391# “我看见在祭坛底下”表示那些被保存在天堂之下的人。这从“看见”和“祭坛”的含义清楚可知：“看见”是指显现(参看AE 351节)；“祭坛”在最近似的意义上表示出于对主之爱的良善的敬拜；在更内在的意义上表示处于这爱的天堂和教会；在至内在意义上表示神性之爱的神性良善方面的主的神性人身。“在祭坛底下”之所以表示那些被保存在天堂之下的人，是因为经上说，他“看见在祭坛底下，有为神的圣言，并为自己所作的见证被杀之人的灵魂”，他们表示那些被保存在天堂之下，直到最后审判的人；但由于这一点在世上尚不为人知，所以我想告知这事是如何发生的，是什么时候发生的。《最后的审判》这本小著已经说明，在最后审判发生之前，有一个已经过去的先前的天(启示录21:1)所表示的天堂的假象，这个天堂是由那些处于没有内在的外在敬拜，因而过着一种外在道德生活的人构成的，不过，他们是纯属世的，不是属灵的。在最后审判之前，那些构成该天堂的人出现在大地之上的灵界，也出现在大山、小山、岩石上，因此他们自以为在天堂；但那些构成这个天堂的人因只处于一种外在的道德生活，而非同时处于一种内在的属灵生活，故被扔下来；当他们被扔下去时，所有被主保存，并隐藏在各处，大部分在低地的人就被提升，并转到这些地方，也就是转到前者所在的大山、小山、岩石上；一个新天堂便由这些人形成。被保存，那时被提升的后者来自那些在世上过着仁爱的生活，处于对真理的属灵情感的人。我经常见证后者上升到前者所在的地方。“祭坛底下所看见的被杀之人的灵魂”所表示的，正是这些人，由于他们被主保守在低地，而这地在天堂底下，所以“我看见祭坛底下”表示那些被保存在天堂之下的人。不过，启示录20:4–5, 12–13特别论述了这些人，那里详述了他们。与此同时，关于已经过去的先前的天，以及最后审判之后由主形成的新天堂，可参看小著《最后的审判》(65–72节)。这几句话足以为理解后两节经文的话提供某种光明，即：那些在祭坛底下的人“大声喊着说，神圣真实的主啊，你不审判住在地上的人，为我们的血伸冤，要等到几时呢？于是有白袍赐给他们各人；又有话吩咐他们，还要歇息片刻，等到与他们同作仆人的，和他们的弟兄，像他们一样被杀，满足了。”
“在祭坛底下”之所以表示在天堂之下，是因为“祭坛”在至高意义上表示主，在相对意义上表示天堂和教会；事实上，主就是天堂和教会，因为与天使和世人同在的天堂和教会的一切，或构成天堂和教会的爱和信的一切都来自主，因而是祂的；但在一般意义上，“祭坛”表示对主的一切敬拜，尤表代表性敬拜，就是诸如存在于以色列人当中的那种。“祭坛”之所以表示一切敬拜，因为在这个教会，“敬拜”主要在于献燔祭和祭物；因为这些是为一切的罪和罪过献上的，也是出于讨耶和华喜悦的渴望献上的(这些被称为感恩祭或甘心祭)，同样是为各种洁净献上的。此外，在教会的一切圣事中，供职仪式也是通过燔祭和祭物实现的，这从亚伦和他儿子供祭司职分的祝圣礼，以及会幕的祝圣礼，和后来圣殿的祝圣礼上的祭物明显看出来。由于对耶和华，也就是主的敬拜主要在于燔祭和祭物，所以这些也每天，即每早晨和晚上献上，用一个词来称呼，就是“常献的祭”，此外还有在每个节日上大量献上的祭；因此，在圣言中，“常献的祭”表示一切代表性敬拜。由此可见，敬拜，尤其这个民族的代表性敬拜主要在于燔祭和祭物。因此，在圣言中，在其上执行这些并包含它们的祭坛表示总体上的一切敬拜。敬拜不仅是指外在敬拜，还指内在敬拜；内在敬拜包含爱的一切和信的一切，因而包含构成与人同在的教会或天堂的一切，简言之，就是使主与他同在的一切。
391b. 天堂之所以在约翰面前以祭坛来代表，还因为整部圣言是通过代表，就是通过诸如存在于以色列人中间的那类代表写成的；因此，为叫圣言可以在新旧约中是相似的，这本书所记载，并且被约翰看到的事物就像在其它部分的事物，也就是说，香坛，香本身和香炉，以及帐幕，约柜和其它具有类似性质的事物都被看到了。但如今这些事物永不向任何天使，或视觉向天堂打开的任何人显现。如今，祭坛，约柜和类似事物之所以不出现在天堂，是因为古人对祭祀一无所知，并且主降临之后，它们被完全废除了。祭祀是由希伯开始的，后来在其被称为希伯来人的后代当中延续，在来自希伯的以色列人当中被容忍，尤其因为一种敬拜一旦开始，并扎根在心智中，就不会被主废除或移除，而是被弯过来，以表示宗教的神圣之物(参看《属天的奥秘》，1343, 2180, 2818, 10042节)。
“祭坛”在至高意义上表示神性之爱的神性良善方面的主的神性人身，在相对意义上表示天堂和教会，总体上的一切敬拜，具体的代表性敬拜，这一点从以下圣言经文可以看出来。诗篇：
求你发出你的亮光和真理，好引导我；带我到你的圣山，到你的居所，我就走到神的祭坛，到神那里。(诗篇43:3–4)
很明显，此处“神的祭坛”表示神性人身方面的主，因为这些话论述了通往天堂和那里的主的道路；“求你发出你的亮光和真理，好引导我”表示通往天堂的道路；“光”表示真理出现所在的光照；“带我到圣山，到你的居所”表示它所通往的天堂；“圣山”表示主的属天国度所在的天堂，爱之良善在该国度掌权；而主的属灵国度所在的天堂被称为“居所”，源于那良善的真理在该国度掌权；由于所表示的是这两者，所以经上说“我就走到神的祭坛，到神那里”，“神的祭坛”表示主以爱之良善所在之处，“神”表示主以源于那良善的真理所在之处，因为主凭神性真理而被称为“神”，凭神性良善而被称为“耶和华”。犹太教会有两样事物在至高意义上表示主的神性人身，即：祭坛和圣殿；祭坛表示神性良善方面的神性人身；圣殿表示从那良善发出的神性真理方面的神性人身。这两者之所以表示在其神性人身方面的主，是因为在犹太教会，敬拜的一切事物都代表从主发出、被称为属天和属灵的神性事物，敬拜本身主要在祭坛上和圣殿内举行，因此，这两者代表主自己。
主自己在约翰福音中明确教导，殿代表祂的神性人身：
犹太人说，你能显什么神迹，表明你可以做这些事呢？耶稣回答说，你们拆毁这殿，我三日内要再建立起来。但耶稣是指着祂身体的殿说的。(约翰福音2:18–23; 马太福音26:61; 以及别处)
当门徒把殿的建筑指给祂看时，主说：
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)
这表示主在他们中间被完全否认，也正因如此，殿从其根基被拆毁，或说被彻底摧毁。
391c. “祭坛”也表示主的神性人身，这一点可从主在马太福音中的话推断出来：
你们这瞎眼领路的有祸了，因为你们说，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，他就是有罪的。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？你们又说，凡指着坛起誓的，这算不得什么；只是凡指着坛上礼物起誓的，他就是有罪的。哪个更大呢？是礼物，还是使礼物成圣的坛呢？因为那指着坛起誓的，就是指着坛和坛上的一切起誓。那指着殿起誓的，就是指着殿和那住在殿里的起誓。那指着天起誓的，就是指着神的宝座和那坐在上面的起誓。(马太福音23:16–22)
此处说，殿使殿中的金子成圣，坛使坛上的礼物成圣，因而殿和坛是最神圣的，一切成圣都来自它们；因此，“殿”和“坛”表示神性人身方面的主，因为天堂和教会的一切神圣之物都来自这神性人身。如果含义不是这样，那么殿或坛怎能使任何事物成圣呢？敬拜本身也不能使之成圣，使之成圣的，唯独是被敬拜的主，敬拜的良善和真理都从祂发出；因此，经上说，成圣的，不是礼物，而是祭坛，“礼物”表示构成敬拜的祭物；由于犹太人不明白这一切，而是教导别的，所以主称他们为“愚蠢瞎眼的人”。
由于祭坛表示这一点，所以凡触着它的，都成圣了，这明显可见于摩西五经：
你要七天使坛分别成圣，坛就成为至圣；凡触着坛的，都成为圣。(出埃及记29:37)
“触”表示交流、转移和接受(参看《属天的奥秘》，10130节)，在此表示从主发出的神性；由于“触”表示这一点，那些触着的人就成为圣，所以可知，“祭坛”在至高意义上表示主自己，任何神圣之物都不是来自其它任何源头。此外，一切敬拜都是对主的敬拜，并且来自主；由于这个教会的敬拜主要由燔祭和祭物构成，所以“祭坛”表示一切事物所来自的神性本身，这神性就是主的神性人身。
因此，经上还吩咐：
坛上的火要常常烧着，不可熄灭。(利未记6:12–13)
会幕内的灯要从那火点燃，他们要从香炉里的火中取来烧香；因为“火”表示唯独在主里面的神性之爱(参看AE 68节)。
由于“坛火”表示神性之爱，所以先知以赛亚因它成圣：
有一撒拉弗飞到我跟前，手里拿着烧红的炭，是从坛上取下来的，他沾我的口，说，这炭沾了你的嘴；因此，你的罪孽便除掉，你的罪就赦免了。(以赛亚书6:6–7)
当知道“坛”表示神性人身方面的主，坛上的“火”表示祂的神性之爱的神性良善时，就能看出这些话在其系列中表示什么；先知的“口和嘴”表示良善和真理的教义；“沾”表示交流；“被除掉的罪孽”表示虚假，“罪”表示邪恶；因为“罪孽”论及虚假的生活，也就是违背真理的生活，“罪”表示邪恶的生活，也就是违背良善的生活。
以赛亚书：
阿拉伯的一切羊群都必聚集到你这里，尼拜约的公羊要供你使用，它们必上我的祭坛蒙悦纳；我必这样装饰我恩典的家。(以赛亚书60:7)
此处论述的主题是主的降临，这些话论及主自己；“都必聚集的阿拉伯的一切羊群”和“要供使用的尼拜约的公羊”表示所有属灵良善，包括外在的和内在的，“羊群”表示外在良善，“公羊”表示内在良善，“阿拉伯”和“尼拜约”表示属灵事物；“它们必上我的祭坛蒙悦纳；我必这样装饰我恩典的家”表示主的神性人身，这些事物将在这神性人身中，“祭坛”表示神性良善方面的祂的神性人身，“恩典的家”表示神性真理方面的祂的神性人身。此处所表示的，是神性人身方面的主，这一点从这一章的前面部分和接下来的经文明显看出来，在前面部分，经上说“耶和华却要升起照耀你，祂的荣耀要显在你身上”，接下来的经文则描述了主在其人身方面将被充满的神性智慧。
“祭坛”在至高意义上表示主的神性人身，故“祭坛”也表示天堂和教会；事实上，天使天堂就本身而言，来自从主的神性人身发出的神性；天使天堂由此整体上如同一个人；因此，天堂被称为最大的人(对此，参看《天堂与地狱》，59–86节中的说明；对于教会，参看HH 57节)。由于一切敬拜都来自主，这是主自己所处的神性，这神性从主传给人，所以“祭坛”也表示总体上从爱之良善发出的敬拜的一切；“殿”表示从源于那良善的真理发出的敬拜；因为一切敬拜要么来自爱，要么来信，要么来自良善，要么来自真理；来自爱之良善的敬拜就是诸如存在于主的属天国度中的那种，来自源于那良善的真理的敬拜就是诸如存在于主的属灵国度中的那种(对此，参看HH 20–28节)。
391d. 由此可见，以下经文中的“祭坛”表示什么。诗篇：
万军之耶和华啊，你的居所何等可爱！我的灵魂渴想切慕耶和华的院宇；我的内心，我的肉体向永生神欢唱。万军之耶和华，我的王、我的神啊，你的祭坛，雀鸟为自己找到家，燕子为自己找到巢。住在你家中的，便为有福。(诗篇84:1–4)
此处“祭坛”表示天堂，因为经上说“你的居所何等可爱！我的灵魂渴想切慕耶和华的院宇”，后来说“万军之耶和华啊，你的祭坛”。“居所”表示高层天堂，“院宇”表示低层天堂，那里有入口；这些天堂也因敬拜而被称为“祭坛”；由于一切敬拜都通过真理来自爱之良善，所以经上说“万军之耶和华，我的王、我的神啊，你的祭坛”；因为主凭神性良善而被称为耶和华，凭神性真理而被称为“王”和“神”；由于所表示的是天堂，所以经上还说“住在你家中的，便为有福”，“耶和华神的家”表示整体上的天堂。经上之所以又说“雀鸟找到家，燕子找到巢”，是因为“鸟”表示属灵真理，“燕子”表示属世真理，通过这些真理而有敬拜；由于通过真理而有敬拜，这一切真理都来自爱之良善，所以经上先说“我的内心，我的肉体向永生神欢唱”，“内心和肉体”表示爱之良善，“欢唱”表示出于良善之快乐的敬拜。
在启示录的这些经文中，“祭坛”表示天堂和教会：
有一根像杖一样的苇子赐给我；天使站着对我说，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)
又：
我又听见祭坛中另一位天使说，是的，主神，全能者啊，你的判断又真实又公义！(启示录16:7)
诗篇：
耶和华啊，我要洗手表明无辜，才环绕你的祭坛，好使称谢的声音被听见。(诗篇26:6–7)
“洗手表明无辜”表示从邪恶和虚假中洁净出来；“耶和华啊，环绕你的祭坛”表示通过出于爱之良善的敬拜而与主的结合；由于这是通过源于良善的真理举行的敬拜，所以经上补充说“好使称谢的声音被听见”，“使称谢的声音被听见”表示出于真理的敬拜。“耶和华啊，环绕你的祭坛”之所以表示主通过出于爱之良善的敬拜的结合，是因为“耶和华”论及爱之良善，“环绕”表示以敬拜拥抱，因而表示被结合。
以赛亚书：
当那日，埃及地必有五城用迦南的口唇说话，又指着万军之耶和华起誓；每一城都必称为Ir Cheres(太阳城)。当那日，在埃及地中间必有一座祭坛献给耶和华，在埃及的边界上必有一根柱献给耶和华。(以赛亚书19:18–19)
“埃及”表示属世人及其认识能力或科学；“当那日”表示主的降临和那时那些将处于来自主的真知识或科学之人的状态；“埃及地必用迦南的口唇说话的五城”表示教义的许多真理，这些真理都是教会的纯正真理，“五”表示许多，“城”表示教义的真理，“迦南的口唇”表示教会的教义；“指着万军之耶和华起誓”表示那些称谢主的人；在圣言中，此处和其它许多经文提到的“万军之耶和华”表示在一切良善和真理方面的主，因为在原文，“万军”表示众军，“众军”在灵义上表示天堂和教会的一切良善和真理(参看《属天的奥秘》，3448, 7236, 7988, 8019节)。因此，这就是“万军之耶和华”或“万象之耶和华”的含义；“每一城都必称为Ir Cheres(太阳城)”表示因属世人中的属灵真理而闪闪发光的教义，因为“Ir”表示城，“城”表示教义，“Cheres”表示像太阳那样闪闪发光；“当那日，在埃及地中间必有一座祭坛献给耶和华”表示那时必有通过属世人中的真知识而出于爱之良善的对主的敬拜；“献给耶和华的祭坛”表示出于爱之良善对主的敬拜，“埃及地中间”表示通过属世人中的真知识或科学，真知识或科学也指来自圣言字义的知识或认知；“在埃及的边界上献给耶和华的一根柱”表示出于信之真理对主的敬拜，“柱或雕像”表示出于信之真理的敬拜，“埃及的边界”表示终端事物；属世人的终端事物是感官事物。
同一先知书：
当他叫祭坛所有的石头都变为破碎的灰石时；小树林和日像必不再立起。(以赛亚书27:9)
这些事物论及雅各和以色列，他表示教会，在此表示要毁灭的教会；“叫祭坛的石头变为破碎的灰石”描述了它在敬拜的真理方面的毁灭，“祭坛的石头”表示敬拜的真理，“变为破碎的灰石”表示变为不连贯的虚假；“小树林和日像必不再立起”表示必不再有出于属灵和属世真理的任何敬拜，“小树林”表示出于属灵真理的敬拜，“日像”表示出于属世真理的敬拜。
耶利米哀歌：
主丢弃自己的祭坛，祂憎恶自己的圣所；将她宫殿的墙交于仇敌手中。(耶利米哀歌2:7)
这是对教会的一切事物荒废的哀悼；“主丢弃自己的祭坛”表示教会在一切良善方面已经荒废；“祂憎恶自己的圣所”表示教会在一切真理方面已经荒废。“圣所”论及真理方面的教会(参看AE 204a节)。“将她宫殿的墙交于仇敌手中”表示虚假和邪恶已经进入教会的一切事物；“仇敌”表示邪恶和虚假，“交于他手中”表示它们已经进入并占领，或说已经抓住并进入，“宫殿的墙”表示一切保护的真理，“宫殿”表示教义事物。
391e. 以赛亚书：
凡守安息日，又持守我约的人，我必领他们到我的圣山，使他们在我祷告的家中喜乐；他们的燔祭和祭物，在我坛上必蒙悦纳。(以赛亚书56:6–7)
“安息日”表示主与天堂并教会，因而与那些在其中之人的结合；所以“守安息日”表示处于与主的结合；“守祂约”表示通过照主的诫命生活而结合；“约”表示结合，进行结合的，是遵照诫命的生活；因此，十诫被称为“约”；“我必领他们到我的圣山”表示祂要将爱之良善赋予他们，“圣山”表示对主之爱的良善所盛行的天堂，因而也表示诸如在那天堂里的那种爱之良善；“我必使他们在我祷告的家中喜乐”表示祂要将属灵真理赋予他们，“祷告的家或殿”表示属灵真理所在的天堂，因而也表示诸如在那天堂里的那类属灵真理；“他们的燔祭和祭物，在我坛上必蒙悦纳”表示通过属灵真理出于爱之良善的可接受的敬拜，“燔祭”表示出于爱之良善的敬拜，“祭物”表示出于来自那良善的真理的敬拜；“在祭坛上”表示在天堂和教会中。
诗篇：
求你随你的美意善待锡安，建造耶路撒冷的城墙。那时，你必喜爱公义的祭和全燔祭；那时，人必将公牛献在你坛上。(诗篇51:18–19)
“锡安”表示处于爱之良善的教会，“耶路撒冷”表示处于教义之真理的教会；因此，“随美意善待锡安，建造耶路撒冷的城墙”表示通过把教会引向爱之良善，并在教义之真理上教导它而恢复它。“那时，你必喜爱公义的祭和全燔祭”表示在这种情况下，出于爱之良善的敬拜，“公义”论及属天良善，“全燔祭”表示爱；“那时，人必将公牛献在你坛上”表示在这种情况下，出于仁之良善的敬拜，“公牛”表示属世-属灵良善，该良善是仁之良善。
