages. In David:
"I called upon Jehovah, and cried unto my God; he heard my voice out of his temple" (Psalms 18:6).
Again:
"A day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather stand at the door in the house of my God, than dwell in the tents of wickedness" (Psalms 84:10).
Again:
"The just shall flourish like the palm-tree; he shall grow like the cedar in Lebanon. They who are planted lit the house of Jehovah shall flourish in the courts of our God" (Psalms 92:12, 13).
Again:
"One thing have I desired of Jehovah, that I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of Jehovah, and to visit his temple in the morning" (Psalms 27:4).
Again:
"I shall be at rest in the house of Jehovah for length of days" (Psalms 23:6).
[8] In John:
Jesus said: "In my Father's house are many mansions" (14:2).
That heaven and the church are meant In these passages by the house of Jehovah and of the Father is clear. The church is also meant in the following passages. In Isaiah:
"Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned with fire" (64:11).
In Jeremiah:
"I have forsaken my house, I have left mine heritage" (12:7).
In Haggai:
"I will stir up all nations, that the choice of all nations may come; and I will fill this house with glory. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than that of the former" (Haggai 2:7-9).
In Isaiah:
"He shall say to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid" (44:28).
The subject here treated of is the coming of the Lord, and the New Church to be then established. In Zechariah:
"The house of Jehovah was founded, that the temple may be built" (8:9).
Similarly in Daniel:
"Belshazzar commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem, that they might drink therein; and they drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone and then writing appeared on the wall" (5:2-4).
By the golden and silver vessels which were brought from the temple of Jerusalem are signified the goods and truths of the church; by their drinking wine out of them, and praising the gods of gold, of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and stone, is signified the profanation of them, on which account the writing appeared on the wall, and the king was changed from a man into a beast.
[9] In Matthew:
"His disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be dissolved" (24:1, 2; Mark 13:1, 2; Luke 21:5, 6, 7).
That there should not be left of the temple one stone upon another which should not be dissolved, signifies the total destruction and vastation of the church; for stone signifies the truth of the church; and it therefore follows that the successive vastation of the church is treated of in those chapters in the Evangelists. In the Apocalypse:
"The angel stood, saying, Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar, and them that worship therein" (11:1).
By the temple here also is signified the church, and by measuring it, is signified to explore its quality. The signification of the new temple and its measurements, mentioned in Ezekiel, is similar (xl.-xlvii.).
[10] That by temple is signified the Divine truth proceeding from the Lord, is evident from the following passages in Ezekiel:
"The glory of Jehovah went up from above the cherub over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the glory of Jehovah" (36; and that glory signifies the same, n. 33.)
[11] In Micah:
"Many nations shall go, and say, Come and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, and to the house of" our "God, that he may teach us of his ways, and that we may go in his paths; for from Zion shall go forth doctrine, and the word from Jerusalem" (4:2).
The mountain of Jehovah and the house of God signify the church, and similarly Zion and Jerusalem; to be taught of His ways, and to go in His paths, is to be instructed in Divine truths therefore it is also said,
"From Zion shall go forth doctrine, and the word from Jerusalem."
[12] In Isaiah:
"The voice of the tumult from the city, the voice of Jehovah from the temple" (130, 200). What is signified by smoke from the glory of God will be seen in the explanation of those words in the following pages. Moreover, it must be known that by the temple which was built by Solomon, as also by the house of the forest of Lebanon, and by each particular thing pertaining to them, as recorded in the first book of Kings (vi. and vii.), are signified spiritual and celestial things pertaining to the church and to heaven.
