331# “人民、民族”表示属于主的属灵教会和属天教会。这从“人民”和“民族”的含义清楚可知：在圣言中，“人民(经上或译为百姓、国民、万民、众民、民等)”表示那些处于属灵良善的人，因而那些属于主的属灵教会的人；“民族(经上或译为列族、族等)”表示那些处于属天良善的人，因而那些属于主的属天教会的人。天堂分为两个国度，即属天国度和属灵国度，那些处于对主之爱的良善之人在属天国度，那些处于对邻之仁的良善之人在属灵国度，可参看《天堂与地狱》(20–28节)。然而，这两个国度不仅在天上，也在地上，它们在地上被称为属天教会和属灵教会。很少有人知道在圣言中，单数和复数形式的“人民”具体表示什么，单数和复数形式的“民族”表示什么。因此，我想从圣言引用提到这两者的一些经文，由此清楚看出，“人民”和“民族”具有不同的含义，因为除非它们具有不同的含义，否则它们不会一起被提及，如以下经文。
以赛亚书：
强有力的民必荣耀你，强族之城必敬畏你。耶和华必吞灭遮盖万民的遮巾之面，和遮蔽列族的蒙脸帕。(以赛亚书25:3, 7)
此处区分了“万民”和“列族”，因为“万民”表示那些属于主的属灵国度的人，“列族”表示那些属于主的属天国度的人，因而两者表示那些处于属灵良善的人和那些处于属天良善的人。属灵良善是对邻之仁的良善，因而是信之良善，属天良善是对主之爱的良善，因而是相爱的良善。该良善的真理就是“强族之城”所表示的，因为“城”表示真理的教义，或教义的真理；“吞灭遮盖万民的遮巾，和遮蔽列族的蒙脸帕”表示驱散如此遮蔽理解力，以至于看不到属于天堂和教会的真理，感知不到属于天堂和教会的良善的阴影。
同一先知书：
列族啊，要近前来听；众民哪，要听从；愿地和其上所充满的侧耳而听。(以赛亚书34:1)
由于“列族”表示那些处于爱之良善的人，“众民”表示那些处于仁之良善和由此而来的信之真理的人，所以论到列族，经上说，他们要“近前来听”，论到众民，说他们要“听从”；“近前来听”表示通过爱结合，“听从”表示服从并被教导；因此，经上说“愿地和其上所充满的侧耳而听”，“地”表示良善方面的教会，“其上所充满的”表示真理。
又：
我耶和华凭公义召你，必搀扶你的手，使你作众民的约，作列族的光。(以赛亚书42:6)
又：
你要将有眼而瞎、有耳而聋的民都带出来。让众族集合，让万民聚集。(以赛亚书43:8–9)
又：
我已立他作万民的见证，为列族的首领和立法者。(以赛亚书55:4)
又：
主耶和华如此说，看哪，我必向列族举手，向万民竖起大旗。(以赛亚书49:22)
又：
在黑暗中行走的百姓看见了大光。你使这民族繁多，恢复它的大喜乐。(以赛亚书9:2–3)
又：
到那日，耶西的根立作万民的大旗；列族必寻求。他必向列族竖起大旗，召集以色列被赶散的人。(以赛亚书11:10, 12)
这一切话都是指着主说的；“万民”和“列族”表示所有属于祂教会的人；因为所有属于主教会的人要么属于祂的属天国度，要么属于祂的属灵国度；除了在这两个国度的人外，其他人决无可能属于教会。此外，有两样事物构成教会，即良善和真理，两者都来自主；“民族”表示那些处于良善的人，“人民”表示那些处于真理的人；从人抽象出来说，“民族”表示教会的良善，“人民”表示教会的真理；“人民”表示教会的真理，是因为“人民”表示的那些人所处的属灵良善，或对邻之仁的良善本质上是真理。可参看《属天的奥秘》(8042, 10296节)；为何会这样(AC 863, 875, 895, 927, 1023, 1043, 1044, 1555, 2256, 4328, 4493, 5113, 9596节)；因此，那些属于属天国度的人和那些属于属灵国度的人有何区别(AC 2088, 2669, 2708, 2715, 3235, 3240, 4788, 7068, 8521, 9277, 10295节)。
又：
到那时，礼物必奉给万军之耶和华；一个被分裂掠夺的人民；一个被分发践踏的民族，江河横贯其地，奉到锡安山，万军之耶和华立名的地方。(以赛亚书18:2, 7)
此处论述的主题是邀请所有人到教会；因此，经上提到“人民”和“民族”这两者。“锡安山”表示他们被邀请到的教会；“一个被分裂掠夺的人民”表示那些真理被处于教义虚假的人夺走、改变或歪曲的人；“一个被分发践踏的民族”表示那些良善以同样的方式被对待的人，“江河”表示虚假和由此而来的推理。
撒迦利亚书：
将来必有列民和大城的居民来到，去求见耶和华的面，必有许多人民和众多民族来到耶路撒冷寻求万军之耶和华。(撒迦利亚书8:20–22)
此处“人民”和“民族”也表示所有属于主的教会之人；“人民”表示那些属于主的属灵教会的人，“民族”表示那些属于主的属天教会的人。他们必来到的“耶路撒冷”是指教会。
诗篇：
你要立我为列族之首，我素不认识的民必侍奉我。(诗篇18:43)
又：
耶和华必叫万民服在我们以下，又使万族服在我们脚下。神作王治理列族。民中甘心乐意者聚集在一起。(诗篇47:3, 8–9)
又：
好让地上得知你的道路，在所有民族中得知你的救恩。神啊，愿万民称谢你；愿万族都快乐欢呼；因为你必按公正审判万民，引导地上的万族。(诗篇67:2–4)
又：
耶和华啊，在你喜悦你人民中，求你记得我；使我因你列族的喜乐而欢乐。(诗篇106:4–5)
又：
主啊，我要在列族中称谢你，在万民中唱诗给你。(诗篇57:9; 108:3)
这些经文提到了“人民”和“民族”，它们表示所有处于真理和良善的人。此外，应用于人民的这些话是论及真理的话，应用于民族的这些话是论及良善的话。“民族”并不表示其他人，这一点从以下事实也清楚看出来：这些话是大卫说的，大卫是迦南各民族的敌人。
路加福音：
我的眼睛已经看见你的救恩，就是你在万民面前所预备的；是启示列族的光。(路加福音2:30–32)
西番雅书：
我百姓所剩下的必掳掠他们，我民族所余剩的必得着他们为业。(西番雅书2:9)
摩西五经：
她的两个儿子在她子宫里争斗，利百加就去求问耶和华，耶和华对她说，两族在你的子宫里，两民要从你腹中分立(创世记25:22–23)。
申命记：
你当回想往古之日，至高者将地业赐给列族；祂将人子分开时，就照以色列人的数目，立定万民的疆界。(申命记32:7–8)
“人子”与“人民”所表相同，即表示那些处于属灵的真理和良善的人；因此，经上论到他们说：“祂将人子分开时，就照以色列人的数目，立定万民的疆界。”“以色列人”表示属灵教会，他们或以他们命名的十二支派的“数目”表示其中的一切真理和良善(参看AE 330节)；所以他们被称为“万民”；把他们“分开”，并“立定他们的疆界”表示远离虚假，赐予真理；“将地业赐给列族”表示天堂，以及与那些处于爱之良善的人的结合。
但以理书：
所有人民、民族、舌头都必拜祂；祂的权柄是永远的权柄，是不能废去的；祂的国度必不毁灭。(但以理书7:14)