又：
神是光照我们的耶和华；你们要用绳索把节期供物绑到坛角。你是我的神。(诗篇118:27–28)
“光照”表示在真理上光照；“用绳索把节期供物绑到坛角”表示将敬拜的一切事物都结合起来，“用绳索绑”表示结合，“绑到坛角的节期供物”表示敬拜的一切事物，“角”表示一切事物，因为它们是终端，“节期供物”和“坛”表示敬拜。当外在与内在结合、良善与真理结合时，敬拜的一切事物就都被结合起来了。
路加福音：
自创世以来所流众先知的血，都要向这一代追讨；就是从亚伯的血起，直到被杀在坛和殿中间撒迦利亚的血为止。(路加福音11:50–51)
这些话的意思并不是说，自创世以来，就是从亚伯的血起的众先知的血要向犹太民族追讨，因为血不会向任何人追讨，只向那流血之人追讨；相反，这些话的意思是，这个民族已经歪曲了一切真理，玷污了一切良善；因为“自创世以来所流众先知的血”表示曾在教会中的对一切真理的歪曲，“血”表示歪曲，“先知”表示教义的真理，“自创世以来”表示曾在教会里的所有人；“创世”表示教会的建立。“从亚伯的血起，直到被杀在坛和殿中间撒迦利亚的血为止”表示对一切良善的玷污，和由此而来的对主的敬拜的灭绝；“亚伯到撒迦利亚的血”表示对一切良善的玷污；“被杀在坛和殿中间”表示敬拜中的一切良善和一切真理的灭绝，因为“坛”表示出于良善的敬拜，“殿”表示出于真理的敬拜，如前所述；“在这些中间”表示有结合的地方，哪里没有结合，哪里就没有良善，也没有真理。祭坛在会幕的外边，也在圣殿的外边。因此，在两者之间所做的事表示交流和结合(参看《属天的奥秘》，10001, 10025节)；“亚伯”表示仁之良善(AC 342, 374, 1179, 3325节)。显然，此处所表示的，既不是亚伯，也不是撒迦利亚，因为在圣言中，名字表示事物。
马太福音：
耶稣说，你若在祭坛上献礼物，在那里想起弟兄有反对你的事，就把礼物留在坛前，先去同弟兄和解，然后来献礼物。(马太福音5:23–24)
“在祭坛上献礼物”在灵义上表示敬拜神，敬拜神表示内在和外在的敬拜，即出于爱和信，因而出于生活的敬拜；所表示的是这一点，因为在犹太教会，敬拜主要在于在祭坛上献祭物或礼物；主要事物，或原则被视为整体。由此可见，主的这些话在灵义上是什么意思，即意思是：神性敬拜主要在于对邻之仁，不在于没有对邻之仁的虔诚。“在坛上献礼物”表示出于虔诚的敬拜，“同弟兄和解”表示出于仁爱的敬拜，后者是真正的敬拜，出于仁爱的敬拜如何，出于虔诚的敬拜就如何(对此，参看《新耶路撒冷及其属天教义》，123–129节; 《天堂与地狱》，222, 224, 358–360, 529, 535节; AE 325b节)。
“你若在祭坛上献礼物”表示在整个敬拜中，这一点从主在路加福音17:4; 马太福音18:22中的话明显看出来，在那里，经上说，必须始终原谅弟兄，那里的“七十个七次”表示始终。
391f. 由于“祭坛”表示这些事物，所以祭坛要么是木头作的，要么是土作的，要么是上面没有动过铁器的整块的石头作的；坛周围也包上铜。祭坛用木头来作，是因为“木头”表示良善；祭坛也用土来作，是因为“土”具有相同的含义；祭坛又用整块的石头来作，是因为这些“石头”表示从良善中形成的真理，或形式上的良善，并且禁止用锤子、斧头或铁器来预备这些石头，免得有人自己的聪明接近或进入它的形成；坛周围包上铜表示它代表在各个部分的良善，因为“铜”表示外在上的良善。
祭坛是用木头来作的，这一点明显可见于摩西五经：
你要用皂荚木作祭坛，长、宽都五肘；这坛要四方的。你要为它作角。你要为它作铜作的格栅网；木板应是空心的。(出埃及记27:1–8)
以西结书：
坛是木头作的，高三肘，长二肘；坛角，坛的长度，坛的四面(直译，坛的墙)，都是木头作的。然后，他对我说，这是耶和华面前的桌子。(以西结书41:22)
此外，坛用木头来作，并且包上铜，也是为了功用，好叫它可以搬运，在那时以色列人所在的旷野中，从一个地方运到另一个地方；还因为“木头”表示良善，“皂荚木”表示公义的良善，或主功德的良善。“木头”表示良善(参看《属天的奥秘》，643, 3720, 8354节)；“皂荚木”表示公义或功德的良善，这良善唯独属于主(AC 72, 9486, 9528, 9715, 10178节)。不过，祭坛也用土来建造，如果用石头来建造，就用整块的石头来建造，这些石头不可用任何铁器来凿，这一点也明显可见于摩西五经：
你要为我筑土坛，把你的燔祭和平安祭献在坛上。你若为我筑一座石坛，不可用凿过的石头建它，因你在上头一动工具，就会亵渎它。(出埃及记20:24–25)
申命记：
若要筑一座石坛，就不可在石头上动铁器。(申命记27:5–6)
391g. 到目前为止，已经说明，“祭坛”在真正意义上表示什么；由此清楚可知，“祭坛”在反面意义上表示什么，即表示偶像崇拜，或地狱的敬拜，这种敬拜只适用于那些的确信奉宗教，但仍热爱并因此敬拜自己和世界高于一切的人；当情况是这样时，他们就热爱邪恶和虚假；因此，“祭坛”当论及这些人时，表示出于邪恶的敬拜；他们所拥有的“雕像”表示出于虚假的敬拜，因而也表示地狱。这就是祭坛在反面意义上的含义，这一点从以下经文明显看出来。以赛亚书：
当那日，人必仰望他的制造者，眼目看着以色列的圣者。他必不仰望祭坛，就是自己手所筑的，也不看着自己指头所作的，无论是小树林，或是日像。(以赛亚书17:7–8)
这些话论述了一个由主建立的新教会；“当那日，人必仰望他的制造者，眼目看着以色列的圣者”表示那时，人们必被引向生活的良善，必在教义的真理上接受教导。主被称为“制造者”，是因为祂引向生活的良善，这些良善构成人；祂被称为“以色列的圣者”，是因为祂教导教义的真理；因此，经上补充说，“人必仰望”、“他的眼目看着”；人凭生活的良善而被称为“人”，“眼目”论及对真理的理解，因而论及教义的真理。“他必不仰望祭坛，就是自己手所筑的，也不看着自己指头所作的”表示那时，敬拜不是出于生活的邪恶所来自的自我之爱的敬拜，也不是出于教义的虚假所来自的自我聪明的敬拜，“祭坛，就是自己手所筑的”表示出于生活的邪恶所来自的自我之爱的敬拜，“自己指头所作的”表示出于教义的虚假所来自的自我聪明的敬拜；“小树林和日像”表示来自虚假和由此而来的邪恶的一种宗教，或宗教说服；“小树林”表示来自虚假的一种宗教说服或宗教原则，“日像”表示来自虚假之邪恶的一种宗教说服或宗教原则。
耶利米书：
犹大的罪，是用铁笔、用钻石尖来写的；雕刻在他们的心版和坛角上；我记得他们的儿子，祭坛，小树林和山冈上的青翠树。(耶利米书17:1–2)
这些话描述了犹太民族的偶像崇拜如此深深地扎下根来，以至于无法除去。“犹大的罪，是用铁笔、用钻石尖来写的；雕刻在他们的心版和坛角上”表示它如此深深地扎下根来，以至于无法除去；“它是用铁笔、用钻石尖来写的”表示深深扎下根来的虚假，“它雕刻在他们的心版和坛角上”表示深深扎下根来的邪恶；经上说“在坛角上”，是因为所表示的是偶像崇拜。祂所记得的“儿子”表示邪恶之虚假，“祭坛”表示出于邪恶的偶像崇拜；“小树林和山冈上的青翠树”表示出于虚假的这种敬拜；“山冈上”表示对良善的玷污和对真理的歪曲。那时，当敬拜的一切事物都代表属天和属灵事物时，他们就在小树林和山冈或小山上举行敬拜，因为构成小树林的“树木”表示真理和良善的知识或认知和感知，这取决于树木的种类；由于“山冈或小山”表示仁之良善，在灵界住在小山或山冈上的属灵天使就处于这类良善，所以在古代，敬拜是在山冈或小山上举行的；但犹太和以色列民族被禁止这样做，免得他们亵渎所代表的圣物；因为这个民族在敬拜上只处于外在，他们的内在纯粹是偶像崇拜。树照它们的种类而表示真理和良善的知识和感知(参看《属天的奥秘》，2163, 2682, 2722, 2972, 7692节)；因此，古人在小树林中的树底下照着树的含义而敬拜(AC 2722, 4552节)；为何犹太和以色列民族被禁止这样做(AC 2722节)；为何“小山或山冈”表示仁之良善(AC 6435, 10438节)。
何西阿书：
以色列是棵空虚的葡萄树，结出果实像他自己；他的果子丰盛的时候，他就增添祭坛；他的土地肥美的时候，他们造美丽的雕像。他们的心是光滑的，现在他们被荒废；祂必拆毁他们的祭坛，毁坏他们的雕像。(何西阿书10:1–2)
此处“以色列”表示教会，当不再有任何真理时，教会就被称为“空虚的葡萄树”；“他增添的祭坛”表示它出于邪恶的敬拜；“他所造美丽的雕像”表示出于虚假的敬拜。“他的果子丰盛的时候”和“他的土地肥美的时候”表示随着这些大量存在，他们这样做。“祂必拆毁他们的祭坛，毁坏他们的雕像”表示出于邪恶和虚假的敬拜必被摧毁。“雕像”表示出于真理的敬拜，在反面意义上表示出于虚假的敬拜，因而表示偶像崇拜(参看《属天的奥秘》，3727, 4580, 10643节)。
以西结书：
主耶和华对大山、小山、水沟、山谷如此说，我要使剑临到你们，也必毁坏你们的丘坛；你们的祭坛必然荒废，你们的日像必被打碎，我要使你们被杀的人倒在你们的偶像面前。(以西结书6:3–4, 6, 13)
“主耶和华对大山、小山、水沟、山谷说”并非表示对所有住在那里的人说，而是表示对所有偶像崇拜者，也就是所有在大山、小山上，在水沟旁和山谷里设立敬拜的人说，他们这样做是由于代表和由此而来的这些的含义；“使剑临到你们，毁坏丘坛；荒废祭坛，打碎日像”表示通过虚假和邪恶摧毁偶像崇拜的一切事物，因为偶像崇拜正是通过这些事物摧毁自己；“剑”表示摧毁，“丘坛”表示总体上的偶像崇拜，“祭坛”表示出于恶爱的偶像崇拜，“日像”表示出于教义之虚假的偶像崇拜；“使被杀的人倒在偶像面前”表示对那些因虚假而灭亡之人的诅咒；“被杀的人”表示那些因虚假而灭亡的人，“偶像”表示总体上敬拜的虚假，“倒”表示受到诅咒。
何西阿书：
以法莲增添祭坛取罪，他们为他造犯罪的祭坛。(何西阿书8:11)
“以法莲”表示教会的智力或理解力，在此表示败坏的智力或理解力；“增添祭坛取罪”表示通过虚假败坏敬拜；“造犯罪的祭坛”表示通过邪恶败坏敬拜；因为在圣言中，“增添”论及真理，在反面意义上论及虚假，“造”论及良善，在反面意义上论及邪恶；这就是为何经上提到这两者，然而，这不是徒劳的重复。
何西阿书：
撒玛利亚被灭，她的王必如水面的沫子一样，伯亚文的邱坛，就是以色列的罪，必被毁灭；荆棘和蒺藜必上到他们的祭坛上。(何西阿书10:7–8)
“撒玛利亚”表示属灵教会，或其中仁与信构成一体的教会；但它变得败坏之后，“撒玛利亚”就表示其中仁与信分离的教会，在该教会，信甚至被声称是本质的；因此，这时它也表示不再有任何真理的教会，因为没有良善，取代良善的，是生活的邪恶，取代真理的，是教义的虚假。这就是此处“撒玛利亚被灭”所表示的；“她的王必如水面的沫子一样”表示它的教义之虚假，“王”表示真理，在反面意义上，如此处，表示虚假；“水面的沫子”表示空虚并与真理分离之物，“水”表示真理；“伯亚文的邱坛必被毁灭”表示那些处于这种敬拜之人的虚假原则和由此而来的推理的毁灭，这种敬拜就本身而言，内在是偶像崇拜；因为那些处于生活的邪恶和教义的虚假之人敬拜他们自己和世界；“荆棘和蒺藜必上到他们的祭坛上”表示被歪曲的真理和由此而来的邪恶必在他们的一切敬拜中，“祭坛”表示一切敬拜。
391h. 阿摩司书：
在那日，我必在他身上察罚以色列的过犯，我也必察罚伯特利的祭坛；坛角必被砍下，坠落于地。(阿摩司书3:14)
“在他身上察罚以色列的过犯”表示他们的末后状态，在灵义上表示他们死后的状态，那时他们要受到审判；经上之所以说“察罚”，而不说“审判”，是因为察罚总在审判之前；“伯特利的祭坛”表示出于邪恶的敬拜；“坛角”表示出于虚假的敬拜，因此，这些表示敬拜的一切事物；“坛角必被砍下，坠落于地”表示这些要被摧毁。经上说“我必察罚伯特利的祭坛”，是因为耶罗波安将以色列人与犹太人分离，并立了两座坛，一座在伯特利，一座在但；由于“伯特利”和“但”表示教会的终端或最后事物，而教会之人里面的终端或最后事物被称为属世–属灵的事物，或属世–世俗和肉体的事物，所以“伯特利”和“但”表示这些事物，“伯特利”表示良善的终端，“但”表示真理的终端；因此，这两座坛表示在终端或最外在事物中的敬拜，就是诸如那些将仁与信分离，只承认信是得救手段之人的那种敬拜。因此，这些人在属世–感官层思想宗教；所以他们既不理解，也不想理解他们声称他们所相信的任何事物，说理解力必须服从信。这样的人由与犹太人分离的以色列人，或与耶路撒冷分离的撒玛利亚来代表，这种人的敬拜由伯特利和但的祭坛来代表；这种敬拜只要与仁爱分离，就不是敬拜，因为其中说话的是没有理解力和意愿，或没有心智的嘴口；没有理解力，是因为他们说人们应当相信他们的信经，尽管他们并不理解；没有意愿，是因为他们移除了仁爱的行为或良善。
列王纪上中的这些话就表示这种敬拜不是敬拜：
当耶罗波安站在伯特利的祭坛旁边时，神人向他呼叫，这坛必破裂，灰必倾倒出来；这也成了现实。(列王纪上13:1–6)
“这坛必破裂，灰必倾倒出来”表示没有任何敬拜。因此，“撒玛利亚”表示与仁分离之信，因为犹太王国表示属天教会，也就是处于爱之良善的教会，以色列王国表示处于源于那良善的真理的属灵教会。当犹太王国和以色列王国在一个王之下时，或当它们统一时，它们就表示这一点；但当它们分离时，以色列王国就表示与良善分离的真理，或也可说，与仁分离之信。此外，“祭坛”表示敬拜，还因为在其它许多经文(这些经文因数量太多，不再引用)中，献在坛上的燔祭和祭物表示敬拜。由于“列族的祭坛”表示偶像崇拜，所以经上吩咐，它们应处处被拆毁(参看申命记7:5; 12:3; 士师记2:2; 以及别处)。
这清楚表明，祭坛在希伯的所有后代当中，因而在所有被称为希伯来人的人当中使用，他们大部分在迦南地及其邻近区域，也在亚伯拉罕所来自的叙利亚或亚兰。迦南地及其邻近区域有祭坛，这一点从那里所提到被拆毁的祭坛明显看出来：叙利亚或亚兰有祭坛，这一点可从来自叙利亚或亚兰的巴兰所筑的祭坛(民数记23:1)清楚看出来，也可从大马士革的祭坛(列王纪下16:10–15)清楚看出来，同样从埃及人因希伯来人的祭祀而憎恶他们(出埃及记8:26)，以至于不愿与他们一起吃饭(创世记43:32)清楚看出来。原因在于，古教会是一个代表性教会，并延伸到亚洲大部分地区，它对祭祀一无所知；当希伯设立祭祀时，它视这些祭祀为可憎的，因为他们想通过宰杀不同动物，因而通过血来安抚神。埃及人也在那些属古教会的人之列；但由于他们将代表用于邪术，所以这教会在他们当中灭绝。他们之所以不愿与希伯来人一起吃饭，是因为那时，“午餐”和“晚餐”代表、因而表示属灵的联系，属灵的联系是通过那些属于教会的事物发生的联系和结合；“饭”表示总体上的一切属灵食物，因此“吃饭”、“喝汤”表示一切结合。
古教会延伸到亚洲大部分地区，即亚述、美索不达米亚、叙利亚、埃塞俄比亚、阿拉伯、利比亚、埃及、非利士，甚至到推罗和西顿，以及约旦河两边的迦南地(参看《属天的奥秘》，1238, 2385节)；它是一个代表性教会(AC 519, 521, 2896节)；关于希伯所建立的教会，它被称为希伯来教会(AC 1238, 1341, 1343, 4516, 4517节)；祭祀是希伯首先开始的，后来在他的后代当中使用(AC 1128, 1343, 2180, 10042节)；从圣言说明，经上并未吩咐祭祀，只是允许；为何说它们是被吩咐的(AC 922, 2180, 2818节)；经上提到祭坛和祭物是有必要的，它们表示神性良善，因为圣言是在这个民族中写的，历史圣言论述了这个民族(AC 10453, 10461, 10603, 10604节)。
391. I saw under the altar. That this signifies those who were reserved under heaven, is plain from the signification of seeing, as denoting to make manifest (as above, n. Last Judgment 65-72). These few [remarks] may be a sufficient illustration for understanding what is said in the two following verses, namely, that
Those who were under the altar "Cried with a great voice, saying, How long, O Lord, who art holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet a little time, until both their fellow-servants and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled."