220. But it shall be told also what "temple" signifies in the Word. In the highest sense, "temple" signifies the Lord's Divine Human, and in the relative sense, heaven; and as it signifies heaven, it also signifies the church, for the church is the Lord's heaven on earth; and as "temple" signifies heaven and the church it also signifies Divine truth proceeding from the Lord, for the reason that this makes heaven and the church; for those who receive Divine truth in soul and heart, that is, in faith and love, are they who constitute heaven and the church. As such is the signification of "temple," it is said, "the temple of My God;" "My God," when said by the Lord, meaning heaven and Divine truth there, which also is the Lord in heaven. The Lord is above the heavens, and to those who are in the heavens He appears as a sun. From the Lord as a sun light and heat go forth. Light in heaven is in its essence Divine truth, and heat in heaven is in its essence Divine good; these two make heaven in general and in particular. Divine truth is what is meant by "My God;" therefore in the Word of the Old Testament the Lord is called both "Jehovah" and "God;" "Jehovah" where Divine good is treated of, and "God" where Divine truth is treated of; for the same reason also angels are called "gods," and the word God in the Hebrew is used in the plural, Elohim. This shows why it is said, "the temple of My God." (That the Lord is called "Jehovah" where Divine good is treated of, but "God" where Divine truth is treated of, see Arcana Coelestia 709, 732, 2586, 2769, 2807, 2822, 3921, 4283, 4402, 7010, 9167; that He is called Jehovah" from Esse, thus from Essence, but "God" from Existere, thus from Existence, n. 300, 3910, 6905; that the Divine Esse moreover is Divine good, and the Divine Existere is Divine truth, n. 3061, 6280, 6880, 6905, 10579; and in general that good is the esse, and truth the existere therefrom, n. 5002; that the angels are called "gods" from their reception of Divine truth from the Lord, n. 4295, 4402, 7268, 7873, 8192, 8301, 8192. That the Divine of the Lord in the heavens is Divine truth united to Divine good, see in the work on Heaven and Hell (13, 133, 139-140. That light in the heavens is in its essence Divine truth, and heat there is Divine good, both from the Lord, see in the same work n. 126-140, 275.)
[2] That "temple" in the Word signifies the Lord's Divine Human, and in the relative sense, heaven and the church, consequently also Divine truth, can be seen from the following passages.
In John:
The Jews asking, What sign showest Thou unto us, that Thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, In forty and six years was this temple built, and wilt Thou raise it up in three days? But He was speaking of the Temple of His body (John 2:18-23).
That "temple" signifies the Lord's Divine Human is here openly declared; for "destroying the temple and raising it up after three days" means the Lord's death, burial, and resurrection.
[3] In Malachi:
Behold, I send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me; and the Lord shall suddenly come to His temple, and the Angel of the covenant whom ye seek (Malachi 3:1).
Here also "temple" means the Lord's Divine Human; for the Lord's coming is here treated of, therefore "coming to His temple" signifies to His Human.
[4] In Revelation:
I saw no temple in the New Jerusalem, for the Lord God Almighty is its temple, and the Lamb (Revelation 21:22).
The New Heaven and the New Earth, when they will be in internals, and not in externals, are here treated of, therefore it is said, that "there will be no temple," but "the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb." "The Lord God Almighty," is the Divine Itself of the Lord, and "the Lamb" is His Divine Human; from which also it is clear, that His Divine in the heavens is meant by "temple."
[5] In Isaiah:
I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His skirts filled the temple (Arcana Coelestia 9670).
[6] In the passages that follow "temple" signifies the Lord's Divine Human, and at the same time heaven and the church.
In David :
I will bow myself down toward the temple of Thy holiness, and will confess unto Thy name (Psalms 138:2).
In Jonah:
I said, I am cast out from before Thine eyes, but yet will I add to look to the temple of Thy holiness, and my prayer came to Thee to the temple of Thy holiness (Jon. Haggai 2:4, 7).
In Habakkuk:
Jehovah in the temple of Thy 1holiness (Habakkuk 2:20).
In Matthew:
Woe unto you, ye blind guides, who say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor. Ye fools and blind; for whether is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? (Matthew 23:16, 17).
In John :
Jesus said to them that sold in the temple, Take these hence; make not My Father's house a house of merchandise. Then the disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of Thine house hath consumed me (John 2:16, 17).
[7] Beside these, there are many other passages in the Word where "temple" is mentioned. That it may be known that "temple" means heaven and the church, as also Divine truth proceeding from the Lord, I will cite these passages here, lest the mind should cling to the idea that a mere temple is meant, and not something more holy; for the temple in Jerusalem was holy because it represented and thus signified what is holy. That "temple" signified heaven is evident from these passages. In David:
I called upon Jehovah, and cried unto my God: He heard my voice from His temple (Psalms 18:6).
In the same:
A day in Thy courts is better than thousands. I have chosen to stand at the door in the house of my God, rather than to dwell in the tents of wickedness (Psalms 84:10).
In the same:
The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They that are planted in the house of Jehovah shall flourish in the courts of our God (Psalms 92:12-13).