这些话论及主；“人民”和“民族”表示所有处于真理和良善的人；“所有舌头”表示凡具有无论何种教义或宗教信仰的人；因为主的教会是普世的，它存在于所有处于生活的良善，并从其教义仰望天堂，由此与主结合的人中间(关于他们，可参看《天堂与地狱》，318–328节)。由于“民族”表示那些处于爱之良善的人，“人民”表示那些处于仁之良善和由此而来的信之真理的人，所以经上说：“祂的权柄是永远的权柄，祂的国度必不毁灭。”在圣言中，“权柄”论及良善，“国度”论及真理；因此，主凭神性良善而被称为“主”，凭神性真理而被称为“王”。
331b. 除了这些经文外，还有其它经文可以引用来证明，“人民”(经上或译为百姓、国民、万民、众民、民等)表示那些属于属灵教会的人，“民族”(经上或译为列族、族等)表示那些属于属天教会的人。但此处只引用了那些一起到“人民”和“民族”的经文；对此，再补充一些只提及“民族”的经文。
以赛亚书：
敞开城门，使守信的义族得以进入。耶和华啊，你增添民族，你增添民族；你得了荣耀，又移走地的四极。(以赛亚书26:2, 15)
诗篇：
地的四极都要转向耶和华；列族的众家族都要都要在你面前敬拜。因为国度属于耶和华，祂是列族中间的掌权者。(诗篇22:27–28)
以赛亚书：
列族要走向你的光，列王要走向你升现的光辉。你的心要宽畅，大海的繁多必转来归你，列族的万象也必来归你。(以赛亚书60:3, 5)
同一先知书：
众民族必看见你的公义，众王必看见你的荣耀。(以赛亚书62:2)
这些经文没有一起提及“民族”和“人民”，但最后这两段经文仍提到“民族”和“王”，因为“王”与“人民”所表相同，即表示那些处于真理的人(参看AE 31节)；正因“民族”表示那些处于良善的人，“王”表示那些处于真理的人，所以经上论到民族说，他们“必看见你的公义”，论到王说，他们“必看见你的荣耀”；在圣言中，“公义”论及良善，“荣耀”论及真理。在圣言中，“公义”论及神性良善(参看《属天的奥秘》，2235, 9857节)；“荣耀”论及神性真理(AC 4809, 5922, 8267, 8427, 9429节)。
从反面意义可进一步明显看出，“人民”表示那些处于真理的人，“民族”表示那些处于良善的人；因为在反面意义上，“人民”表示那些处于虚假的人，“民族”表示那些处于邪恶的人，如以下经文。以赛亚书：
亚述啊，我怒气的棍，我要打发他攻击伪善的民族，吩咐他攻击我所恼怒的百姓。(以赛亚书10:5–6)
同一先知书：
山间有多人的声音；有许多民族的国聚集哄嚷的声音。他们从远方来，从天边来，耶和华和祂恼恨的兵器要毁灭全地。(以赛亚书13:4–5)
又：
耶和华用不能医治的瘟疫击打万民，发怒管辖列族。(以赛亚书14:6)
又：
喧嚷的响声一发，众民就逃跑；你一兴起，列族就四散。(以赛亚书33:3)
耶利米书：
看哪，有一种民从北方之地而来，必有一大民族从地极被激动。他们拿弓和枪，性情残忍，毫无怜悯。(耶利米书6:22–23)
以西结书：
我使你不再听见列族的诽谤；你必不再受万民的辱骂。(以西结书36:15)
诗篇：
你使我们在列族中成了话柄，在万民中使人摇头。(诗篇44:14)
又：
耶和华使列族的谋略归于无有，使万民的想法全无功效。(诗篇33:10)
在这些经文中，“民或百姓”表示那些反对属灵教会的真理，因而处于虚假的人；“民族或列族”表示那些反对属天教会的良善，因而处于邪恶的人。这也是从迦南地被赶出来的人民和民族的含义。对此，可补充前面所说的(AE 175节)。
331. And people and nation. That this signifies those who belong to the Lord's spiritual church, and to His celestial church, is clear from the signification of people and nation in the Word. That by people are signified those who are in spiritual good, and by nation those who are in celestial good; thus those who belong to the Lord's spiritual church, and to His celestial church. That there are two kingdoms into which the heavens are divided, namely, the celestial kingdom and the spiritual kingdom, and that in the celestial kingdom are those who are in the good of love to the Lord, and in the spiritual kingdom those who are in the good of charity towards the neighbour, may be seen in the work concerning Heaven and Hell 20-28). But those two kingdoms are not only in the heavens, they are also on the earth, and they are called there the celestial church and the spiritual church. Few know what is specifically signified in the Word by a people or peoples, and what specifically by a nation or nations; therefore I wish to adduce some passages from the Word where they are named together, from which it will be clear that "people" and "nations " have a distinct signification, for unless this were the case they would not be named together, as in the following passages:
[2] In Isaiah:
"The strong people shall honour thee, the city of the powerful nations shall fear thee. Jehovah will swallow up in this mountain the faces of the covering, the covering upon all peoples, and the veil spread over all nations" (25:3, 7, 8).
Here a distinction is made between peoples and nations, because peoples signify those who belong to the Lord's spiritual kingdom, and nations those who belong to His celestial kingdom; thus, those who are in spiritual good, and those who are in celestial good. Spiritual good is the good of charity towards the neighbour, and hence the good of faith, and celestial good is the good of love to the Lord, and hence the good of mutual love. The truth of this good is what is meant by the city of powerful nations, for a city signifies the doctrine of truth, or truths of doctrine. By swallowing up the covering cast over all peoples, and the veil spread over all nations, is signified that the shade which covers the understanding shall be dispersed lest the truths be seen and the goods perceived that pertain to heaven and the church.
[3] In the same:
"Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye peoples; let the earth hear, and the fulness thereof" (34:1).
Because nations signify those who are in the good of love, and peoples those who are in the good of charity and thence in the truths of faith, it is therefore said of the nations, that they should come near, and of the peoples, that they should hearken; to come near signifies to be conjoined by love, and to hearken signifies to obey, and to be instructed; therefore it is also said, let the earth hear, and the fulness thereof. By the earth is signified the church as to good, and by the fulness thereof are signified truths.
[4] In the same:
"I Jehovah have called thee, in justice, and will hold thine hand, and will give thee for a covenant to the people, for a light of the nations" (Arcana Coelestia 8042, 10296; the reason of its being so, n. 863, 875, 895, 927, 1023, 1043, 1044, 1555, 2256, 4328, 4493, 5113, 9596. The nature, consequently, of the distinction between those who belong to the celestial kingdom, and those who belong to the spiritual kingdom, n. 2088, 2669, 2709, 2715, 3235, 3240, 4788, 7068, 8521, 9277, 10295.)
[5] In the same:
"At that time a gift shall be brought unto Jehovah Zebaoth; a people divided and pillaged; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of Jehovah, to mount Zion" (18:2, 7).
The subject here treated of is the invitation of all to the church, therefore also people and nation are named. Mount Zion signifies the church, to which they are invited; by a people divided and pillaged, are signified those with whom truths are taken away, altered, or perverted by those who are in falsities of doctrine; by a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, are signified those among whom goods are treated in like manner, rivers denoting falsities and reasonings therefrom.