[2] The reason why under the altar signifies under heaven, is that the altar, in the highest sense, signifies the Lord, and, in a relative sense, heaven and the church, inasmuch as the Lord is heaven and the church, for the all of heaven and the church, or the all of love and faith which make them, with angels and men, are from Him, and, consequently, are His; but, in a general sense, the altar signifies all worship of the Lord, and specifically representative worship, such as existed among the sons of Israel. The reason why the altar signifies all worship, is that the worship in that church principally consisted in offering burnt-offerings and sacrifices; for these were offered for every sin and guilt, also from the desire to please Jehovah, - such sacrifices were called eucharistic or free-will, - and also for cleansings of every kind. By burnt-offerings and sacrifices inaugurations were also effected into everything holy pertaining to the church, as is plain from the sacrifices at the consecration of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood, the consecration of the tabernacle of the congregation, and afterwards of the temple. And because the worship of Jehovah, that is of the Lord, principally consisted in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, therefore, they were offered also daily, namely, every morning and evening, which in one expression was called perpetual, besides [those offered] in great abundance on every feast; hence in the Word, perpetual signifies all representative worship. From these considerations it is evident that worship, and specifically the representative worship of that nation, principally consisted in burnt-offerings and sacrifices; hence it is that the altar upon which they were performed, and which contained them, signifies in the Word all worship in general. By worship is not meant external worship only, but also internal worship, and internal worship embraces every thing of love, and every thing of faith, consequently, every thing constituting the church or heaven with man, in a word, causing the Lord to be in him.
The reason why heaven was represented before John by an altar, is also that the whole Word was written by representatives, and by such representatives as existed with the sons of Israel; therefore, that the Word should be alike in both Testaments, similar things were seen by John and are recorded in this book, as also elsewhere, namely, that the altar of incense was seen, the incense itself with the censers, also the tabernacle, the ark, and other things of a like nature; but at this day such things never appear to any angel, nor to any man whose right is opened into heaven. The reason why an altar, the ark, and like things do not appear at the present day in heaven is, that sacrifices were unknown to the ancients, and that after the Lord's advent, they were entirely abolished. For they were begun by Eber, and were afterwards continued among his posterity, who were called Hebrews, and were tolerated among the sons of Israel who were descended from Eber, especially for this reason, that worship once begun and rooted in the mind, is not removed by the Lord, but is bent to signify what is holy in religion. (Concerning which see the Arcana Coelestia 1343, 2180, 2818, 10042.)
[3] That an altar signifies, in the highest sense, the Lord's Divine Human as to the Divine good of the Divine love, and that, in a relative sense, it signifies heaven and the church, and in general all worship, and, specifically, representative worship, is quite clear from the following passages in the Word.
In David:
"Send out thy light and thy truth; let them lead me; let them lead me to the mountain of thy holiness, and to thy habitations; that I may approach unto the altar of God, even unto God" (Psalms 43:3, 4).
That by the altar of God is here meant the Lord as to the Divine Human, is plainly evident, for the way to heaven and to the Lord there, is the subject here treated of. The way to heaven is meant by, "send out thy light and truth; let them lead me"; light denoting enlightenment in which truths appear; heaven, into which it leads, is meant by, "let them lead me unto the mountain of holiness, and to thy habitations"; the mountain of holiness denoting heaven where the Lord's celestial kingdom is, in which the good of love rules. Habitations are spoken of that heaven, where the Lord's spiritual kingdom is, in which the truth from that good rules, and because both are meant, therefore it is said, that I may approach unto the altar of God, even unto God; and by the altar of God is meant where the Lord is in the good of love, and by God is meant where the Lord is in the truth from that good; for the Lord is called God from Divine truth, and Jehovah from Divine good. In the Jewish Church there were two things, which, in the highest sense, signified His Divine Human, namely, the altar and the temple; the altar, the Divine Human as to Divine good; the temple, as to Divine truth proceeding from that good. The reason why those two signified the Lord as to His Divine Human, was, that all things of worship in that church represented Divine things proceeding from the Lord, called celestial and spiritual, and the worship itself was principally performed upon the altar and in the temple, therefore by those two the Lord Himself was represented.
[4] That the temple represented His Divine Human He Himself teaches in clear terms in John:
"The Jews said, What sign showest thou that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. But he spake of the temple of his body" (2:18-23; likewise Matthew 26:61, and elsewhere).
When the disciples showed Him the buildings of the temple, the Lord said,
that "A stone shall not be left upon a stone, that shall not be thrown down" (Matthew 24:1, 2).
This signified that the Lord was altogether denied among them, on which account also the temple was utterly destroyed.
[5] That the altar also signified the Lord's Divine Human, may be concluded from the Lord's words in Matthew:
"Woe unto you, ye blind guides, because ye say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is guilty. Fools and blind! whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? Likewise, whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. Fools and blind! whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? For he that sweareth by the altar, sweareth by it, and by everything thereon. And he that sweareth by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. And he that sweareth by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon" (23:16-22).
It is said that the temple sanctifieth the gold that is in it, and that the altar sanctifies the gift that is upon it; and thus that the temple and the altar, from which is all sanctification, were most holy. Therefore, by the temple and altar is signified the Lord as to the Divine Human, for from this proceeds everything holy of heaven and the church. Neither the temple nor the altar, unless this is meant, could sanctify anything; nor can worship itself, but the Lord alone to whom the worship [is directed], and from whom the good and truth of worship [proceed]; therefore it is said that the gift does not sanctify, but the altar. By the gift are meant the sacrifices which constituted the worship; and because the Jews did not understand this, but taught otherwise, therefore, they are called by the Lord fools and blind.
[6] Because this was signified by the altar, therefore, all who touched it were made holy, as is plain in Moses:
"Seven days shalt thou sanctify the altar; that the altar may be the holy of holies; whosoever toucheth the altar shall be sanctified" (10130), here, the Divine which proceeds from the Lord; and because this was signified by touching, and those who touched were sanctified, it follows that the Lord Himself, in the highest sense, is signified by the altar, for there is nothing holy from any other source. All worship also is worship of the Lord, and from the Lord; and because worship in that church consisted principally in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, therefore also by the altar was signified the Divine itself, from which [are all things]; and this Divine is the Lord's Divine Human.
[7] Hence also it was thus commanded: That the fire upon the altar should burn continually, and should never be put out (68).
[8] Because the fire of the altar signifies the Divine love, therefore, the prophet Isaiah was sanctified by it:
"One of the seraphim flew unto me, in whose hand was a burning coal of fire, which he had taken from off the altar, and he touched my mouth, and said, This hath touched thy lips; therefore, thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin is expiated" (6:6, 7).
What these words signify in their series may be seen, when it is known that the altar signifies the Lord as to the Divine Human; and the fire upon it, the Divine good of His Divine love; that the mouth and lips of the prophet signify the doctrine of good and truth; and that to touch signifies to communicate. The iniquity which was taken away signifies falsity, and sin evil; for iniquity is said of a life of falsity, or of a life contrary to truths; and sin, of a life of evil, or of a life contrary to good.
[9] In Isaiah:
"All the cattle of Arabia shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee; they shall come up to my well-pleasing altar; thus will I adorn the house of my grace" (60:7).
The subject here treated of is the Lord's advent, and these words are said of the Lord Himself. By all the cattle of Arabia which shall be gathered together, and by the rams of Nebaioth, which shall minister, are signified all spiritual goods, external and internal. By cattle are signified external goods; and by rams, internal goods; and by Arabia and Nebaioth, things spiritual. "They shall come up to my well-pleasing altar, thus will I adorn the house of my grace," signifies the Lord's Divine Human, in which those things will be; the altar signifies His Divine Human as to Divine good, and the house of His grace signifies the same as to Divine truth. That the Lord as to the Divine Human is here meant, is plain from the preceding parts of this chapter, where it is said that upon thee Jehovah shall arise, and His glory shall be seen upon thee, as also from what follows, by which is described the Divine Wisdom with which the Lord as to His Human will be filled.
[10] Because by the altar, in the highest sense, is signified the Lord's Divine Human, therefore by the altar also is signified heaven and the church; for the angelic heaven, considered in itself, is from the Divine which proceeds from the Lord's Divine Human, whence it is that the angelic heaven in the aggregate is as one man; therefore also that heaven is called the greatest man (Maximus Homo). (Concerning this see what is shown in the work concerning Heaven and Hell 59-86; similarly the church, n. 57, in the same work.) And because all worship is from the Lord, for it is the Divine in which the Lord Himself is, which is communicated to man from the Lord, hence by the altar is also signified, in general, the all of worship which proceeds from the good of love; and by the temple, the worship which proceeds from the truths of that good; for all worship is either from love or from faith, either from good or from truth; worship from the good of love is such as exists in the Lord's celestial kingdom, and worship from truths from that good, which truths are also called truths of faith, is such as exists in the Lord's spiritual kingdom (concerning which see also in the same work, n. 20-28).
[11] From these considerations it is now evident what is signified by altar in the following passages. In David:
"How amiable are thy dwelling-places, O Jehovah of hosts! My soul hath desired, yea, it is consumed towards, the courts of Jehovah; my heart and my flesh cry out towards the living God. Yea, the bird hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, even thine altars, O Jehovah of hosts, my King and my God! Blessed are they that dwell in thy house" (Psalms 84:1-4).
By altars here are meant the heavens, for it is said, "How amiable are thy dwelling-places. My soul hath desired, yea, it is consumed towards, the courts of Jehovah"; and afterwards it is said, "even thine altars, O Jehovah of hosts." By dwellings are meant the higher heavens, and by courts the lower heavens where there is entrance; which are also called altars, from worship; and because all worship is from the good of love by truths, it is therefore said, "even thine altars, O Jehovah of hosts, my King and my God"; for the Lord is called Jehovah from Divine good, and King and God from Divine truth; and because the heavens are meant, it is also said, "Blessed are they that dwell in thy house"; the house of Jehovah God denoting heaven in the aggregate. The reason why it is also said, "Yea, the bird hath found a house, and the swallow her nest," is, that a bird signifies spiritual truth, and a swallow natural truth, by means of which there is worship; and because all truth by means of which there is worship is from the good of love, there is therefore said previously, "my heart and my flesh cry out towards the living God"; heart and flesh signifying the good of love, and to cry out signifying worship from the delight of good.
[12] Heaven and the church are also meant by altar in these passages in the Apocalypse:
"There was given me a reed like unto a rod; and the angel stood and said unto me, Rise and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein" (11:1).
And afterwards:
"I heard another angel out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments" (16:7).
In David:
"I wash mine hands in innocency; and compass thine altar, O Jehovah, that I may make the voice of confession to be heard " (Psalms 26:6, 7).
To wash the hands in innocency signifies to be purified from evils and falsities; to compass Thine altar, O Jehovah, signifies conjunction with the Lord by worship from the good of love, of which worship, because it is performed by means of truths from good, it is therefore added, "that I may make the voice of confession to be heard"; to make the voice of confession to be heard denoting worship from truths. The reason why to compass Thine altar, O Jehovah, signifies the Lord's conjunction by worship from the good of love, is, that Jehovah is predicated of the good of love, and to compass signifies to embrace in worship, consequently, to be conjoined.
[13] In Isaiah:
"In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt, speaking with the lips of Canaan, and swearing to Jehovah of hosts; every one of them shall be called Ir Heres. In that day there shall be an altar to Jehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a statue to Jehovah in the border thereof" (3448, 7236, 7988, 8019). This, therefore, is Jehovah Zebaoth, or Jehovah of hosts. "Every one of them shall be called Ir Heres," signifies doctrine shining from spiritual truths in the Natural. For Ir is a city, and a city signifies doctrine, Heres is a flashing, as that of the sun. "In that day shall there be an altar to Jehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt," signifies that then there shall be worship of the Lord from the good of love by the true scientifics which are in the natural man. The "altar to Jehovah" signifies the worship of the Lord from the good of love; in the midst of the land of Egypt, signifies by the true scientifics which are in the natural man, true scientifics denoting also the knowledges from the sense of the letter of the Word; "and a statue at the border to Jehovah," signifies the worship of the Lord from the truths of faith; a statue signifying worship from the truths of faith, and the border of Egypt signifying the ultimate things; the ultimate things of the natural man are sensual things.
[14] In the same prophet:
"When he shall lay all the stones of the altar as stones of chalk dispersed; the groves and sun images shall not rise again" (27:9).
These things are said concerning Jacob and Israel, by whom the church is signified, here that which is to be destroyed; the destruction thereof as to the truths of worship is described by laying the stones of the altar as stones of chalk dispersed, the stones of the altar denoting the truths of worship, as stones of chalk dispersed, denoting as falsities not cohering; "the groves and sun images shall not rise again," signifies that there shall no longer be any worship from spiritual and natural truths, groves signifying worship from spiritual truths, and sun images worship from natural truths.