In the same :
One thing have I asked of Jehovah; that I may dwell in the house of Jehovah, and to early visit His temple (Psalms 27:4).
I shall be at rest in the house of Jehovah for length of days (Psalms 23:6).
In John:
Jesus said, In My Father's house are many mansions (John 14:2).
It is clear that in these passages, by "house of Jehovah" and "Father's house" heaven is meant.
[8] In the following passages the church also is meant. In Isaiah:
The house of our holiness and our splendor, where our fathers praised Thee, is burned up with fire (Isaiah 64:11).
In Jeremiah:
I have forsaken My house, I have abandoned Mine heritage (Jeremiah 12:7).
In Haggai:
I will shake all nations, that the choice of all nations may come; and I will fill this house with glory. The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than that of the former (Haggai 2:7-9).
In Isaiah:
He shall say to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thou shalt be founded (Isaiah 44:28).
Here the coming of the Lord and a new church at that time are treated of. In Zechariah the meaning is similar:
The house of Jehovah was founded that the temple may be built (Zechariah 8:9).
In Daniel:
Belshazzar commanded to bring the vessels of gold and silver which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem, that they might drink from them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone, and then came the writing on the wall (Daniel 5:2-4.).
The "gold and silver vessels that were brought from the temple of Jerusalem" signified the goods and truths of the church; that they "drank wine from them and praised the gods of gold, of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone," signifies the profanation of those goods and truths; and on account of this the writing appeared on the wall, and the king 2was changed from a man into a wild beast.
[9] In Matthew:
And the disciples came to show Jesus the building of the temple. Jesus said unto them, See ye all these things? There shall not be left here stone upon stone that shall not be thrown down (Matthew 24:1, 2; Mark 13:1-5; Luke 21:5-7).
That "there should not be left of the temple stone upon stone that should not be thrown down" signifies the total destruction and vastation of the church ("stone" signifying the truth of the church); and because this is what is meant, the successive vastation of the church is what is treated of in these chapters in the Evangelists.
In Revelation:
And the angel stood, saying, Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar, and them that worship therein (Revelation 11:1).
The "temple" here also signifies the church, and "measuring" signifies to explore its quality:
The new temple and its measurements (Ezekiel 40-Ezekiel 47); have a like signification.
[10] That "temple" signifies Divine truth which is from the Lord, is evident from the following passages.
In Ezekiel:
The glory of Jehovah mounted up from above the cherub over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud; but the court was full of the brightness of the glory of Jehovah (36; and "glory" the like, n. 33.)
[11] In Micah:
Many nations shall go, and say, Come and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, and to the house of our God; that He may instruct us of His ways, and that we may go in His paths; for from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the Word out of Jerusalem (Micah 4:2).
"Mountain of Jehovah, and house of God," signify the church, likewise "Zion" and "Jerusalem;" "to be instructed of His ways, and to go in His paths," is to be instructed in Divine truths; it is therefore said, "From Zion shall go forth instruction, and the Word out of Jerusalem."
[12] In Isaiah:
A voice of a tumult of Jehovah 3from the city, the voice of Jehovah out of the temple (Isaiah 66:6).
"City" means the doctrine of truth; "temple" the church; and "the voice of Jehovah out of the temple" Divine truth. In Revelation:
There came forth a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying (Revelation 16:17).
Here, likewise, "voice" means Divine truth.
Again:
And the temple of God in heaven was opened, and there was seen in the temple the ark of His covenant; and there were lightnings, voices, thunderings (Revelation 11:19).
"Lightnings, voices, thunderings," signify in the Word Divine truths out of heaven (See Revelation 15:5-6, 8).
Here seven angels are said to have come out from the temple in heaven, because "angels" signify Divine truths (See above, n. 1 Kings 6, 1 Kings 7), signified spiritual and celestial things pertaining to the church and to heaven.
Footnotes:
1. The Hebrew has "His," as found in Apocalypse Explained 587; Arcana Coelestia 643 Arcana Coelestia 643[1-4].
2. It was not Belshazzar but Nebuchadnezzar who was changed into a beast.
3. "Of Jehovah" is not found in the Hebrew.