[6] In Zechariah:
"As yet the peoples shall come, and the inhabitants of great cities to entreat the faces of Jehovah, and so shall come many peoples and numerous nations to seek Jehovah Zebaoth in Jerusalem" (8:20-22).
By peoples and nations are also here signified all those who belong to the Lord's church; by peoples, those who belong to His spiritual church, and by nations, those who belong to His celestial church. Jerusalem, to which they shall come, denotes the church.
[7] In David:
"Thou wilt set me for the head of the nations, a people I had not known shall serve me" (Psalms 18:43).
In the same:
Jehovah "shall subdue the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet. God reigneth over the nations. The willing of the people are gathered together" (47:3, 8, 9).
In the same:
"That thy salvation may be known on the earth, among all nations. The peoples shall confess thee, O God; the nations shall be glad and shout for joy; for thou shalt judge the peoples in uprightness, and shalt lead the nations upon earth" (Psalms 67:2-5).
In the same:
"Remember me, O Jehovah, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people; that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nations" (106:4, 5).
In the same:
"I will confess thee, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing praises unto thee among the peoples" (Psalms 7:7-9; 108:1-3).
In these passages also peoples and nations are mentioned, by whom are meant all those who are in truths and goods; the very expressions also that are used of peoples are expressions that are predicated of truths, and the expressions that are used of nations those that are predicated of goods. That no others are meant by nations, is clear also from this, that those things were said by David, who was the enemy of the Canaanitish nations.
[8] In Luke:
"Mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples; a light in revelation of the nations" (330); they therefore are called peoples. To separate them and to set their bounds, signifies to remove from falsities and to gift with truths; and to give the inheritance to the nations, signifies heaven and conjunction with those who are in the good of love.
[9] In Daniel:
"All peoples, nations, and tongues shall worship him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed" (Heaven and Hell 318-328). Because nations signify those who are in the good of love, and peoples those who are in the good of charity and the truths of faith thence, therefore it is said, "His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom shall not pass away"; dominion in the Word being predicated of good, and kingdom of truth; therefore the Lord is called Lord from Divine good, and King from Divine truth. Besides these passages, there are also others which might be adduced to confirm [the statement], that people signify those who belong to the spiritual church, and nations those who belong to the celestial church; but here those only have been adduced in which people and nations are mentioned together. To these some shall be added in which nations are mentioned alone.
[10] In Isaiah:
"Open the gates, that the just nation which keepeth faithfulness may enter in. Thou hast added to the nation, O Jehovah, thou hast added to the nation; thou art glorified; thou hast removed all the ends of the earth" (31). And because by nations are signified those who are in good, and by kings those who are in truths, therefore it is said concerning nations, that they shall see Thy justice, and concerning kings that they shall see Thy glory, justice in the Word being predicated of good, and glory of truth. (That justice in the Word is predicated of Divine good, may be seen, n. 2235, 9857; and glory of Divine truth, n.5922, 8267, 8427, 9429.)
[11] From the opposite sense it is further evident that peoples signify those who are in truths, and nations those who are in good; for, in that sense, peoples signify those who are in falsities, and nations those who are in evils; as in the following passages.
In Isaiah:
"Asshur, the rod of mine anger. I will send him against a hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge" (175.
331. And people and nation, signifies who are of the Lord's spiritual church, and of His celestial church. This is evident from the signification of "people" and "nation" in the Word, "people" signifying those who are in spiritual good, thus those who are of the Lord's spiritual church, and "nation" those who are in celestial good, thus those who are of the Lord's celestial church. That there are two kingdoms into which the heavens are divided, namely, the celestial kingdom and the spiritual kingdom, and that those who are in the good of love to the Lord are in the celestial kingdom, and those who are in the good of charity towards the neighbor are in the spiritual kingdom, see in the work on Heaven and Hell, (n. 20-28). These two kingdoms, however, are not only in the heavens but also on the earth, and on the earth they are called the celestial church and the spiritual church. Few know what is signified in the Word specifically by a "people" or "peoples," and what by a "nation" or "nations." I will therefore present from the Word some passages where the two are named together, from which it will be clear that "people" and "nations" have distinct significations, for unless they had distinct significations they would not both be named together, as in the following passages.
[2] In Isaiah:
The strong people shall glorify Thee, the city of the formidable nations shall fear Thee. Jehovah will swallow up in this mountain the faces of the covering, that covereth over all peoples, and the veil that is veiled over all nations (Isaiah 25:3, 7).