[15] In Lamentations:
"The Lord hath forsaken his altar; he hath abhorred his sanctuary; he hath shut up in the hands of the enemy the walls of her palaces" (204). That falsities and evils had entered into all things of the church, is signified by, "He hath shut up in the hands of the enemy the walls of her palaces the enemy signifying evil and falsity; to shut up in His hands, signifying that they had entered and taken possession; the walls of the palaces signifying all protecting truths; palaces denoting things of doctrine.
[16] In Isaiah:
"Whosoever keepeth the sabbath, and observeth my covenant; them will I bring upon the mountain of my holiness, and will make them joyful in the house of my prayer; their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be well-pleasing upon my altar" (56:6, 7).
By the sabbath is signified the conjunction of the Lord with heaven and the church, thus with those who are therein; therefore by keeping the sabbath is signified to be in conjunction with the Lord; and by observing His covenant is signified conjunction by a life according to the Lord's precepts; a covenant, denoting, conjunction, and a life according to the precepts conjoins, whence the precepts of the decalogue were called a covenant. "I will bring them upon the mountain of holiness," signifies that He would impart to them the good of love, the mountain of holiness signifying that heaven in which the good of love to the Lord prevails, consequently, also the good of love according to its quality there. "I will make them joyful in the house of my prayer," signifies that He would impart to them spiritual truths, the house of prayer, or the temple, signifying the heaven where spiritual truths are, and thus also spiritual truths according to their quality there. "Their burnt-offerings and sacrifices shall be well-pleasing upon my altar," signifies acceptable worship from the good of love by means of spiritual truths, burnt-offerings signifying worship from the good of love, and sacrifices worship from truths from that good; truths from good are those called spiritual truths; upon the altar, signifies, in heaven and the church.
[17] In David:
"Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion; build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be delighted with the sacrifices of justice, and in the burnt-offering; then shall they cause bullocks to ascend upon thine altar" (Psalms 51:18,19).
By Zion is meant the church that is in the good of love, and by Jerusalem the church that is in the truths of doctrine; hence by doing good in good pleasure unto Zion, and building the walls of Jerusalem, is signified to restore the church by leading it into the good of love and by instructing it in the truths of doctrine. Worship from the good of love in this case is signified by,
"Then shalt thou be delighted with the sacrifices of justice, and with burnt-offering"; justice being said of celestial good, and burnt-offering signifying love; and worship in such case, from the good of charity, is signified by, "then shall they cause bullocks to ascend upon thine altar," bullocks signifying natural-spiritual good, which good is the good of charity.
[18] Again:
"God Jehovah who enlighteneth us; bind the feast with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. Thou art my God" (Psalms 118:27, 28).
To enlighten signifies to enlighten in truths; by binding the feast with cords, even unto the horns of the altar, is signified to conjoin all things of worship, to bind with cords denoting to conjoin; the feast at the horns of the altar denoting all things of worship; horns denoting all things because [they are] ultimates; and feast and altar denoting worship. All things of worship are conjoined when externals [are conjoined] with internals, and when goods [are conjoined] with truths.
[19] In Luke:
"The blood of all the prophets shed from the foundation of the world, shall be required of this generation; from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, slain between the altar and the temple" (Arcana Coelestia 10001, 10025; and that Abel signifies the good of charity, n. 342, 374, 1179, 3325. That neither Abel nor Zacharias is here meant in the spiritual sense, is plain from the fact, that names in the Word signify things.
[20] In Matthew:
Jesus said, "If thou offer thy gift upon the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; leave the gift before the altar, and go, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then coming offer thy gift" (Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 123-129; and the work concerning Heaven and Hell 222, 224, 358-360, 529, 535; and above, n. 325.)
[21] That, "if thou offer thy gift upon the altar," signifies in the whole of worship, is evident from the Lord's words in Luke 17:4; [Matthew 18:22]; where it is said, that the brother or neighbour must be forgiven every time, seventy times seven there signifying continually. Because such things are signified by the altar, therefore, the altar was made either of wood, or of earth, or of whole stones, upon which iron had not been moved; it was also encompassed with brass. The reason of the altar being made of wood, was, because wood signified good; and similarly of earth, for earth signifies the same; the reason of its being of whole stones, was, because those stones signified truths formed from good, or good in form, and it was forbidden to prepare those stones by hammer, axe, or iron, lest anything of one's own intelligence should enter into the formation thereof; its being encompassed with brass signified that it represented good everywhere, for brass signifies good in externals.
[22] That the altar was made of wood is plain in Moses:
"Thou shalt make an altar of shittim-woods, five cubits long and broad; it shall be four-square. And thou shalt make the horns to it. And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass, the floor of it shall be hollow" (Exodus 27:1-8).
And in Ezekiel:
"The altar was of wood three cubits high, and the length thereof two cubits; to which were corners, the length thereof, and the walls thereof, were of wood; then he said unto me, This is the table that is before Jehovah" (41:22).
The altar being made of wood, and overlaid with brass, was also for the sake of use, that it might be carried about, and removed from place to place in the wilderness, where the sons of Israel then were; likewise because wood signifies good, and shittim-wood, the good of justice, or of the Lord's merit. (That wood signifies good may be seen, n. Exodus 20:24, 25; and elsewhere).
And in another place it is said:
If an altar of stones be built, no iron shall be used upon the stones (Deuteronomy 27:5, 6).
[23] Hitherto it has been shown what is signified by an altar in the genuine sense; whence it is evident what is signified by an altar in the opposite sense, namely, idolatrous worship or infernal worship, which has place only with those who indeed profess religion, but still love and thus worship themselves and the world above all things; and, when this is the case, they love evil and falsity; therefore by the altar, when said of such, is signified worship from evil; and by their statutes, worship from falsity, consequently, also hell. That this is signified by the altar, in the opposite sense, is plain from the following passages.
In Isaiah:
"At that day shall a man have respect to his Maker, and his eyes shall look to the Holy One of Israel. And he shall not have respect to altars, the work of his hands, and they shall [not] look to that which their fingers have made, either to the groves or the sun images" (17:7. 8).
These words treat of the establishment of a new church by the Lord; that they shall then be led into the goods of life, and be informed in the truths of doctrine, is meant by a man at that day having respect to his Maker, and his eyes looking to the Holy One of Israel. The Lord is called Maker, from His leading into goods of life, for these make a man; and the Holy One of Israel, from His teaching the truths of doctrine; therefore it is also said, a man shall have respect, and his eyes shall look, a man being called man [homo] from the good of life, and eyes being said of the understanding of truth, thus of the truths of doctrine. That worship, then, is not from the love of self from which evils of life are, nor from man's own intelligence, from which are falsities of doctrine, is signified by his not having respect to altars, the work of his hands, and not looking to what his fingers have made. By the altars, the work of his hands, is meant worship from the love of self, from which are evils of life; and by what his fingers have made, is meant worship from man's own intelligence, from which are falsities of doctrine. By the groves and sun images, is signified a religious persuasion from falsities, and the evils thence; by groves, a religious persuasion from falsities; and by sun images, from the evils of falsity.
[24] In Jeremiah:
"The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, with the point of a diamond; it is written upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars; as I remember their sons, their altars, and their groves, with the green tree upon the high hills" (2163, 2682, 2722, 2972, 7692; that hence the ancients worshipped in groves under trees, according to their significations, n. 2722, 4552; that this was forbidden to the Jewish and Israelitish nations, and the reason thereof, n. 2722; that hills signify the goods of charity, and the reason thereof, n. 6435, 10438.)
[25] In Hosea:
"Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit like unto himself; when his fruit is great he multiplieth altars; when his land is well they make goodly statues. Their heart is flattered, already are they desolated; he shall overturn their altars, he shall spoil their statues" (3727, 4580, 10643.
[26] In Ezekiel:
"Thus said the Lord Jehovih to the mountains and to the hills; to the channels and to the valleys, I, bringing the sword upon you, will also destroy your high places; and your altars shall be destroyed; your sun images shall be broken; yea, I will make your slain to fall before your idols" (6:3, 4, 6, 13).
By the Lord Jehovih said to the mountains, hills, channels, and valleys, is not signified to all who dwell there, but to all idolaters, namely, those who instituted worship upon mountains and hills, and at channels and in valleys, which they did on account of the representations and thence the significations thereof. To bring upon them the sword, and to destroy the high places, and to destroy the altars, and to break the sun images, signifies to destroy all things of idolatrous worship by means of falsities and evils, for idolatrous worship destroys itself by those things; for the sword signifies falsities destroying; high places, idolatrous worship in general; altars, the same from evil loves, and the sun images, the same from falsities of doctrine. To make the slain fall before their idols, signifies the damnation of those who perish by falsities; the slain signify those who perish by falsities; idols signify the falsities of worship in general; and to fall signifies to be damned.
[27] In Hosea:
"Ephraim hath multiplied altars to sin, they were for him altars to sin" (8:11).
By Ephraim is signified the Intellectual of the church, here the Intellectual perverted; to multiply altars to sin, signifies to pervert worship by falsities; and to make altars to sin, signifies to pervert worship by evils; for in the Word, to multiply is said of truths, and, in the opposite sense, of falsities; and to make is predicated of good, and, in the opposite sense, of evil; hence it is that both are mentioned, and yet it is not a vain repetition.
[28] In the same:
"Samaria is slain, her king, is as the foam upon the faces of the waters; and the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed; the bramble and the thorn come up on their altars" (10:8).
By Samaria was signified the spiritual church, or the church in which charity and faith make one; but after it became perverted, then by Samaria was signified the church in which charity is separated from faith, and the latter even pronounced to be the essential; therefore by it then was also signified where there is no longer any truth, because there is no good, but evil of life in place of good, and falsity of doctrine in place of truth. This is what is here signified by Samaria being cut off; the falsity of its doctrine is signified by her king being as the foam upon the faces of the waters, king signifying truth, and, in the opposite sense, as here, falsity. The foam upon the faces of the waters, signifies what is empty and separated from truths, waters denoting truths. By the high places of Aven shall be destroyed, is signified the destruction of the principles of falsity, and the reasonings thence, of those who are in that worship, which, viewed in itself, is interiorly idolatrous; for those who are in evil of life and falsities of doctrine, worship themselves and the world. By the bramble and the thorn shall come up on their altars, are signified truth falsified, and the evil thence in all their worship, altars denoting all worship.
[29] In Amos:
"In the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, I will visit upon the altars of Bethel, that the horns of the altar may be cut off, and fall to the ground" (3:14).
By visiting the transgressions of Israel upon him, is signified their last state, in the spiritual sense, their state after death, when they are to be judged; it is said to visit, instead of to judge, because visitation always precedes judgment; by the altars of Bethel is signified worship from evil; by the horns of the altar is signified worship from falsities; thus by these are signified all things of worship, and that these should be destroyed, is signified by the horns shall be cut off and fall to the ground. Visitation is said to be made upon the altars of Bethel, because Jeroboam separated the Israelites from the Jews, and erected two altars, one in Bethel and another in Dan; and because by Bethel and Dan are signified the last things in the church; and the last things in the man of the church are called natural-sensual things, or natural-worldly and corporeal. These, therefore, are signified by Bethel and Dan; by Bethel, the ultimate of good, and by Dan the ultimate of truth; hence by those two altars is signified worship in ultimates or in the extremes, as is the quality of the worship with those who separate charity from faith, and acknowledge this alone as the means of salvation. Hence such persons think of religion in the Natural-Sensual; therefore they neither understand nor desire to understand the things that they profess to believe, asserting that the understanding must be under obedience to faith. And those who are such were represented by the Israelites separated from the Jews, or by Samaria separated from Jerusalem. Their worship also was represented by the altars in Bethel and Dan; which worship, so far as it is separated from charity, is no worship, for therein the mouth speaks without the understanding and the will, or without the mind; without the understanding, because they say that [their creed] ought to be believed, although they do not understand; and without the will, because they remove deeds or goods of charity.
[30] That such worship is no worship, is signified by these words in the first book of Kings:
"When Jeroboam stood by the altar in Bethel, the man of God cried to him, that the altar should be rent, and the ashes poured out; which also came to pass" (13:1-5).
By the altar being rent and the ashes poured out, is signified that there was altogether no worship. That faith separated from charity is thence signified by Samaria, is, because the Jewish kingdom signified the celestial church, or the church which is in the good of love, and the Israelitish kingdom signified the spiritual church, which is in truths from that good. This was signified by the Jewish and Israelitish kingdom, when they were under one king, or when they were conjoined; but when they were separated, then, by the Israelitish kingdom was signified truth separated from good, or, what is the same, faith separated from charity. Moreover, worship is signified by the altar, because [it was signified] by the burnt-offerings and sacrifices that were offered upon it, in many other passages that are not adduced on account of their abundance; and because idolatrous worship was signified by the altars of the Gentiles, therefore it was commanded that they should be everywhere destroyed (see Deuteronomy 7:5; 12:3; Judges 2:2; and elsewhere).
[31] Hence it is evident that altars were in use among all the posterity of Eber, thus among all those who were called Hebrews, who, for the most part, were in the land of Canaan, and near round about it; likewise also in Syria, whence Abram [came]. That altars were in the land of Canaan, and near round about it, is plain from the altars here mentioned and destroyed, that they were in Syria is plain from the altars built by Balaam, who was from Syria (Num. 23:1); and from the altar in Damascus (2 Kings 16:10-15); and from the fact that the Egyptians abominated the Hebrews because of their sacrifices (Exodus 8:22); even so that they would not eat bread with them (Genesis 43:32). The reason was, that the Ancient Church, which was a representative church, and extended through a great part of the Asiatic world, was ignorant of sacrifices, and when they were instituted by Eber, looked upon them as to be abhorred, because they were desirous of appeasing God by the slaughter of different animals, and thus by blood. Among those who were of the Ancient Church, were also the Egyptians; but because they used representatives for magical purposes, that church was extinguished among them. The reason why they would not eat bread with them, [that is, with the Hebrews,] was, that at that time by dinners and by suppers was represented, and thence signified, spiritual association, which is association and conjunction by those things that pertain to the church; and by bread in general was signified all spiritual food, and thence by dining and supping all conjunction.
[32] That the Ancient Church was extended through a great part of the Asiatic world, namely, through Assyria, Mesopotamia, Syria, Ethiopia, Arabia, Lybia, Egypt, Philistia, even to Tyre and Zidon, through the land of Canaan, on this side and beyond Jordan, may be seen, n. 1238, 2385; that it was a representative church, n. 519, 521, 2896. Concerning the church instituted by Eber, which was called the Hebrew Church, see n. 1238, 1241, 1343, 4516, 4517. That sacrifices were first begun by Eber, and afterwards in use with his posterity, n. 1128, 1343, 2180, 10042. That sacrifices were not commanded, but only permitted, shown from the Word; the reason why they are said to be commanded, n. 922, 2180, 2818; and because the Word was written in that nation, and the historical Word concerning that nation, altars and sacrifices required of necessity to be mentioned, and that Divine worship was signified by them, n. 10453, 10461, 10603, 10604.
391. I saw under the altar, signifies those who were preserved under heaven. This is evident from the signification of "to see," as being to make manifest (See above, n. 65-72) of "the former heaven that passed away," and "the new heaven" that was formed by the Lord after the Last Judgment. This much will suffice to afford some light for understanding what is said in the two following verses, namely, that they who were under the altar "cried out with a great voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on those that dwell on the earth? And there were given to them white robes; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet a little time, until their fellow-servants, as well as their brethren, who were to be killed, as they also were, should be fulfilled."
[2] "Under the altar" signifies under heaven, because the "altar," in the highest sense, signifies the Lord, and in a relative sense, heaven and the church, for the Lord is heaven and the church, since everything of heaven and the church, or everything of love and faith which make heaven and the church with angel and man, are from the Lord, and thence are His; but in a general sense the "altar" signifies all worship of the Lord and especially representative worship, such as there was with the sons of Israel. "The altar" signifies all worship, because "worship" in that church consisted mainly in offering burnt-offerings and sacrifices; for these were offered for every sin and guilt, also from good will to please Jehovah (these were called eucharistic or voluntary sacrifices), also for cleansings of every kind. Moreover, by burnt-offerings and sacrifices inaugurations were also effected into everything holy of the church, as is evident from the sacrifices at the inauguration of Aaron and his sons into the priesthood, the inauguration of the tent of meeting, and afterwards of the temple. And as the worship of Jehovah, that is, of the Lord, consisted chiefly in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, these also were offered daily, namely, every morning and evening, and were called in one word "the continual," besides a great number at every feast; so in the Word the "continual-offering" signifies all representative worship. From this it can be seen that worship, and particularly the representative worship of that nation, consisted chiefly in burnt-offerings and sacrifices. For this reason the altar upon which these were made, and which contained them, signifies in the Word all worship in general. Worship means not external worship only, but also internal worship; and internal worship comprehends everything of love and everything of faith, thus everything that constitutes the church or, heaven with man, in a word, that causes the Lord to be with him.