220. [a] Quid autem "templum" in Verbo significat, etiam dicetur: - "Templum" significat in supremo sensu Divinum Humanum Domini, et in respectivo caelum; et quia caelum, etiam significat ecclesiam, nam ecclesia est caelum Domini in terris; et quia "templum" significat caelum et ecclesiam, etiam significat Divinum Verum procedens a Domino; causa est quia hoc facit caelum et ecclesiam, nam qui recipiunt illud anima et corde, hoc est, fide et amore, illi caelum et ecclesiam constituunt. Quia "templum" illa significat, ideo dicitur "Templum Dei mei"; per "Deum meum", cum a Domino dicitur, intelligitur caelum ac Divinum Verum ibi, quod etiam est Dominus in caelo. Dominus supra caelos est, ac apparet illis qui in caelo Sunt ut Sol. Ex Domino ut Sole ibi procedit lux et calor: lux ibi in sua essentia est Divinum Verum, ac calor ibi in sua essentia est Divinum Bonum; haec duo faciunt caelum in communi et in parte. Divinum Verum est quod intelligitur per "Deum meum": inde est quod in Verbo Veteris Testamenti dicatur "Jehovah" et "Deus"; "Jehovah" ubi agitur de Divino Bono, ac "Deus" ubi de Divino Vero: inde quoque est quod angeli dicantur "dii", et quod "Deus" in lingua Hebraea dicatur Elohim in plurali: inde patet cur dicitur "Templum Dei mei."
(Quod "Jehovah" dicatur ubi agitur de Divino Bono, "Deus" autem ubi de Divino Vero, videatur n. 709, 732, 2586, 2769, 2807, 2822, 3921, 4283, 4402, 7010, 9167.
Quod "Jehovah" dicatur ab esse, ita ab essentia, "Deus" autem ab existere, ita ab existentia, n. 300, 3910, 6905. Quod etiam Divinum Esse sit Divinum Bonum, et quod Divinum Existere sit Divinum Verum, n. 3061, 6280, 6880, 6905, 10579. Et in genere quod bonum sit esse et verum existere inde, n. 5002. Quod angeli dicantur "dii" a receptione Divini Veri a Domino, n. 4295, 4402, 7268, 7873, 8301, 8192. Quod Divinum Domini in caelis sit Divinum Verum unitum Divino Bono, in opere De Caelo et Inferno 13, 133, 139, 140. Quod lux in caelis in sua essentia sit Divinum Verum, et calor ibi Divinum Bonum, utrumque a Domino, in eodem opere, n. 126-140, 275.)
[2] Quod "templum" in Verbo significet Divinum Humanum Domini, et in sensu respectivo caelum et ecclesiam, proinde etiam Divinum Verum, constare potest ex sequentibus his locis:
- Apud Johannem,
Interrogantibus Judaeis, "Quodnam signum nobis monstras, quod hoc facias? respondit Jesus, et dixit iis, Solvite TEMPLUM hoc, in tribus diebus tamen exsuscitabo illud: et dixerunt Judaei, Quadraginta sex annis aedificatum est Templum; Tunc ergo tribus diebus exsuscitabis illud? Sed Ille loquebatur de TEMPLO CORPORIS sui" (2:18-23):
quod "templum" significet Divinum Humanum Domini, hic aperte dicitur; intelligitur enim per "solutionem TEMPLI" et ejus exsuscitationem post tres dies", Ipsius mors, sepultura et resurrectio.
[3] Apud Malachiam,
Ecce Ego mitto angelum meum, qui parabit viam ante Me, et subito veniet ad Templum suum Dominus, et Angelus foederis, quem quaeritis" (3:1);
hic etiam per "Templum" intelligitur Divinum Humanum Domini; agitur enim ibi de adventu Domini, quare per venire ad "Templum suum" significatur ad Humanum suum.
[4] In Apocalypsi,
"Templum non Vidi" in Nova Hierosolyma, "nam Dominus Deus omnipotens Templum illius est et Agnus" (21:22):
agitur ibi de Novo Caelo et de Nova Terra, quando in internis erunt et non in externis; inde dicitur quod "non templum erit", sed "Dominus Deus omnipotens et Agnus": "Dominus Deus omnipotens" est Ipsum Divinum Domini, et "Agnus" est Divinum Humanum Ipsius; unde quoque patet quod Divinum Ipsius in caelis intelligatur per "Templum."
[5] Apud Esaiam,
"Vidi Dominum sedentem super throno alto et elato, et fimbriae ejus implentes templum" (6:1);
per "thronum altum et elatum" super quo Dominus sedere visus est, significatur Dominus quoad Divinum Verum in caelis superioribus; per "fimbrias" autem ejus significatur Divinum Ipsius Verum in ecclesia.