Here a distinction is made between "peoples" and "nations," because "peoples" signify those who are of the Lord's spiritual kingdom, and "nations" those who are of His celestial kingdom, thus those who are in spiritual good and those in celestial good. Spiritual good is the good of charity towards the neighbor, thus the good of faith, and celestial good is the good of love to the Lord, and thence the good of mutual love. The truth of this good is what is meant by "the city of formidable nations," for "city" signifies the doctrine of truth, or the truths of doctrine; "to swallow up the covering over all peoples, and the veil veiled over all nations," signifies to dispel the shade that has so covered the understanding that the truths are not seen or the goods perceived that pertain to heaven and the church.
[3] In the same:
Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye peoples; let the earth hear, and the fullness thereof (Isaiah 34:1).
Because "nations" signify those who are in the good of love, and "peoples" those who are in the good of charity and in the truths of faith therefrom, it is said of the nations that they should "come near," and of the peoples that they should "hearken;" to "come near" signifies to be conjoined by love, and to "hearken" signifies to obey and to be instructed; it is therefore said, "let the earth hear, and the fullness thereof," "earth" signifying the church in respect to good, and "the fullness thereof" truths.
[4] In the same:
I Jehovah have called thee in righteousness, and I will hold thine hand and I will give thee for a covenant to the people, for a light of the nations (Arcana Coelestia 8042, 10296; why it is so, n. 863, 875, 895, 927, 1023, 1043, 1044, 1555, 2256, 4328, 4493, 5113, 9596; thence what the distinction is between those who are of the celestial kingdom and those who are of the spiritual kingdom, n. 2088, 2669, 2708, 2715, 3235, 3240, 4788, 7068, 8521, 9277, 10295)
[5] In the same:
In that time a present unto Jehovah of Hosts shall be brought; a people distracted and plundered: and a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of Jehovah of Hosts, to Mount Zion (Isaiah 18:2, 7).
This treats of the invitation of all to the church; therefore also "people" and "nation" are both mentioned. "Mount Zion" signifies the church, to which they are invited; "a people distracted and plundered" signifies those with whom truths have been taken away, changed, or perverted by those who are in the falsities of doctrine; "a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled," signifies those with whom goods have been treated in like manner, "rivers" meaning falsities and reasonings therefrom.
[6] In Zechariah:
Yet there shall come peoples, and the inhabitants of great cities, to entreat the faces of Jehovah, and many peoples and numerous nations shall come to seek Jehovah of Hosts in Jerusalem (Zechariah 8:20-22).
Here, too, "peoples" and "nations" signify all who are of the Lord's church; "peoples" those who are of His spiritual church, and "nations" those who are of His celestial church. "Jerusalem," to which they shall come, is the church.
[7] In David:
Thou wilt set me for the head of the nations; a people I have not known shall serve me (Psalms 18:43).
In the same:
Jehovah will subdue the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet. God reigneth over the nations. The willing ones of the peoples are gathered together (Psalms 47:3, 8-9).
In the same:
That [Thy way] may be known on the earth, Thy salvation among all nations. The peoples shall confess Thee, O God: the nations shall be glad and shout for joy; for Thou shalt judge the peoples in uprightness, and shalt lead the nations into the land (Psalms 67:2-4).
Remember me, O Jehovah, in good pleasure towards Thy people; that I may be glad in the joy of Thy nations (Psalms 106:4-5).
I will confess Thee, O Lord, among the nations. I will sing psalms unto Thee among the peoples (Psalms 57:9; 108:3).
In these passages also "peoples" and "nations" are mentioned, by which are meant all who are in truths and goods. Moreover, the very words that are applied to peoples are words that are predicated of truths, and those applied to nations are those that are predicated of goods. That no other are meant by "nations" is evident also from the fact that these things were said by David, who was an enemy of the Canaanitish nations.
[8] In Luke:
Mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples; a light for a revelation to the nations (330); such therefore are called "peoples;" "to separate" them and "to set their bounds" signifies to alienate from falsities and to bestow truths; and "to give an inheritance to the nations" signifies heaven and conjunction with those who are in the good of love.
[9] In Daniel:
All peoples, nations, and tongues shall worship Him; His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not perish (Heaven and Hell 318-328). Because "nations" signify those who are in the good of love, and "peoples" those who are in the good of charity and in the truths of faith therefrom, it is said, "His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom shall not pass away;" "dominion" in the Word is predicated of good, and "kingdom" of truth; for this reason the Lord is called "Lord" from Divine good, and "king" from Divine truth.
There are other passages besides these that might be quoted to prove that "peoples" signify those who are of the spiritual church, and "nations" those who are of the celestial church. So far those only have been presented in which "peoples" and "nations" are mentioned together; to these some shall be added in which "nations" alone are mentioned.
[10] In Isaiah:
Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keepeth faithfulness may enter in. Thou hast added to the nation, O Jehovah, Thou hast added to the nation; Thou hast been glorified: Thou hast removed all the ends of the earth (31); and it is because "nations" signify those who are in good, and "Kings" those who are in truths, that it is said of the nations that they "shall see Thy righteousness," and of the kings that they shall "see Thy glory;" "righteousness" in the Word being predicated of good, and "glory" of truth. (That "righteousness" is predicated in the Word of Divine good, see Arcana Coelestia 2235, 9857; and "glory" of Divine truth, n. 4809, 5922, 8267, 8427, 9429.)