Heaven was represented before John by an altar, for this reason also, that the whole Word was written by representatives, and by such representatives as were with the sons of Israel; in order, therefore, that the Word might be similar in both Testaments, the things in this book and that were seen by John, are like those in other parts, that is, an altar of incense was seen, the incense itself with the censers, likewise the tabernacle, the ark, and other like things. But at the present day such things never appear to any angel, or to any man whose sight is opened into heaven. The altar, the ark, and like things do not appear in heaven at the present day, because to the ancients sacrifices were wholly unknown, and after the Lord's coming they were entirely abolished. Sacrifices were begun by Eber, and were continued afterwards among his posterity, who were called Hebrews, and were tolerated among the sons of Israel who were from Eber, especially because a worship once begun and rooted in the mind is not abolished by the Lord, but is bent to signify what is holy in religion (See Arcana Coelestia 1343, 2180, 2818, 10042, 1343, 2180, 2818, 10042).
[3] That "the altar" signifies, in the highest sense, the Lord's Divine Human in relation to the Divine good of the Divine love, and that in a relative sense it signifies heaven and the church, and in general all worship, and in particular representative worship, can be seen from the following passages in the Word. In David:
O send out Thy light and Thy truth, let them lead me; let them bring me unto the mountain of Thy holiness, and to Thy habitations, that I may come unto the altar of God, unto God (Psalms 43:3-4).
It is clearly evident that "the altar of God" here means the Lord in respect to the Divine Human, for these words treat of the way to heaven and to the Lord there; the way to heaven is meant by "send out Thy light and truth; let them lead me;" "light" meaning the illustration in which truths appear; heaven, into which it leads is meant by "let them bring me unto the mountain of holiness, and to Thy habitations;" "mountain of holiness" meaning heaven where the Lord's celestial kingdom is, in which the good of love reigns; while those heavens are called "habitations" where the Lord's spiritual kingdom is, in which truth from that good reigns; and as both are meant it is said, "that I may go unto the altar of God, unto God," "altar of God" meaning where the Lord is in the good of love, and "God" where the Lord is in truth from that good; for the Lord is called "God," from Divine truth, and "Jehovah" from Divine good. In the Jewish Church there were two things that, in the highest sense, signified the Lord's Divine Human, namely, the altar and the temple; the altar, the Divine Human in relation to Divine good; the temple, in relation to Divine truth proceeding from that good. These two signified the Lord in respect to His Divine Human, because all things of worship in that church represented the Divine things that proceed from the Lord, called celestial and spiritual, and the worship itself was chiefly performed upon the altar and in the temple, therefore, these two represented the Lord Himself.
[4] That the temple represented His Divine Human He teaches in plain terms in John:
The Jews said, What sign showest Thou that Thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. But He was speaking of the temple of His body (John 2:18-23; also Matthew 26:61 elsewhere).
When the disciples were showing Him the buildings of the temple, the Lord said:
That there shall not be left stone upon stone that shall not be thrown down (Matthew 24:1-2);
signifying that the Lord was wholly denied among them, on which account also the temple was destroyed from its foundation.
[5] That "the altar" also signified the Lord's Divine Human, may be concluded from the Lord's words in Matthew:
Woe unto you, ye blind guides, for ye say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple it is nothing, but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple he is guilty. Ye fools and blind! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? Also, whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. Ye fools and blind! Which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? For he that sweareth by the altar sweareth by it and by everything thereon. And he that sweareth by the temple sweareth by it and by him that dwelleth therein. And he that sweareth by heaven sweareth by the throne of God and by him that sitteth thereon (Matthew 23:16-22).
It is here said that the temple sanctifies the gold that is in it, and that the altar sanctifies the gift that is upon it; and thus that the temple and the altar were most holy, and that all sanctification was from them; therefore "the temple" and "altar" signify the Lord in respect to the Divine Human, for from that everything holy of heaven and the church proceeds. If this is not the meaning how could the temple or the altar sanctify anything? Nor can worship itself sanctify, but the Lord alone, who is worshiped, and from whom is the good and truth of worship; for this reason it is said that the gift does not sanctify, but the altar, "the gift" meaning the sacrifices that constituted the worship; and because the Jews did not understand this, but taught otherwise, they were called by the Lord "fools and blind."
[6] Because this was signified by the altar, all who touched it were sanctified as is evident in Moses:
Seven days thou shalt sanctify [the altar], that the altar may be the holy of holies; whosoever shall touch the altar shall be sanctified (Arcana Coelestia 10130), here the Divine that proceeds from the Lord; and as this was signified by "touching," and those who touched were sanctified, it follows that in the highest sense the Lord Himself is signified by the "altar," for there is nothing holy from any other source. Moreover, all worship is worship of the Lord and from the Lord; and as worship in that church consisted chiefly of burnt-offerings and sacrifices, so the "altar" signified the Divine Itself from which [a quo] and this Divine is the Lord's Divine Human.
[7] It was therefore also commanded:
That the fire upon the altar should burn continually, and never be extinguished (68).
[8] Because "the fire of the altar" signifies the Divine love, the prophet Isaiah was sanctified by it:
Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, in whose hand was a burning coal, which he had taken from off the altar, and he touched my mouth, and said, This hath touched thy lips; therefore thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin is expiated (Isaiah 6:6-7).
What these words signify in their series can be seen when it is known that "the altar" signifies the Lord in respect to the Divine Human, and "the fire" on it the Divine good of his Divine love; that the prophet's "mouth and lips" signify the doctrine of good and truth; and that "to touch" signifies to communicate; "iniquity which was taken away" signifies falsity, and "sin" evil; for "iniquity" is predicated of the life of falsity, that is, of a life contrary to truths, and "sin" of the life of evil, that is, of a life contrary to good.
[9] In Isaiah:
All the flocks of Arabia shall be brought together unto Thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto Thee; they shall come up to Mine altar with acceptance; thus will I adorn the house of Mine adornment (Isaiah 60:7).
This treats of the Lord's coming, and this is said of the Lord Himself; "all the flocks of Arabia that are to be brought together," and "the rams of Nebaioth that are to minister" signify all spiritual goods, external and internal, "flocks" signify external goods, and "rams" internal goods, and "Arabia" and "Nebaioth" things spiritual; "they shall come up to Mine altar with acceptance; thus will I adorn the house of Mine adornment" signifies the Lord's Divine Human, in which they will be, "altar" signifying His Divine Human in relation to Divine good, and "house of adornment" the same in relation to Divine truth. That the Lord in respect to the Divine Human is here meant is evident from the preceding part of that chapter, where it is said that "Jehovah shall arise upon Thee, and His glory shall be seen upon Thee," with what follows, which describes the Divine wisdom with which the Lord will be filled in respect to His Human.
[10] As "the altar" signifies in the highest sense the Lord's Divine Human, "altar" therefore signifies also heaven and the church; for the angelic heaven, viewed in itself, is from the Divine that proceeds from the Lord's Divine Human; from this it is that the angelic heaven in the whole complex is as one man; wherefore that heaven is called the Greatest Man (See what is said about this in Heaven and Hell 59-86; and about the church, n. 57). And as all worship is from the Lord, for it is the Divine communicated to man from the Lord, in which is the Lord Himself, thence "altar" signifies also in general, everything of worship that proceeds from the good of love; and "temple" the worship that proceeds from truths from that good; for all worship is either from love or from faith, either from good or from truth; worship from the good of love is such as exists in the Lord's celestial kingdom, and worship from truths from that good, which truths are called the truths of faith, is such as exists in the Lord's spiritual kingdom (about which see also in the same work, n. 20-28).
[11] From this it can be seen what is signified by "altar" in the following passages. In David:
How amiable are Thy tabernacles, O Jehovah of Hosts! My soul is eager, yea, it is consumed for the courts of Jehovah; my heart and my flesh sing for joy unto the living God. Yea, the bird hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, Thine altars, O Jehovah of Hosts, my King and my God! Blessed are they that dwell in thy house (Psalms 84:1-4).
"Altars" here mean the heavens, for it is said, "How amiable are Thy tabernacles; my soul is eager, yea, it is consumed for the courts of Jehovah," and afterwards it is said "Thine altars, O Jehovah of hosts;" "tabernacles" mean the higher heavens, and "courts" the lower heavens where is the entrance; these are also called "altars" from worship; and as all worship is from the good of love by means of truths it is said "Thine altars, O Jehovah of Hosts, my King and my God;" for the Lord is called "Jehovah" from Divine good, and "King" and "God" from Divine truth; and because the heavens are meant, it is also said, "Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house," "the house of Jehovah God" meaning heaven in the whole complex. It is also said, "yea, the bird hath found a house, and the swallow her nest," because "bird" signifies spiritual truth and "swallow" natural truth, by which there is worship; and as all truth by which there is worship is from the good of love, it is first said, "my heart and my flesh sing for joy unto the living God," "heart and flesh" signifying the good of love, and "sing for joy" worship from the delight of good.
[12] Heaven and the church are also meant by "altar" in these passages in Revelation:
There was given me a reed like unto a rod; and the angel stood and said to me, Rise and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein (Revelation 11:1).
I heard another angel out of the altar saying, Yea, O Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Thy judgments (Rev. 16:7).
In David:
I wash mine hands in innocence, and compass Thine altar, O Jehovah, that I may make the voice of confession to be heard (Psalms 26:6-7).
"To wash the hands in innocence" signifies to be purified from evils and falsities; "to compass Thine altar, O Jehovah" signifies conjunction with the Lord by worship from the good of love; and because this is a worship by means of truths from good, it is added, "that I may make the voice of confession to be heard," "to make the voice of confession to be heard" meaning worship from truths. "To compass Thine altar, O Jehovah" signifies the conjunction of the Lord by means of worship from the good of love, because "Jehovah" is predicated of the good of love, and "to compass" signifies to embrace with worship, thus to be conjoined.
[13] In Isaiah:
In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak with the lips of Canaan, and that swear to Jehovah of Hosts; every one of them shall be called Ir Cheres [the city of Cheres]. In that day there shall be an altar to Jehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to Jehovah beside the border thereof (Arcana Coelestia 3448, 7236, 7988, 8019). This, therefore is the meaning of "Jehovah Zebaoth" or "Jehovah of Hosts;" "every one of them shall be called Ir Cheres" signifies the doctrine glittering from spiritual truths in natural, for "Ir" means city, and "city" signifies doctrine; "Cheres" means a glittering like that of the sun; "in that day there shall be an altar to Jehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt" signifies that there shall then be worship of the Lord from the good of love by means of true knowledges that are in the natural man; "an altar to Jehovah" signifying the worship of the Lord from the good of love, "in the midst of the land of Egypt" signifying by means of knowledges that are in the natural man, true knowledges meaning also cognitions from the sense of the letter of the Word; "and a pillar to Jehovah besides the border thereof" signifies the worship of the Lord from the truths of faith, "a pillar (statue)" signifying worship from the truths of faith, and "the border of Egypt" signifying the ultimates; the ultimates of the natural man are things of the senses.
[14] In the same:
When he shall lay all the stones of the altar as chalk stones scattered, the groves and sun statues shall rise no more (Isaiah 27:9).
This is said of Jacob and Israel, by whom the church is signified, here the church that is to be destroyed; its destruction in respect to the truths of worship is described by "laying the stones of the altar as chalk stones scattered," "the stones of the altar" meaning the truths of worship, "as chalk stones scattered" mean as falsities that do not cohere; "the groves and sun statues shall rise no more" signifies that there shall no longer be any worship from spiritual and natural truths, "groves" signifying worship from spiritual truths, and "sun statues" worship from natural truths.
[15] In Lamentations:
The Lord hath cast off His altar; He hath abhorred His sanctuary; He hath shut up in the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces (204.) That falsities and evils have entered into all things of the church is signified by "He hath shut up in the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces;" "enemy" signifies evil and falsity, "to shut up in his hands" signifies that these have seized and entered, "the walls of palaces" signifies all protecting truths, "palaces" mean the things of doctrine.
[16] In Isaiah:
Everyone that keepeth the sabbath, and holdeth to My covenant, them will I bring in upon the mountain of My holiness, and will make them glad in the house of My prayer; their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be well pleasing upon My altar (Isaiah 56:6-7).
"Sabbath" signifies the conjunction of the Lord with heaven and the church, thus with those who are therein; so "to keep the sabbath" signifies to be in conjunction with the Lord; and "to hold to his covenant" signifies conjunction by a life according to the Lord's commandments; "covenant" means conjunction, and a life according to the commandments is what conjoins; for this reason the commandments of the Decalogue were called "a covenant;" "them will I bring in upon the mountain of holiness" signifies that He will endow them with the good of love, "the mountain of holiness" meaning the heaven in which the good of love to the Lord is, consequently also such good of love as there is in that heaven; "I will make them glad in the house of My prayer" signifies that He will endow them with spiritual truths, "the house of prayer," or the temple, meaning the heaven where spiritual truths are, consequently also such spiritual truths as there are in that heaven; "their burnt-offerings and sacrifices shall be well pleasing upon Mine altar" signifies worship from the good of love grateful from spiritual truths, "burnt-offerings" signifying worship from the good of love, and "sacrifices" worship from truths that are from that good; truths from good are what are called spiritual truths; "upon the altar" signifies in heaven and the church.
[17] In David:
Do good in Thy good pleasure unto Zion; build Thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt Thou be delighted with the sacrifices of righteousness, and with whole burnt-offering; then shall they offer up bullocks upon Thine altar (Psalms 51:18-19).
"Zion" means the church that is in the good of love, and "Jerusalem" the church that is in the truths of doctrine; therefore, "to do good in good pleasure unto Zion, and to build the walls of Jerusalem" signifies to restore the church by leading it into the good of love and by instructing it in the truths of doctrine. Worship then from the good of love is signified by "then shalt Thou be delighted with the sacrifices of righteousness and with whole burnt-offering," "righteousness" is predicated of celestial good, and "whole burnt-offering" signifies love; and worship then from the good of charity is signified by "then shall they offer up bullocks upon Thine altar," "bullocks" signifying natural good, which is the good of charity.
[18] In the same:
God is Jehovah who enlighteneth us; bind the festal-offering with ropes even to the horns of the altar. Thou art my God (Psalms 118:27-28).
"To enlighten" signifies to illustrate in truths; "to bind the festal-offering with ropes even to the horns of the altar" signifies to conjoin all things of worship, "to bind with ropes" meaning to conjoin, "the festal-offering to the horns of the altar" meaning all things of worship, "horns" mean all things because they are the ultimates, and "the festal-offering" and "altar" mean worship. All things of worship are conjoined when externals are conjoined with internals, and goods with truths.
[19] In Luke:
The blood of all the prophets shed from the foundation of the world shall be required of this generation; from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zachariah, slain between the altar and the temple (Arcana Coelestia 10001, 10025; and that "Abel" signifies the good of charity, n. 342, 374, 1179[1], 3325). It is evident that neither Abel nor Zachariah is meant here in the spiritual sense, since in the Word names signify things.
[20] In Matthew:
Jesus said, if thou shalt offer thy gift upon the altar, and shalt there remember that thy brother hath aught against thee, leave the gift before the altar, and go; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then coming offer thy gift (The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 123-129; and in the work on Heaven and Hell 222, 224, 358-360, 528, 529, 535; and above, n. 325.)
[21] That "If thou shalt offer thy gift upon the altar" signifies in all worship, is evident from the Lord's words in Luke 17:4 [Matthew 18:22, where it is said that the brother or neighbor must be forgiven all the time, "seventy times seven" there signifying always.
Because such things are signified by "altar," the altar was made either of wood or of ground, or of whole stones, upon which iron had not been moved, also it was overlaid with brass. The altar was made of wood, because "wood" signifies good; it was also made of ground because "ground" has a like signification; it was made of whole stones, because such "stones" signified truths formed out of good, or good in form, and it was forbidden to fit these stones by any hammer, axe, or instrument of iron, to signify that nothing of self-intelligence must come near to the formation of it; that it was overlaid with brass signified that it represented good in every part, for "brass" signifies good in externals.
[22] That the altar was made of wood is evident in Moses:
Thou shalt make the altar of shittim-wood, five cubits long and broad; it shall be foursquare. And thou shalt make horns for it. And thou shalt make for it a grating of network of brass; the board-work shall be hollow (Exodus 27:1-8).