(Quod "fimbriae", cum de Domino, significant Divinum Ipsius Verum in ultimis, videatur n. 9917.)
Quod velum Templi Disruptum sit in duas partes a summo ad imum, postquam Dominus passus est (Matthaeus 27:51; Marcus 15:34 [, 38]; Luc. 23:45 1
),
significaverit unionem Divini Humani Domini cum Ipso Divino Ipsius, videatur in Arcanis Caelestibus (n. 9670 2
).
[6] Per "templum" significatur Divinum Humanum Domini, et simul caelum et ecclesia, in sequentibus locis:
- Apud Davidem,
"Incurvabo Me versus templum sanctitatis tuae, et confitebor nomini tuo" (Psalms 138:2):
apud Jonam,
"Dixi, Expulsus sum a coram oculis tuis, sed tamen addam respicere templum sanctitatis tuae... Et Venit ad Te oratio mea ad templum sanctitatis tuae" (2:5, 8 [B.A. 4, 7]):
apud Habakuk,
"Jehovah in templo sanctitatis 3
suae" (2:20):
apud Matthaeum,
"Vae vobis, duces caeci, qui dicitis, Quicunque juraverit per Templum, nihil est; quicunque vero juraverit per aurum Templi, reus est: stulti et caeci, utrum autem majus est, aurum aut Templum quod sanctificat aurum?" (23:16, 17):
apud Johannem,
Jesus dixit vendentibus in Templo, "Tollite exhinc illa, nec facite Domum Patris mei domum mercaturae: unde recordati sunt discipuli quod scriptum est, Zelus Domus tuae consumpsit Me" (2:16, 17).
[7] Praeterea, multis in locis alibi in Verbo nominatur "templum." Ut sciatur quod per illud intelligatur caelum et ecclesia, tum Divinum Verum procedens a Domino, velim illa loca hic adducere, ne haereat mens in eo, quod solum Templum intelligatur, et non aliquid sanctius; nam Templum quod Hierosolymae sanctum fuit ex eo quod repraesentaverit et inde significaverit sanctum.
Quod "templum" significaverit caelum, patet ab his locis:
- Apud Davidem,
"Invocavi Jehovam, et ad Deum meum clamavi; audivit de Templo suo vocem meam" (Psalms 18:7 [B.A. 6]);
apud eundem,
"Bonus dies in atriis tuis prae millibus; elegi ad januam stare in Domo Dei mei, prae habitare in tentoriis impietatis" (Psalms 84:11 [B.A. 10]);
apud eundem,
"Justus sicut palma florebit, sicut cedrus in Libano crescet; plantati in Domo Jehovae, in atriis Dei germinabunt" (Psalms 92:13, 14 [B.A. 12, 13]);
apud eundem,
"Unum petii a Jehovah ut maneam in Domo Jehovae et ad visitandum mane Templum Ipsius" (Psalms 27:4);
apud eundem,
"Quietus ero in Domo Jehovae in longitudinem dierum" (Psalms 23:6):
apud Johannem,
Jesus dixit, "In Domo Patris mei mansiones multae sunt" (14:2 4
).
Quod in illis locis per "Domum Jehovae" et "Domum Patris" intelligatur caelum, patet.
[8] Quod etiam ecclesia, in his:
- Apud Esaiam,
"Domus sanctitatis nostra, et decus nostrum, ubi laudaverunt Te patres nostri, facta est in incendium" (64:10 [B.A. 11]);
apud Jeremiam,
"Deserui Domum meam, dereliqui hereditatem meam" (12:7);
apud Haggaeum,
"Commovebo omnes gentes, ut veniant electio omnium gentium, et impleam Domum hanc gloria;... Mihi argentum et Mihi aurum;... major erit gloria Domus hujus posterioris quam prioris" (2:7-9);
apud Esaiam,
"Dicet Hierosolymae, Aedificare; et Templo, Fundare" (44:28);
agitur ibi de adventu Domini, et de nova ecclesia tunc.
Apud Sachariam,
"Fundata est Domus Jehovae Templum ut aedificetur" (8:9);
similiter.