[11] From the contrary sense it can yet be seen that "peoples" signify those who are in truths, and "nations" those who are in good; for in that sense "peoples" signify those who are in falsities, and "nations" those who are in evils, as in the following. In Isaiah:
O Assyrian, the rod of Mine anger, I will send him against a hypocritical nation, and against the people of My wrath will I command him (175 be added.
331. "Et populo et gente." - Quod significet qui ab ecclesia Domini spirituali et ab ecclesia Ipsius caelesti, constat ex significatione "populi" et "gentis" in Verbo; quod per "populum" significentur qui in bono spirituali sunt, et per "gentem" qui in bono caelesti, ita qui ab ecclesia Domini spirituali et ab ecclesia Ipsius caelesti sunt. Quod duo regna sint in quae caeli distincti sunt, nempe regnum caeleste et regnum spirituale, et quod in regno caelesti sint qui in bono amoris in Dominum sunt, et in regno spirituali qui in bono charitatis erga proximum, videatur in opere De Caelo et Inferno (n. 20-28): at duo illa regna non solum sunt in caelis, sed etiam in terris, et in terris vocantur ecclesia caelestis et ecclesia spiritualis. Pauci sciunt quid in specie per "populum" aut "populos", et quid in specie per "gentem" aut "gentes" in Verbo significatur"; ideo velim aliqua loca e Verbo adducere, ubi simul nominantur, ex quibus patebit quod distinctum quid per "populum" et distinctum quid per "gentes" significetur; nam nisi distinctum quid significaretur, non utrumque simul nominaretur: ut in sequentibus locis:
[2] - Apud Esaiam,
"Honorabunt Te populus validus, urbs gentium robustarum timebunt Te;.... Jehovah.... absorbebit in monte hoc faces obvolutionis, obvolutionem super omnes populos, et velamen obvelatum super omnes gentes" (25:3, 7, 8);
distinguitur hic inter "populos" et inter "gentes", quia "populi" significant illos qui e regno spirituali Domini sunt, et "gentes" illos qui e regno caelesti Ipsius; ita illos qui in bono spirituali et qui in bono caelesti. Bonum spirituale est bonum charitatis erga proximum et inde bonum fidei, et bonum caeleste est bonum amoris in Dominum et inde bonum amoris mutui: verum hujus boni est quod intelligitur per "urbem gentium robustarum", nam "urbs" significat doctrinam veri seu vera doctrinae; per "absorbere obvolutionem super omnes populos et velamen obvelatum super omnes gentes", significatur quod discutietur umbra quae obtexit intellectum ne videantur vera et percipiantur bona quae ecclesiae et caeli sunt.
[3] Apud eundem,
"Appropinquate gentes ad audiendum, et populi auscultate; audiat terra et plenitudo ejus" (34:1):
quia "gentes" significant illos qui in bono amoris sunt, et "populi" illos qui in bono charitatis et inde veris fidei, ideo dicitur de gentibus quod "appropinquarent", et de populis quod "auscultarent"; "appropinquare" significat conjungi per amorem, et "auscultare" significat obedire et instrui; ac ideo dicitur, "Audiat terra et plenitudo ejus"; per "terram" significatur ecclesia quoad bonum, et per "plenitudinem ejus" significantur vera.
[4] Apud eundem,
"Ego Jehovah vocavi Te in justitia, et apprehendam manum tuam, ... et dabo Te in foedus populo, in lucem gentium" (42:6);
apud eundem,
"Educ populum caecum cui oculi sunt, et surdos quibus aures; omnes gentes congregentur una, et conveniant populi" (43:8, 9);
apud eundem,
"In testem populis dedi Ipsum, principem et legislatorem 1
apud eundem,
"Sic dixit Dominus Jehovih, Ecce tollam erga gentes manum meam, et erga populos attollam signum meum" (49:22);
apud eundem,
"Populi ambulantes in tenebris viderunt lucem magnam:.... multiplicasti gentem, illi magnum reddidisti gaudium" (9:1, 2 [B.A. 2, 3]);
et apud eundem,
"Fiet in die illo, radicem Jischaji, quae stans in signum populorum, gentes quaerent, .... et tollet signum gentibus, et congregabit expulsos Israelis" (11:10, 12);
haec quae in his locis de Domino dicta sunt, ac per "populos et gentes" intelliguntur omnes qui ab ecclesia Ipsius; nam omnes qui ab ecclesia Domini sunt, vel e regno Ipsius caelesti sunt vel e regno Ipsius spirituali; praeter illos qui in duobus istis regnis, nulli dantur qui ab ecclesia. Sunt etiam duo quae faciunt ecclesiam, bonum et verum, utrumque a Domino; per "gentes" intelliguntur illi qui in bono sunt, et per "populos" illi qui in vero; et abstracte a personis, per "gentes" significantur bona ecclesiae, et per "populos" vera ejus: quod per "populos" significentur vera ecclesiae, est quia bonum spirituale, seu bonum charitatis erga proximum, in quo sunt illi qui per "populos" intelliguntur, in sua essentia est verum. (Videatur in Arcanis Caelestibus, n. 8042, 10296; causa quod ita sit, n. 863, 875, 895, 927, 1023, 1043, 1044, 1555, 2256, 4328, 4493, 5113, 9596; quale inde discrimen inter illos qui e regno caelesti sunt et illos qui e regno spirituali, n. 2088, 2669, 2708, 2715, 3235, 3240, 4788, 7068, 8521, 9277, 10295.)