And in Ezekiel:
The altar was of wood, three cubits high, and the length of it two cubits; its corners, the length of it, and the walls of it, were of wood. Then he said unto me, This is the table that is before Jehovah (Ezekiel 41:22).
Moreover, the altar was made of wood, and overlaid with brass, for the sake of use, that it might be carried about, and removed from place to place in the wilderness, where the sons of Israel then were; also because "wood" signifies good, and "shittim-wood" good of righteousness, or the good of the Lord's merit. (That "wood" signifies good, see Exodus 20:24-25).
If an altar of stones be built, no iron shall be struck upon the stones (Deuteronomy 27:5-6).
[23] Thus far it has been shown what "altar" signifies in the genuine sense; from this it is clear what "altar" signifies in the contrary sense, namely, idolatrous worship, or infernal worship, which has place only with those who profess religion, but yet love and thus worship self and the world above all things; and when they do this they love evil and falsity; therefore "the altar," in reference to such, signifies worship from evil, and "the statues" which they also had, worship from falsity, and therefore also hell. That this is the signification of "altar," in the contrary sense, is evident from the following passages. In Isaiah:
In that day shall a man have respect to his Maker, and his eyes shall look to the Holy One of Israel. And he shall not have respect to altars, the work of his hands, and he shall not look 1to that which his fingers have made, or to the groves or the sun-statues (Isaiah 17:7-8).
This treats of the establishment of a new church by the Lord; that men shall then be led into the goods of life, and be instructed in the truths of doctrine, is meant by "In that day shall a man have respect to his Maker, and his eyes shall look to the Holy One of Israel." The Lord is called "Maker" because He leads into the goods of life, for these make man; and He is called "the Holy One of Israel" because He teaches the truths of doctrine; therefore it is added, "a man shall have respect," and "his eyes shall look;" man is called "man" from the good of life, and "eyes" are predicated of the understanding of truth, thus of the truths of doctrine. That there will then be no worship from self-love, from which are the evils of life, nor from self-intelligence, from which are the falsities of doctrine, is signified by "he shall not have respect to altars, the work of his hands, and he shall not look to that which his fingers have made," "altars, the work of his hands," mean worship from self-love, from which are evils of life, and "that which his fingers have made" means worship from self-intelligence, from which are the falsities of doctrine; "groves and sun-statues" signify a religion from falsities and evils therefrom, "groves," a religious principle from falsities, and "sun-statues" a religious principle from the evils of falsity.
[24] In Jeremiah:
The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, with a point of a diamond; it is graven 2upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars; as I remember their sons, their altar, and their groves, by the green tree upon the high hills (Arcana Coelestia 2163, 2682, 2722, 2972, 7692; for this reason the ancients worshiped in groves under trees, according to their significations, n. 2722, 4552; why this was forbidden to the Jewish and Israelitish nations, n. 2722; why "hills" signify goods of charity, n. 6435, 10438)
[25] In Hosea:
Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit like unto himself; when his fruit is plentiful he multiplieth altars; when his land is good they make goodly statues. Their heart is smooth, now are they laid waste; he shall demolish their altars, he shall devastate their statues (Arcana Coelestia 3727 Arcana Coelestia 3727[1-8], 4580, 10643.)
[26] In Ezekiel:
Thus said the Lord Jehovih to the mountains and to the hills, to the water courses and to the valleys, I bring in a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places; and your altar shall be laid waste; your sun images shall be broken; yea, I will make your slain to fall before your idols (Ezekiel 6:3, 4, 6, 13).
"The Lord Jehovih said to the mountains, hills, water courses, and valleys," does not signify to all who dwell there, but to all idolaters, that is, to all who instituted worship upon mountains and hills, and near water-courses and in valleys, which was done because of the representation and consequent signification of these; "to bring a sword upon you, and to destroy the high places, and to lay waste the altars, and to break the sun images" signifies to destroy all things of idolatrous worship by means of falsities and evils, for it is by means of these that idolatrous worship destroys itself; "the sword" signifies falsities destroying, "the high places" idolatrous worship in general, "altars" the same from evil loves, and "sun images" the same from the falsities of doctrine; "to make the slain to fall before the idols" signifies the damnation of those who perish by falsities; "slain" signifying those who perish by falsities, "idols" the falsities of worship in general, and "to fall" to be damned.
[27] In Hosea:
Ephraim hath multiplied altars for sinning, they have made 3for him altars for sinning (Hosea 8:11).
"Ephraim" signifies the intellect of the church, here the intellect perverted; "to multiply altars for sinning" signifies to pervert worship by means of falsities; and "to make altars for sinning" signifies to pervert worship by means of evils; for in the Word, "to multiply" is predicated of truths, and in a contrary sense of falsities, and "to make" is predicated of good, and in a contrary sense of evil; this is why the two are mentioned, and yet it is not a vain repetition.
[28] In the same:
Samaria is discomfited, her king is as foam upon the faces of the waters and the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed; the thorn and the thistle come up on their altars (Hosea 10:7-8).
"Samaria" signified the spiritual church, that is the church in which charity and faith make one; but after it became perverted "Samaria" signified the church in which charity is separated from faith, and in which faith is even declared to be the essential; therefore also it then signified the church in which there is no longer any truth, because there is no good, but in place of good the evil of life, and in place of truth the falsity of doctrine. This is here signified by "Samaria is discomfited;" the falsity of its doctrine is signified by "her king is as foam upon the faces of the waters," "king" signifying truth, and in a contrary sense, as here, falsity; "foam upon the faces of the waters" signifying what is empty and separated from truths, "waters" meaning truths; "the high places of Aven shall be destroyed" signifies the destruction of principles of falsity and of the reasonings therefrom of those who are in that worship, which viewed in itself is interiorly idolatrous; for those who are in the evil of life and the falsities of doctrine worship themselves and the world; "the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars" signifies that truth falsified and evil therefrom, shall be in all their worship, "altars" meaning all worship.
391h.
[29] In Amos:
In the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, I will visit upon the altars of Bethel, that the horns of the altar may be hewn down and fall to the earth (Amos 3:14).
"To visit the transgressions of Israel upon him" signifies their last state, in the spiritual sense their state after death, when they are to be judged; it is said "to visit," instead of to judge, because visitation always precedes judgment; "the altars of Bethel" signify the worship from evil; "the horns of the altar" signify worship from falsities, thus these signify all things of worship; and that these are to be destroyed is signified by "the horns shall be hewn down and fall to the earth." It is said, "I will visit upon the altars of Bethel," because Jeroboam separated the Israelites from the Jews, and erected two altars, one in Bethel and the other in Dan; and as "Bethel" and "Dan" signify the ultimates in the church, and the ultimates in the man of the church are called natural-sensual things, or natural-worldly and corporeal, so these are signified by "Bethel," and "Dan," the ultimates of good by "Bethel," and the ultimates of truth by "Dan;" therefore these two altars signify worship in ultimates or in things most external, such as is the worship of those who separate charity from their faith, and acknowledge faith alone to be the means of salvation.
Such persons therefore, think of religion in the natural-sensual; consequently they neither understand nor desire to understand any of the things they say they believe, saying that the understanding must be under obedience to faith. Such as these were represented by the Israelites separated from the Jews, or by Samaria separated from Jerusalem, and the worship of such was represented by the altars in Bethel and Dan; such worship, insofar as it is separated from charity, is no worship, for in it the mouth speaks apart from the understanding and the will, that is, apart from the mind; apart from the understanding, because they say that men ought to believe even though they do not understand; and apart from the will because they put aside deeds or goods of charity.
[30] That such worship is no worship is signified by what is said in the first book of Kings:
When Jeroboam stood by the altar in Bethel, the man of God cried out to him that the altar should be rent, and the ashes poured out; and so it came to pass (1 Kings 12:26 the end; 1 Kings 13:1-6).
"The altar should be rent and the ashes poured out" signifies that there was no worship whatever. Faith separated from charity was then signified by "Samaria," because the Jewish kingdom signified the celestial church, that is, the church that is in the good of love, and the Israelitish kingdom signified the spiritual church which is in the truths from that good. This was signified by the Jewish and Israelitish kingdom while they were under one king, or while they were united; but when they were separated, the Israelitish kingdom signified truth separated from good, or what is the same, faith separated from charity. Moreover, worship is signified by "the altar," because it is signified by the burnt-offerings and sacrifices that were offered upon it, in many other passages too numerous to be cited. And because idolatrous worship was signified by "the altars of the nations," therefore it was commanded that they should be everywhere destroyed (See Deuteronomy 7:5; 12:3; Judges 2:2).
[31] This makes clear that altars were in use among all the posterity of Eber, thus among all who were called Hebrews, who for the most part were in the land of Canaan and its immediate neighborhood; likewise in Syria, from which Abraham came. That there were altars in the land of Canaan and its neighborhood is evident from the altars mentioned there as destroyed:
That there were altars in Syria is evident from the account of those built by Balaam, who was from Syria (Numbers 23:1).
Also from the altar in Damascus (2 Kings 16:10-15).
Also from the Egyptian abominating the Hebrews on account of their sacrifices (Exodus 8:26);
Even so that they were unwilling to eat bread with them (Genesis 43:32).
The reason of this was that to the Ancient Church, which was a representative church and extended through a great part of the Asiatic world, sacrifices were unknown, and when they were instituted by Eber it looked upon them as abominable, that is, that they should wish to appease God by the slaughter of different animals, thus by blood. Among those who were of the Ancient Church were also the Egyptians; but as they applied representatives to magic that church became extinct among them. They were unwilling to eat bread with the Hebrews, because at that time "dinners" and "suppers" represented and thus signified spiritual consociation, which is consociation and conjunction through those things that pertain to the church; and "bread" signified in general all spiritual food and thus "dining" and "supping" all conjunction.
[32] (That the Ancient Church extended through a great part of the Asiatic world, namely through Assyria, Mesopotamia, Syria, Ethiopia, Arabia, Libya, Egypt, Philistia, even to Tyre and Zidon, through the land of Canaan, on both sides of the Jordan, see Arcana Coelestia 1238, 2385; that it was a representative church, n. 519, 521, 2896; respecting the church instituted by Eber, which was called the Hebrew Church, n. 1238, 1341, 1343, 4516, 4517. That sacrifices were first begun by Eber, and were afterwards in use among his posterity, n. 1128, 1343, 2180, 10042. That sacrifices were not commanded, but only permitted, shown from the Word; why they were said to have been commanded, n. 922, 2180, 2818; that it was necessary that altars and sacrifices should be mentioned, and that Divine worship should be signified by them, because the Word was written in that nation, and the historical Word treated of that nation, n. 10453, 10461, 10603-10604)
Footnotes:
1. The photolithograph has "they shall not look;" the Hebrew has "he shall not look," so also, AE 585; AC 2722.
2. The photolithograph has "they have made," the Hebrew "they are," as also AC 921.
3. The photolithograph has "thy," but Hebrew has "their," as also AC 6804.
391. " 1
Vidi sub altari." - Quod significet qui sub caelo reservati sunt, constat ex significatione "videre", quod sit manifestatum facere (ut supra, n. 351); et ex significatione altaris", quod in proximo sensu sit cultus ex bono amoris in Dominum, in sensu interiori caelum et ecclesia quae in illo amore, et in sensu intimo Divinum Humanum Domini quoad Divinum Bonum Divini Amoris. Quod per "subter altari" significentur illi qui sub caelo reservati sunt, est quia dicitur quod "viderit subter altari animas occisorum propter Verbum Dei et propter testimonium quod habebant", et per illos intelliguntur qui sub caelo reservati sunt usque ad ultimum judicium; sed hoc quia nondum in mundo notum est, volo dicere quomodo cum hoc se habet. In opusculo De Ultimo Judicio relatum est quod ante ultimum judicium fuerit instar caeli, quod intelligitur per
"prius caelum quod transivit" (Apocalypsis 21:1);
et quod hoc caelum constiterit ex illis qui in externo cultu absque interno fuerunt, et qui inde moralem vitam externam egerunt tametsi mere naturales et non spirituales essent. Illi qui hoc caelum ante ultimum judicium constituerunt, visi sunt supra terram, etiam super montibus, collibus, et petris in mundo spirituali, et inde crediderunt se esse in caelo; sed illi qui hoc caelum constituerunt, quia solum in externa morali vita fuerunt et non simul in interna spirituali, dejecti sunt; et cum illi dejecti, tunc elevati sunt et translati in eadem loca, hoc est, super montes, colles et petras, ubi priores fuerunt, omnes illi qui reservati sunt a Domino, et absconditi hic et illic, plerique in inferiore terra; et ex his formatum est novum caelum. Hi qui reservati sunt et tunc elevati, fuerunt ex illis in mundo qui vixerunt vitam charitatis, et qui fuerunt in affectione veri spirituali: elevatio horum in loca priorum saepius mihi visa est. Hi sunt qui intelliguntur per "animas occisorum visas subter altari"; et quia illi custoditi fuerunt a Domino in terra inferiori, quae terra est sub caelo, inde per "Vidi subter altari" significantur qui sub caelo reservati sunt. Sed de his in specie agitur in Apocalypsi 20:4, 5, 12, 13, ubi plura de illis dicenda sunt: interea de "priori caelo quod transivit", et de "novo caelo" quod a Domino post ultimum judicium formatum est, videatur in opusculo De Ultimo Judicio (n. 65-72); haec pauca sufficiant pro aliqua illustratione ad intelligendum illa quae in binis sequentibus versibus dicuntur, nempe, quod qui sub altari "clamaverint voce magna, dicentes, Usque quo Domine, qui Sanctus et Verus, non judicas et vindicas sanguinem nostrum de habitantibus super terra? Et datae illis stolae albae, et dictum eis ut requiescerent adhuc tempus parvum, usque dum complentur et conservi eorum et fratres eorum, qui futuri interfici sicut et illi."
[2] Quod "sub altari" significet sub caelo, est quia "altare" in supremo sensu significat Dominum, in respectivo caelum et ecclesiam (quia Dominus est caelum et ecclesia, omne enim caeli et ecclesiae, seu omne amoris et fidei quae faciunt illa apud angelum et hominem, est ab Ipso et inde est Ipsius); in communi autem sensu "altare" significat omnem cultum Domini, in specie cultum repraesentativum, qualis fuit apud filios Israelis.
Quod "altare" significet omnem cultum, est causa quia cultus in illa ecclesia principaliter constabat in holocaustis et sacrificiis offerendis; offerebantur enim pro omni peccato et reatu, etiam ex benevolentia ut placerent Jehovae (quae sacrificia eucharistica seu gratuita vocabantur), et quoque pro mundationibus omnis generis; per holocausta et sacrificia fiebant etiam inaugurationes in omne sanctum ecclesiae, ut constat ex sacrificiis ad inaugurandum Aharonem et filios ejus in sacerdotium, et ad inaugurandum Tentorium conventus, et postea Templum: et quia in holocaustis et sacrificiis principaliter constabat cultus Jehovae, hoc est, Domini, ideo etiam cottidie, nempe quovis mane et vespere offerebantur, quae una voce vocabantur "juge", praeter in magna copia quolibet festo: inde in Verbo juge significat omnem cultum repraesentativum. Ex his constare potest quod cultus, et in specie cultus repraesentativus illius gentis principaliter in holocaustis et sacrificiis constiterit. Inde est quod altare super quo fiebant, et quod erat continens eorum, in Verbo significet in genere omnem cultum. Per cultum non intelligitur solum cultus externus, sed etiam cultus internus; et cultus internus comprehendit omne amoris et omne fidei, ita omne id quod facit ecclesiam seu caelum apud hominem, verbo quod facit ut Dominus sit apud illum.