Apud Danielem,
Belschazar adduci jussit "vasa auri et argenti quae eduxerat Nebuchadnezar pater ejus, quae e Templo Hierosolymae, ut biberent ex illis ac biberunt vinum et laudaverunt deos auri et argenti, aeris, ferri, ligni et lapidis"; et tunc scriptum est in pariete (5:2-4, seq.);
per "vasa auri et argenti quae ex Templo Hierosolymae", significantur bona et vera ecclesiae; per quod "biberint ex illis vinum, et laudaverint deos auri, argenti, aeris, ferri, ligni et lapidis", significatur profanatio illorum; ideo scriptum est in pariete, et 5
rex mutatus ab homine in feram.
[9] Apud Matthaeum,
"Accesserunt discipuli ad ostendendum Jesu structuram Templi; Jesus dixit illis, videtis omnia haec? non relinquetur hic lapis super lapide, qui non dissolvetur" (24:1, 2; Marcus 13:1-5; Luca 21:5-7);
quod "non e Templo relinquetur lapis super lapide qui non dissolvetur", significat destructionem et vastationem ecclesiae totalem; "lapis" etiam significat verum ecclesiae; et quia id significabatur, ideo in illis capitibus apud Evangelistas agitur de successiva vastatione ecclesiae.
In Apocalypsi,
"Adstitit angelus dicens, Surge et metire templum Dei et altare, et eos qui adorant in eo" (11:1);
etiam ibi per "templum" significatur ecclesia, et per "metiri" significatur explorare quale ejus. Simile significatur
Per Novum Templum, et ejus mensuras (apud Ezechielem a cap. 40 ad 48).
[10] Quod per "templum" significetur Divinum Verum quod a Domino, constat ex his locis:
- Apud Ezechielem,
"Sustulit se gloria Jehovae desuper cherubo super limen Domus, et impleta est Domus nube; atrium vero plenum erat splendore gloriae Jehovae" (10:4);
per "Domum" ibi intelligitur caelum et ecclesia; ac per "nubem" et per "gloriam" Divinum Verum.
(Quod "nubes" sit Divinum Verum videatur supra, n. 36; et quod similiter "gloria", n. 6
33.)
[11] Apud Micham,
"Ibunt gentes multae et dicent, Ite et ascendamus ad montem Jehovae, et ad Domum Dei" nostri; "ut doceat nos de viis suis, et eamus in semitis Ipsius: nam a Zione exibit doctrina, et Verbum Jehovae) ex Hierosolyma" (4:2);
"mons Jehovae" et "Domus Dei" significat ecclesiam;
similiter "Zion" et "Hierosolyma": "doceri de viis suis et ire in semitis Ipsius", est instrui in Divinis Veris; quare etiam dicitur, "Ex Zione exibit doctrina, et ex Hierosolyma Verbum."
[12] Apud Esaiam,
"Vox 7
tumultus ab urbe, Vox Jehovae e templo" (66:6);
per "urbem" intelligitur doctrina veri; per "templum ecclesia; et per "vocem Jehovae" e templo, Divinum Verum.
In Apocalypsi,
"Prodiit vox magna e templo caeli a throno, dicens... (16:17);
"vox" ibi similiter pro Divino Vero: alibi,
"Apertum est templum Dei in caelo, et visa est arca foederis Ipsius in templo, et facta sunt fulgura, voces, tonitrua" (11:19);
"fulgura", "voces", "tonitrua", in Verbo significant Divina vera ex caelo (videatur n. 7573, 8914): alibi,
"Apertum est templum tabernaculi testimonii in caelo, et prodierunt e templo septem angeli, habentes septem plagas:... et impletum est templum fumo ex gloria Dei et Virtute Ipsius" (15:5, 6, 8);
septem angeli dicuntur prodiisse e templo quod in caelo, quia per "angelos" significantur Divina vera (videatur supra, n. 130, 200): quid per "fumum ex gloria Dei" significatur, In explicatione illorum in sequentibus videbitur. Praeterea sciendum est quod per Templum a Salomone exstructum, et quoque per Domum silvae Libani, et per singula illorum (de quibus 1 Reg., 6 et 7), significata sint spiritualia et caelestia quae ecclesiae et caeli sunt.
Footnotes:
1. The editors made a correction or note here.
2. The editors made a correction or note here.
3. The editors made a correction or note here.
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6. The editors made a correction or note here.
7. The editors made a correction or note here.