[5] Apud eundem,
"In tempore illo adducetur munus Jehovae Zebaoth, populus distractus et expilatus, .... et gens delineata et conculcata, cujus terram depraedati sunt fluvii, ad locum nominis Jehovae [Zebaoth] , montem Zionis" (18:2, 7):
agitur ibi de invitatione omnium ad ecclesiam; quare etiam nominatur "populus" et "gens": "mons Zionis" significat ecclesiam ad quam invitantur; per "populum distractum et expilatum" significantur illi apud quos vera, ab illis qui in falsis doctrinae sunt, sublata, mutata aut perversa sunt; per "gentem delineatam et conculcatam, cujus terram depraedati sunt fluvii", significantur illi apud quos bona similiter; "fluvii" sunt falsa et ratiocinationes ex illis.
[6] Apud Sachariam,
"Adhuc venient populi, et habitatores urbium magnarum, .... ad deprecandum facies Jehovae;.... et sic venient populi multi et gentes numerosae ad quaerendum Jehovam Zebaoth in Hierosolyma" (8 [20,] 21, 22):
per "populos" et per "gentes" etiam ibi significantur omnes qui ab ecclesia Domini, per "populos" illi qui ab ecclesia Ipsius spirituali, et per "gentes" illi qui ab ecclesia Ipsius caelesti; "Hierosolyma", quo venient, est ecclesia.
[7] Apud Davidem,
"Pones Me in caput gentium; populus quem non noveram, servient Mihi" (Psalms 18:44 [B.A. 43]);
apud eundem,
Jehovah "subjiciet populos sub nos, et gentes sub pedes nostros:.... regnat Deus super gentes, .... spontanei populorum congregati sunt (Psalm. 47 [4,] 9, 10, 9, 10 [B.A. 3, 8, 9]);
apud eundem,
"Ad cognoscendum in terra...inter omnes gentes salutem tuam; confitebuntur Tibi populi, Deus, .... laetabuntur et jubilabunt gentes, eo quod judicaturus es populos rectitudine, et gentes in terram ducturus es" (Psalms 67:3-5 [B.A. 2-4]);
apud eundem,
"Memento mei Jehovah in beneplacito populi tui, .... ut laeter in gaudio gentium tuarum" (Psalms 106:4, 5);
apud eundem,
"Confitebor Tibi inter gentes, Domine, psallam Tibi inter populos" ( 2
Psalm. 57:8-10 [B.A. 7-9] ; Psalms 108:2-4 [B.A. 1-3]):
in his locis etiam "populi" et "gentes" nominantur, per quos intelliguntur omnes qui in veris et bonis sunt; ipsae etiam voces quae dicuntur de populis sunt voces quae praedicantur de veris, et quae de gentibus sunt voces quae praedicantur de bonis. Quod non alii per "gentes" intelligantur, etiam patet ex eo, quod a Davide illa dicta sint, qui gentium Cananaearum hostis fuit.
[8] Apud Lucam,
"Viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum, quod praeparasti ante faciem omnium populorum, lumen in revelationem gentium" (2:30-32 3
).
Apud Zephaniam,
"Reliquiae populi mei depraedabuntur eos, et residui gentis meae hereditabunt eos" (2:9).
Apud Mosen,
Cum duo filii in utero colliderent, abivit Rebecca ad quaerendum Jehovam; "cui dixit Jehovah, Duae gentes in utero tuo, et duo populi ex visceribus tuis separabuntur" (Genes. 25 4
2223);
et apud eundem,
"Memento dierum saeculi, .... quum hereditatem daret Altissimus gentibus, quum separaret filios hominis; constituit terminos populorum juxta numerum filiorum Israelis" (32 [7,] 8);
per "filios hominis" simile significatur quod per "populos", nempe qui in veris et bonis spiritualibus sunt; quare de illis dicitur, "Quum separaret filios hominis, constituit terminos populorum juxta numerum filiorum Israelis"; per "filios Israelis" significatur ecclesia spiritualis, et per "numerum" eorum, seu duodecim tribuum ab illis nominatarum, significantur omnia vera et bona ibi (videatur mox supra, n. 330); ideo illi vocantur "populi": "separare" illos et "constituere terminos" illorum, significat abalienare a falsis et donare veris; et "hereditatem dare gentibus" significat caelum et conjunctionem cum illis qui in bono amoris sunt.