Quod caelum coram Johanne repraesentatum sit per altare, etiam est causa quia totum Verbum per repraesentativa est conscriptum, et per talia repraesentativa quae fuerunt apud filios Israelis; quare ut Verbum sibi simile esset in utroque Testamento, etiam in hoc Libro similia sunt, et visa Johanni, ut quoque alibi; ut quod visum altare suffitus, et quod visi ipsi suffitus cum thuribulis, tum quod visum tabernaculum, ac visa arca, et similia alia; at hodie talia nusquam alicui angelo, nec alicui homini cui visus apertus est in caelum, apparent. Quod non altare, arca, et similia, hodie in caelo appareant, est quia sacrificia nusquam nota fuerunt antiquis, et quia post adventum Domini prorsus abolita; incepta enim fuerunt ab Ebero, et dein apud posteros ejus, qui vocati sunt Hebraei, continuata, et apud filios Israelis, qui ex Ebero fuerunt, tolerata, praecipue ob causam quia cultus semel inceptus et animis irradicatus non abolitur a Domino, sed flectitur ad significandum sanctum religionis (de qua re videatur in Arcanis Coelestibus, n. 2
[3] Quod "altare" significet in supremo sensu Divinum Humanum Domini quoad Divinum Bonum Divini Amoris, et quod in sensu respectivo significet caelum et ecclesiam, ac in genere omnem cultum, et in specie cultum repraesentativum, constare potest a sequentibus his locis in Verbo:
Apud Davidem,
"Mitte lucem tuam et Veritatem tuam, hac ducant me, ducant me ad montem sanctitatis tuae, et ad habitacula tua, ut ingrediar ad altare Dei, ad Deum..." (Psalms 43:3, 4):
quod per "altare Dei" hic intelligatur Dominus quoad Divinum Humanum, manifeste patet, nam agitur ibi de via ad caelum et ad Dominum ibi; via ad caelum intelligitur per "Mitte lucem et veritatem tuam, hae ducant me"; "lux" est illustratio in qua apparent veritates: caelum in quod ducatur, intelligitur per "ducant me ad montem sanctitatis et ad habitacula tua"; "mons sanctitatis" est caelum ubi regnum caeleste Domini est, in quo regnat bonum amoris; "habitacula" dicuntur illi caeli ubi est regnum spirituale Domini, in quo regnat verum ex illo bono: et quia utrumque intelligitur, ideo dicitur "ut ingrediar ad altare Dei, ad Deum"; ac per "altare Dei" intelligitur ubi Dominus est in bono amoris, et per "Deum" intelligitur ubi Dominus est in vero ex illo bono, nam Dominus dicitur "Deus" ex Divino Vero, ac "Jehovah" ex Divino Bono. In Ecclesia Judaica erant duo quae in supremo sensu significabant Divinum Humanum Ipsius, nempe altare et templum; altare Divinum Humanum quoad Divinum Bonum, templum quoad Divinum Verum procedens ex illo Bono; quod duo illa significaverint Dominum quoad Divinum Humanum Ipsius, erat causa, quia omnia cultus in illa ecclesia repraesentabant Divina quae procedunt a Domino, quae caelestia et spiritualia vocantur, et ipse cultus principaliter peragebatur super altari et in templo, quare per illa duo repraesentabatur Ipse Dominus.
[4] Quod templum repraesentaverit Divinum Humanum IpSius, apertis verbis Ipse docet apud Johannem,
"Judaei dixerunt, Quodnam signum monstras quod haec facias? Respondit Jesus et dixit, Solvite Templum hoc, in tribus tamen diebus exsuscitabo illud... sed Ipse loquebatur de Templo corporis sui" (2:18-23; tum Matthaeus 26:61; et alibi).
Quod Dominus dixerit, cum discipuli monstrabant Ipsi structuras templi,
Quod "non relinquetur lapis super lapide qui non dissolvetur" (Matthaeus 24:2, 3),
significabat quod Dominus prorsus negaretur apud illos; quare etiam templum funditus destructum est.
[5] Quod etiam altare significaverit Divinum Humanum Domini, concludi potest a Domini verbis apud Matthaeum,
"Vae vobis, duces caeci, quia dicitis, Quicunque juraverit per templum, nihil est, quicunque vero juraverit per aurum templi, reus est; stulti et caeci, utrum majus est, aurum, an templum quod sanctificat aurum? Tum, Quicunque juraverit per altare, nihil est, quicunque vero juraverit per donum quod super illo, reus est; stulti et caeci, utrum majus est donum quam altare quod sanctificat donum? Qui enim jurat per altare, jurat per illud et per omne id quod super illo est; et qui jurat per templum, jurat per illud, et per Eum qui habitat in illo: et qui jurat per caelum, jurat per thronum Dei, et per Eum qui sedet super illo" (23:16-22):
dicitur quod templum sanctificet aurum quod in eo est, et quod altare sanctificet donum quod super eo; et sic quod templum et altare fuerint sanctissima, ex quibus omnis sanctificatio; quare per "templum" et "altare" significatur Dominus quoad Divinum Humanum, ex hoc enim omne sanctum caeli et ecclesiae procedit. An templum et altare, nisi hoc intelligatur, aliquid sanctificare potest? Nec potest ipse cultus, sed Dominus cui cultus, et a quo bonum et verum cultus; quare dicitur quod non donum sanctificet, sed altare; per "donum" intelliguntur sacrificia quae erant cultus: et quia hoc non intellexerunt Judaei, sed docuerunt aliter, ideo dicti sunt a Domino "stulti et caeci."
[6] Quia hoc significatum est per "altare", ideo sanctificabantur omnes qui tetigerunt illud, ut constat apud Mosen,
"Septem dies... sanctificabis" altare, "ut altare sit sanctum sanctorum; omnis qui tetigerit altare sanctificetur" (Exodus 29:37):
per "tangere" significatur communicare, transferre, et recipere (videatur n. 10130), hic Divinum quod procedit a Domino; et quia hoc significabatur per "tangere", et qui tetigerunt sanctificabantur, sequitur quod Ipse Dominus in supremo sensu significetur per "altare", aliunde enim non est aliquod sanctum: omnis etiam cultus est cultus Domini et a Domino; quare etiam, quia cultus in ecclesia illa principaliter constabat in holocaustis et sacrificiis, per "altare" significabatur ipsum Divinum a quo, et hoc Divinum est Divinum Humanum Domini.
[7] Inde quoque erat quod mandatum sit
Quod ignis super altari jugiter arderet, et nusquam exstingueretur (Leviticus 6:5, 6 [B.A. 12, [13]),
et quod ex illo igne accenderentur lucernae in Tentorio conventus, et quod ex eodem desumerent in thuribulis et suffirent, nam per "ignem" significabatur Divinus Amor qui est in solo Domino (videatur supra, n. 68).
[8] Quia "ignis altaris" significat Divinum Amorem, ideo sanctificabatur per illum propheta Esaias,
"Volavit ad me unus seraphim, in cujus manu pruna ignis, quam... acceperat desuper altari; et tetigit os meum, et dixit, Tetigit haec labia tua; ideo recessit iniquitas tua, et peccatum tuum expiatur" ((Esai.) 6:6, 7, 7):
quid haec in serie significant, videri potest dum scitur quod "altare" significet Dominum quoad Divinum Humanum, quod "ignis" super illo Divinum Bonum Divini Amoris Ipsius, quod "os et labia" prophetae significent doctrinam boni et veri, quod "tangere" significet communicare, "iniquitas" quae recessit falsum, ac "peccatum" malum; nam "iniquitas" dicitur de vita falsi seu de vita contra vera, et "peccatum" de vita mali seu de vita contra bonum.
[9] Apud Esaiam,
"Omnia pecora Arabiae congregabuntur Tibi, arietes Nebaioth ministrabunt Tibi, ascendent ad beneplacitum altare meum; ita domum decoris 3
mei decorabo" (60:7):
agitur ibi de adventu Domini, et haec dicta sunt de Ipso Domino; per "omnia pecora Arabiae" quae congregabuntur, et per "arietes Nebaioth" qui ministrabunt, significantur omnia bona spiritualia externa et interna; per "pecora" significantur bona externa, et per "arietes" bona interna, ac per "Arabiam" et "Nebaioth" spiritualia: "ascendent ad beneplacitum altare meum, ita domum decoris mei decorabo", significat Divinum Humanum Domini in quo erunt; "altare" significat Divinum Humanum Ipsius quoad Divinum Bonum, ac "domus decoris" illud quoad Divinum Verum: quod Dominus quoad Divinum Humanum hic intelligatur, constat ex praecedentibus hujus capitis, ubi dicitur quod "super Te exorietur Jehovah, et gloria Ejus super Te videbitur", et quae sequuntur, per quae describitur Divina Sapientia qua Dominus quoad Humanum suum implebitur.
[10] Quoniam per "altare" in supremo sensu significatur Divinum Humanum Domini, ideo etiam per "altare" significatur caelum et ecclesia; nam caelum angelicum in se spectatum est ex Divino quod procedit ex Divino Humano Domini; inde est quod caelum angelicum in toto complexu sit sicut unus Homo; quare etiam caelum illud vocatur Maximus Homo (de qua re videantur quae in opere De Caelo et Inferno 59-86, ostensa sunt), similiter ecclesia (n. 57, ibi). Et quia omnis cultus est a Domino, est enim Divinum, quod communicatur homini a Domino, in quo est Ipse Dominus, inde per "altare" etiam significatur in genere omne cultus qui procedit ex bono amoris, et per "templum" cultus qui procedit ex veris ab illo bono: omnis enim cultus est vel ex amore vel ex fide, aut ex bono vel ex vero; cultus ex bono amoris est qualis est in regno caelesti Domini, et cultus ex veris ex illo bono, quae vera etiam vocantur vera fidei, est qualis est in regno spirituali Domini (de quibus etiam videatur in eodem opere, n. 20-28).
[11] Ex his nunc constare potest quid per "altare significatur in sequentibus his locis:
Apud Davidem,
"Quam amabilia sunt habitacula tua, Jehovah Zebaoth; desideravit, immo consumpta est, anima mea erga atria Jehovae, cor meum et caro mea jubilant erga Deum vivum; etiam avis invenit domum, et hirundo nidum sibi, altaria tua, Jehovah Zebaoth, Rex mi et Deus mi; beati habitatores domus tuae" (Psalms 84:2-5 [B.A. 1-4]):
per "altaria" hic intelliguntur caeli, nam dicitur "Quam amabilia sunt habitacula tua; desideravit, immo consumpta est, anima mea erga atria Jehovae", et postea "altaria tua, Jehovah Zebaoth"; per "habitacula" intelliguntur caeli superiores, et per "atria" caeli inferiores, ubi introitus, quae etiam "altaria" dicuntur ex cultu: et quia omnis cultus est ex bono amoris per vera, ideo dicitur "altaria tua, Jehovah Zebaoth, Rex mi et Deus mi", Dominus enim dicitur "Jehovah" ex Divino Bono, ac "Rex" et "Deus" ex Divino Vero: et quia intelliguntur caeli, etiam dicitur "Beati habitatores domus tuae"; "domus Jehovae Dei" est caelum in omni complexu: quod etiam dicatur, "etiam avis invenit domum et hirundo nidum suum", est quia "avis" significat verum spirituale, et "hirundo" verum naturale, per quae cultus: et quia omne verum per quod cultus est ex bono amoris, ideo praemittitur, "Cor meum et caro mea jubilant erga Deum vivum"; per "cor" et per "carnem" significatur bonum amoris, et per "jubilare" significatur cultus ex jucundo boni.
[12] Caelum et ecclesia intelliguntur per "altare" etiam in his in Apocalypsi, -
"Datus est mihi calamus similis baculo, et adstitit angelus et dixit mihi, Surge et metire templum Dei et altare, et adorantes in illo" (11:1);
et postea,
"Audivi alium angelum ex altari dicentem, Immo, Domine Deus omnipotens, vera et justa sunt judicia tua" (16:7).
Apud Davidem,
"Lavo in innocentia manus meas, et circumdo altare tuum, Jehovah, ut audiri faciam vocem confessionis" (Psalms 26:6, 7):
"lavare in innocentia manus" significat purificari a malis et falsis; "circumdare altare tuum, Jehovah", significat conjunctionem cum Domino per cultum ex bono amoris; qui cultus, quia fit per vera ex bono, ideo adjicitur, "ut audiri faciam vocem confessionis"; "audiri facere vocem confessionis" est cultus ex veris: quod "circumdare altare tuum, Jehovah", significet conjunctionem Domini per cultum ex bono amoris, est quia "Jehovah" dicitur de Bono amoris, et "circumdare" significat cultu amplecti, ita conjungi.
[13] Apud Esaiam,
"In die illo erunt quinque urbes in terra Aegypti, loquentes labiis Canaanis, et jurantes Jehovae Zebaoth: Ir Cheres dicetur unaquaevis: in die illo erit altare Jehovae in medio terrae Aegypti, et statua apud terminum ejus Jehovae" (19:18, 19):
per "Aegyptum" significatur naturalis homo et ejus scientificum; "in die illo" significat adventum Domini, et tunc statum illorum qui in veris scientificis a Domino; "quinque urbes in terra Aegypti loquentes labiis Canaanis", significat vera doctrinae plura quae genuina ecclesiae ("quinque" sunt plura, "urbes" sunt vera doctrinae, "labia Canaanis" sunt doctrinalia ecclesiae genuina); "jurantes Jehovae Zebaoth", significat confitentes Dominum: "Jehovah Zebaoth" dicitur hic et multis aliis in locis in Verbo, et intelligitur Dominus quoad omne bonum et verum, nam zebaoth in lingua originali significant exercitus, ac "exercitus" in sensu spirituali significant omnia bona et vera caeli et ecclesiae (videatur n. 3448, 7236, 7988, 8019); hoc itaque est "Jehovah Zebaoth" seu "Jehovah Exercituum": "Ir Cheres dicetur unaquaevis" significat doctrinam coruscantem ex veris spiritualibus in naturali, "Ir" enim est urbs, et "urbs" significat doctrinam, "Cheres" est coruscatio ut solis: "in die illo erit altare Jehovae in medio terrae Aegypti" significat quod tunc erit cultus Domini ex bono amoris per vera scientifica quae in naturali homine; "altare Jehovae" significat cultum Domini ex bono amoris, "in medio terrae Aegypti" significat per vera scientifica quae in naturali homine, vera scientifica sunt etiam cognitiones ex sensu litterae Verbi: "et statua apud terminum (ejus) Jehovae" significat cultum Domini ex veris fidei; per "statuam" significatur cultus ex veris fidei, et per "terminum Aegypti significantur extrema; extrema naturalis hominis sunt sensualia.
[14] Apud eundem,
"Cum posuerit omnes lapides altaris sicut lapides calcis dispersos, non resurrexerint luci et statuae solares" (27:9):
haec de Jacobo et Israele, per quos significatur ecclesia, hic quae destruenda; destructio ejus quoad vera cultus describitur per "ponere lapides altaris sicut lapides calcis dispersos"; "lapides altaris" sunt vera cultus, "sicut lapides calcis dispersi" sunt sicut falsa non cohaerentia: "non resurrexerint luci et statuae solares" significat ut non amplius aliquis cultus ex veris spiritualibus et naturalibus; "luci" significant cultum ex veris spiritualibus, et "statuae solares" cultum ex veris naturalibus.
[15] In Threnis,
"Deseruit Dominus altare suum, abominatus est sanctuarium suum, conclusit in manus hostis muros palatiorum ejus" (2:7):
lamentatio super vastatis omnibus ecclesiae; quod vastata sit ecclesia quoad omnia bona, significatur per "Deseruit Dominus altare suum"; quod vastata sit quoad omnia vera, significatur per "abominatus est sanctuarium suum"; (quod "sanctuarium" dicatur de ecclesia quoad vera, videatur supra, n. 204(a);) quod falsa et mala intraverint in omnia ecclesiae, significatur per "conclusit in manus hostis muros palatiorum ejus"; "hostis" significat malum et falsum, "concludere in manus ejus" significat quod occupaverint et intraverint, "muri palatiorum" significant omnia vera tutantia, "palatia" sunt illa quae doctrinae.
[16] Apud Esaiam,
"Quisquis custodit sabbathum... et servat foedus meum, introducam eos super montem sanctitatis meae, et exhilarabo eos in domo precationis meae; holocausta eorum et sacrificia eorum in beneplacitum super altari meo" (56:6, 7):
per "sabbathum" significatur conjunctio Domini cum caelo et ecclesia, ita cum illis qui ibi; quare per "custodire sabbathum" significatur in conjunctione cum Domino esse: et per "servare foedus Ipsius s1gnificatur conjunctio per vitam secundum praecepta Domini; "foedus" est conjunctio, et vita secundum praecepta conjungit; praecepta Decalogi inde dicta fuerunt "foedus": "introducam eos super montem sanctitatis" significat quod donaturus bono amoris; "mons sanctitatis" est caelum ubi bonum amoris in Dominum, ita quoque bonum amoris quale ibi: "exhilarabo eos in domo precationis meae" significat quod donaturus illos veris spiritualibus; "domus precationis" seu templum est caelum ubi vera spiritualia sunt, ita quoque vera spiritualia qualia ibi: "holocausta et sacrificia eorum in beneplacitum super altari meo" significat cultum ex bono amoris per vera spiritualia gratum; "holocausta" significant cultum ex bono amoris, et "sacrificia" cultum ex veris quae ex illo bono; vera ex bono sunt quae vocantur vera spiritualia; "super altari" significat in caelo et ecclesia.