[9] Apud Danielem,
"Omnes populi, gentes, et linguae Ipsum colent; dominium Ipsius dominium aeternum quod non transibit, et regnum Ipsius quod non peribit" (7:14);
haec de Domino; et per "populos" et "gentes" intelliguntur omnes qui in veris et bonis sunt; et per "omnes linguas" intelliguntur e quacunque doctrina seu religione; nam ecclesia Domini est universalis, est enim apud omnes qui in bono vitae sunt, et ex doctrina sua spectant ad caelum, et per id se conjungunt Domino (de quibus videatur in opere De Caelo et Inferno 318-328). Quia "gentes significant illos qui in bono amoris sunt, et per "populos" qui in bono charitatis et inde veris fidei, ideo dicitur "Dominium Ipsius dominium aeternum, et regnum Ipsius non praeteribit"; "dominium" in Verbo dicitur de bono, et "regnum" de vero; quare Dominus dicitur "Dominus" ex Divino Bono, et "Rex" ex Divino Vero.
Praeter haec loca etiam alia dantur, quae adduci possent ad confirmandum quod "populi" significent illos qui ab ecclesia spirituali sunt, et "gentes" illos qui ab ecclesia caelesti; sed illa solum hic adducta sunt in quibus conjunctim nominantur "populi et gentes"; quibus aliqua adjicientur, in quibus solum "gentes:"
[10] - Apud Esaiam,
"Aperite portas ut ingrediatur gens justa custodiens fidelitates;.... addidisti genti, Jehovah, addidisti genti, glorificatus es, removisti omnes extremitates terrae" (26:2, 15):
apud Davidem,
"Convertentur ad Jehovam omnes fines terrae, et adorabunt coram Te omnes familiae gentium; quia Jehovae regnum, et dominans inter gentes" (Psalms 22:28, 29 [B.A. 27, 28]):
apud Esaiam,
"Ambulabunt gentes ad lucem tuam, et reges ad splendorem ortus tui;.... dilatabit se cor tuum, quod convertatur ad Te multitudo maris, exercitus gentium veniant ad Te" (60:3, 5, 11);
apud eundem,
"Videbunt omnes gentes justitiam tuam, et omnes reges gloriam tuam" (62:2):
in his locis non conjunctim dicuntur "gentes et populi", sed usque in binis ultimis "gentes" et "reges", quia per "reges" significatur simile quod per "populos", nempe illi qui in veras sunt (videatur supra, n. 31); et quia per "gentes" significantur illi qui in bono sunt, et per "reges" illi qui in veris, ideo de gentibus dicitur quod "videbunt justitiam tuam", et de "regibus" quod "videbunt gloriam
tuam"; "justitia" in Verbo dicitur de bono, et "gloria" de vero.
(Quod "justitia" in Verbo dicatur de Divino Bono, videatur n. 2235, 9857; et quod "gloria" de Divino Vero, n. 4809, 5
[11] Ex opposito sensu adhuc constare potest quod "populi" significent illos qui in veris, ac "gentes" illos qui in bono; nam in illo sensu "populi" significant illos qui in falsis, et "gentes" illos qui in malis; ut in sequentibus:
Apud Esaiam,
"Aschur virga irae meae, .... contra gentem hypocriticam mittam illum, et contra populum excandescentiae meae mandabo illum" (10:5, 6);
apud eundem,
"Vox multitudinis in montibus, [species populi magni,] vox tumultus regnorum gentium congregatarum;.... veniunt e terra longinquitatis, ab extremitate caelorum, Jehovah cum vasis irae suae ad perdendum omnem terram" ( 6
apud eundem,
Jehovah "percutiens populos.... plaga non curabili, dominans cum ira gentibus" (14:6);
apud eundem,
"A voce tumultus divagentur populi, et prae celsitudine tua dispergantur gentes" (33:3):
apud Jeremiam,
"Ecce populus venit e terra septentrionis, et gens magna excitabitur ex lateribus terrae; arcum et hastam prehendunt; crudelis illa, nec miserantur" (6:22, 23):
apud Ezechielem,
"Non audire te faciam amplius calumniam gentium, et opprobrium populorum non portabis amplius" (36:15):
apud Davidem,
"Ponis nos proverbium inter gentes, motionem capitis inter populos" (Psalms 44:15 [B.A. 14]);
et apud eundem,
"Jehovah irritum reddit consilium gentium, subvertit cogitationes populorum" (Psalms 33:10):
in his locis "populi" pro illis qui contra vera ecclesiae spiritualis sunt, ita qui in falsis, et "gentes" pro illis qui contra bona ecclesiae caelestis sunt, ita qui in malis. Haec quoque significantur per "populos et gentes" qui expulsi e Terra Canaane sunt. (Addantur his quae supra, n. 7
175.)
Footnotes:
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