[17] Apud Davidem,
"Benefac in beneplacito tuo Zioni, aedifica muros Hierosolymae; tunc delectaberis sacrificiis justitiae... et ignito; tunc ascendere facient super altare tuum juvencos" (Psalms 51:20, 21 [B.A. 18, 19]):
per "Zionem" intelligitur ecclesia quae in bono amoris, et per "Hierosolymam" ecclesia quae in veris doctrinae; inde per "benefacere in beneplacito Zioni, et aedificare muros Hierosolymae", significatur restaurare ecclesiam ducendo in bonum amoris et docendo in veris doctrinae: cultus tunc ex bono amoris significatur per "tunc delectaberis sacrificiis justitiae et ignito"; "justitia" dicitur de bono caelesti, et "ignitum" significat amorem: et cultus tunc ex bono charitatis, significatur per "tunc ascendere facient super altare tuum juvencos"; juvenci significant bonum naturale spirituale, quod bonurn est bonum charitatis.
[18] Apud eundem,
"Deus Jehovah qui illuminat nos, ligate festum funibus usque ad cornua altaris, Deus mi" (Psalms 118:27 [, 28]):
per "illuminare" significatur illustrare in veris: per "ligare festum funibus usque ad cornua altaris" significatur conjungere omnia cultus; "ligare funibus" est conjungere, "festum ad cornua altaris" sunt omnia cultus ("cornua" sunt omnia quia ultima, ac "festum" et "altare" sunt cultus); omnia cultus conjuncta sunt quando externa cum internis, et quando bona cum veris.
[19] Apud Lucam,
"Requiretur sanguis omnium prophetarum effusus a fundatione mundi a generatione hac, a sanguine Abelis usque ad sanguinem Zachariae interfecti inter altare et templum" (11:50, 51):
per haec non intelligitur quod a gente Judaica requiretur sanguis omnium prophetarum a fundatione mundi a sanguine Abelis, non enim ab aliquo requiritur sanguis quam ab illo qui effudit eum; sed per illa verba intelligitur quod ab illa gente falsificatum sit omne verum, et adulteratum omne bonum; "sanguis" enim "omnium prophetarum effusus a fundatione mundi" significat falsificationem omnis veri quod usquam in ecclesia fuit; "sanguis" est falsificatio, "prophetae" sunt vera doctrinae, et "a fundatione mundi" est quod usquam in ecclesia fuit ("fundatio mundi" est instauratio ecclesiae): "a sanguine Abelis usque ad sanguinem Zachariae interfecti inter altare et templum", significat adulterationem omnis boni, et inde exstinctionem cultus Domini; "sanguis Abelis usque ad Zachariam" est adulteratio omnis boni, "interfici inter altare et templum" est exstinguere omne bonum et omne verum in cultu, "altare" enim significat cultum ex bono, et "templum" cultum ex vero, ut supra quoque dictum est: inter utrumque est ubi conjunctio, et ubi non conjunctio ibi non bonum nec verum. Altare erat extra Tentorium conventus et extra Templum; quod itaque fiebat inter utrumque significabat communicationem et conjunctionem (videatur in Arcanis Caelestibus, n. 10001, 4
10025; et quod "Abel" significet bonum charitatis, n. 342, 374, 1179, 3325 5
). Quod non Abel nec Zacharias hic in spirituali sensu intelligatur, constat ex eo, quod nomina in Verbo significent res.
[20] Apud Matthaeum,
Jesus dixit, "Si obtuleris munus tuum super altari, et apud hoc recordatus fueris quod frater tuus habeat aliquid contra te, relinque munus coram altari, et abi, prius reconciliare fratri, et tunc veniens offer munus tuum" (5:23, 24):
per "offerre munus super altari" in sensu spirituali intelligitur colere Deum, et per colere Deum intelligitur cultus tam internus quam externus, nempe qui est amoris et fidei et inde vitae; hoc intelligitur quia cultus in Ecclesia Judaica principaliter constabat in sacrificiis seu muneribus offerendis super altari, ac principale sumitur pro omni: ex his constare potest quid in sensu spirituali intelligitur per illa verba Domini, quod nempe cultus Divinus primario consistat in charitate erga proximum, et non in pietate absque illa; "offerre munus super altari" est cultus ex pietate, et "reconciliari fratri" est cultus ex charitate, et quod hic sit vere cultus, et qualis hic talis ille. (De qua re videatur Doctrina Novae Hierosolymae, n. 6
123-129; et in opere De Caelo et Inferno 222, 224, 358-360, 528, 529, 535, et supra, n. 325(b.))
[21] Quod "si obtuleris munus tuum super altari" significet in omni cultu, patet a Domini verbis apud Lucam cap. 17:4, [Matthaeus 18:22,] ubi dicitur quod omni tempore remittendum sit fratri seu proximo; "septuagies septem" ibi significat jugiter.
Quoniam per "altare" talia significata sunt, ideo altare factum est vel ex ligno, vel ex humo, vel ex lapidibus integris super quos non moveretur ferrum, et quoque circumdatum est aere. Quod factum sit ex ligno, erat causa, quia "lignum" significat bonum; similiter quod ex humo, nam "humus" simile significat: quod ex lapidibus integris, erat causa, quia illi "lapides" significabant vera formata ex bono, seu bonum in forma; et ne accederet aliquid ex propria intelligentia quod simul formaret id, prohibitum fuit ne lapides illi aptarentur per aliquem malleum, securim, aut ferrum: quod "circumdatum fuerit aere" significabat quod repraesentaret bonum undequaque, "aes" enim significat bonum in externis.
[22] Quod altare ex ligno factum fuerit, constat apud Mosen,
"Facies altare ex lignis schittim, quinque cubiti longitudo et... latitudo, quadratum erit;... et facies ei cornua;... et facies ei cribrum, opus retis aeris... cavum tabulatum erit" (Exodus 27:1-8);
et apud Ezechielem,
"Altare erat ex ligno, tres ulnas altum, et longitudo ejus duae ulnae, cui anguli, longitudo ejus et parietes ejus ex ligno: tunc locutus est ad me, Haec mensa quae coram Jehovah" (41:22 7
):
quod altare ex ligno factum sit et obductum aere, fuit etiam propter usum ut portari ac transferri posset a loco in locum in deserto, ubi tunc fuerunt filii Israelis, tum quia "lignum significat bonum, et "lignum schittim" bonum justitiae seu meriti Domini.
(Quod "lignum" significet bonum, videatur n. 643, 3720, 8354; et quod lignum schittim "bonum justitiae seu meriti, quod soli Domino, n. 9472, 9486, 9528, 9715, 10178.) Quod autem altare ex humo aedificaretur, et si ex lapidibus, quod ex integris et non per aliquod instrumentum ferri caesis, constat etiam apud Mosen,
"Altare (humi) facies Mihi, ut sacrifices super illo holocausta tua et eucharistica tua Quod si altare lapidum facias Mihi, non aedificabis illos caesos, quia si caelum moveris super illos profanabis illud" (Exodus 20:21, 22 [B.A. 24, 25]):
et alibi,
Si altare lapidum aedificatur, non impelletur ferrum super lapides (Deutr. 27 [5,] 6).
[23] Hactenus ostensum est quid per "altare" significatum est in genuino sensu; exinde patet quid per "altare" significatur in sensu opposito, quod nempe cultus idololatricus seu cultus infernalis, qui solum est apud illos qui quidem religionem profitentur, sed usque se et mundum super omnia amant, et sic colunt; et cum hoc faciunt, amant malum et falsum; quare per "altare", cum de illis, significatur cultus ex malo, et per "statuas", quae etiam erant illis, cultus ex falso, proinde etiam infernum. Quod hoc significetur per "altare" in opposito sensu, constat ex his sequentibus locis:
Apud Esaiam,
"In die illo respiciet homo ad Factorem suum, et oculi ejus ad Sanctum Israelis spectabunt; et non respiciet ad altaria, opus manuum suarum, et quod fecerunt digiti illius 8
non spectabit, aut ad lucos aut subdiales statuas" (17:7, 8):
haec de instauratione novae ecclesiae a Domino; quod tunc ducendi erunt in bonis vitae et informandi in veris doctrinae, intelligitur per quod homo "in die illo respiciet ad Factorem suum, et oculi ejus ad Sanctum Israelis spectabunt"; Dominus dicitur "Factor" ex eo quod ducat in bona vitae, nam haec faciunt hominem, et "Sanctus Israelis" ex eo quod doceat vera doctrinae: quare etiam dicitur quod "homo respiciet", et "oculi ejus spectabunt"; homo dicitur "homo" ex bono vitae, et "oculi" dicuntur de intellectu veri, ita de veris doctrinae; quod tunc non cultus ex proprio amore, ex quo mala vitae, nec ex propria intelligentia, ex qua falsa doctrinae, significatur per quod "non respiciet ad altaria, opus manuum suarum, et quod fecerunt digiti ejus 9
non spectabit"; per "altaria, opus manuum suarum" intelligitur cultus ex proprio amore, ex quo mala vitae; et per "quod fecerunt digiti ejus intelligitur cultus ex propria intelligentia ex qua falsa doctrinae: per "lucos et subdiales statuas" significatur religiosum ex falsis et inde malis, per "lucos" religiosum ex falsis, et per "subdiales statuas" ex malis falsi.
[24] Apud Jeremiam,
"Peccatum Jehudae scriptum est stylo ferri, scalpro adamantis, 10
sculptum super tabula cordis eorum, et in cornibus altarium vestrorum: sicut recordor filiorum eorum, altarium eorum, et lucorum eorum cum arbore viridi, super collibus altis" (17:1, 2):
per haec describitur quod cultus idololatricus genti Judaicae ita irradicatus fuerit ut auferri nequiret; quod irradicatus ut non auferri posset, significatur per quod "peccatum Jehudae scriptum sit stylo ferri, scalpro adamantis, sculptum super tabula cordis eorum, et in cornibus altarium eorum"; falsum irradicatum intelligitur per "scriptum stylo ferri et scalpro adamantis", et malum irradicatum intelligitur per "sculptum super tabula cordis, et in cornibus altarium illorum"; "super cornibus altarium" dicitur quia intelligitur cultus idololatricus: per "filios" quorum recordatur, significantur falsa mali, per "altaria" cultus ille ex malo, per "lucos cum arbore viridi" cultus ille ex falso, [per] "super collibus altis" significatur adulteratio boni et falsificatio veri: illo enim tempore, quando omnia cultus erant repraesentativa caelestium et spiritualium, cultum habebant in lucis et super collibus, quia "arbores", ex quibus luci, significabant cognitiones et perceptiones veri et boni, et hoc secundum species arborum; et quia "colles" significabant bona charitatis, in quibus spirituales angeli sunt, qui in mundo spirituali habitant Super collibus, inde erat quod cultus antiquis temporibus perageretur super collibus; at hoc prohibitum fuit genti Judaicae et Israeliticae, ne profanarent sancta quae repraesentabantur, erat enim gens illa solum in externis quoad cultum, internum eorum erat mere idololatricum.
(Quod "arbores" significent cognitiones et perceptiones veri et boni secundum species illarum, videatur n. 2163, 2682, 2722, 2972, 7692:
quod inde antiqui Divinum cultum habuerint in lucis sub arboribus secundum earum significationes, n. 2722, 11
4552:
quod hoc prohibitum fuerit genti Judaicae et Israeliticae, causa, n. 2722:
quod "colles" significent bona charitatis, causa, n. 6435, 10438.)
[25] Apud Hoscheam,
"Vitis vacua Israel, fructum facit similem sibi; quando multus fructus ejus multiplicat altaria, quando bene est terrae ejus bonas faciunt statuas: adblanditur cor eorum, jam desolati sunt; ille evertet altaria illorum, devastabit statuas illorum" (10:1, 2):
"Israel" hic significat ecclesiam, quae "vitis vacua" dicitur cum non verum amplius; cultus ejus ex malis intelligitur per "altaria" quae multiplicat; et cultus ex falsis intelligitur per "statuas" quas bonas facit: quod hoc faciant quantum abundant, significatur per "quando multus est fructus ejus, et quando bene est terrae ejus"; quod cultus ex malis et ex falsis destruetur, significatur per quod evertet altaria illorum, et devastabit statuas illorum."
(Quod "statuae" significaverint cultum ex veris, ac in opposito sensu cultum ex falsis, ita idololatricum, videatur n. 3727, 4580, 10643.)
[26] Apud Ezechielem,
"Sic dixit Dominus Jehovih montibus et collibus, alveis et vallibus Ego adducens super vos gladium, et perdam excelsa vestra, et destruentur altaria vestra, frangentur solares statuae vestrae, immo faciam cadere confossos vestros coram idolis vestris" (6:3, 4, 6, 13):
"Dixit Dominus Jehovih montibus, collibus, alveis et vallibus", non significat omnibus qui ibi habitant, sed omnibus idololatris, qui nempe super montibus et collibus et ad alveos et in vallibus instituerunt cultum, quod fecerunt propter repraesentationes et inde significationes eorum; "adducere super vos gladium, et perdere excelsa, destruere altaria, et frangere solares statuas", significat destruere omnia cultus idololatrici per falsa et mala, nam cultus idololatricus semet per illa destruit; "gladius" enim significat falsa destruentia, "excelsa" cultum idololatricum in genere, "altaria" eundem ex malis amoribus, et "statuae solares" eundem ex falsis doctrinae: "facere cadere confossos coram idolis" significat damnationem eorum qui pereunt per falsa; "confossi" significant illos qui pereunt per falsa, "idola" significant falsa cultus in genere, et "cadere" significat damnari.
[27] Apud Hoscheam,
"Multiplicavit Ephraim altaria ad peccandum; 12
fecerunt illi altaria ad peccandum" (8:11):
per "Ephraim" significatur intellectuale ecclesiae, hic intellectuale perversum; "multiplicare altaria ad peccandum" significat pervertere cultum per falsa, et "facere altaria ad peccandum" significat pervertere cultum per mala; nam in Verbo "multiplicare" dicitur de veris ac in opposito sensu de falsis, et "facere", dicitur de bono et in opposito sensu de malo; inde est quod illa duo dicantur, et tamen non est repetitio vana.
[28] Apud eundem,
"Excisa est Samaria, rex ejus sicut spuma super faciebus aquarum; et perdentur excelsa Aven, peccatum Israelis, tribulus et spina ascendit super altaria illorum" (10:7, 8):
per "Samariam" significata est ecclesia spiritualis, seu ecclesia in qua charitas et fides unum faciunt; at postquam perversa facta est, tunc per "Samariam" significata est ecclesia in qua charitas separata est a fide, et haec usque essentialis pronuntiata; quare etiam tunc per illam significatum ubi non verum amplius quia non bonum, sed loco boni malum vitae, et loco veri falsum doctrinae; hoc significatur hic per quod "excisa sit Samaria": falsum doctrinae ejus significatur per "regem ejus qui sicut spuma super faciebus aquarum"; "rex" significat verum, et in opposito sensu, ut hic, falsum; "spuma" super faciebus aquarum significat vacuum et separatum a veris; "aquae" sunt vera: per quod "perdentur excelsa Aven", significatur quod destruentur principia falsi et inde ratiocinationes quae sunt illis qui in cultu illo, qui in se spectatus est interior idololatricus, nam qui in malo vitae et in falsis doctrinae sunt se colunt et mundum: per quod "tribulus et spina ascendet super altaria eorum" significatur quod verum falsificatum et malum inde in omni cultu eorum; "altaria" sunt omnis cultus.
[29] Apud Amos,
"In die illo, quo visitaturus sum praevaricationes Israelis super illum, visitabo super altaria Bethelis, ut excidantur cornua altaris, cadantque in terram" (3:14):
per "visitare praevaricationes Israelis super illum", significatur status illorum ultimus, in sensu spirituali status post mortem quando judicandi; "visitare" pro judicare dicitur quia visitatio semper praecedit judicium: per "altaria Bethelis" significatur cultus ex malo; per "cornua altaris" significatur cultus ex falsis: ita per haec significantur omnia cultus; quae quod destruenda sint, significatur per quod "cornua exscindentur et cadent in terram." Dicitur quod "visitabitur super altaria Bethelis", quia Jeroboamus separavit Israelitas a Judaeis, et erexit duo altaria, unum in Bethele et alterum in Dane; et quia per "Bethelem" et "Danem" significantur ultima in ecclesia, et ultima in homine ecclesiae vocantur naturalia sensualia, seu naturalia mundana et corporea, ideo haec per "Bethelem" et "Danem" significantur, per "Bethelem" ultimum boni et per "Danem" ultimum veri; inde per bina illa "altaria" significatur cultus in ultimis seu in extremis; qualis cultus est apud illos qui separant charitatem a fide, et hanc solam pro medio salutis agnoscunt. Hi inde de religione cogitant in naturali sensuali; quapropter omnia quae dicunt se credere, non intelligunt nec volunt intelligere, dicendo quod intellectus erit sub obedientia fidei; et qui tales sunt, repraesentati sunt per Israelitas separatos a Judaeis, seu per Samariam separatam a Hierosolyma; ac cultus eorum repraesentatus est per altaria in Bethele et Dane; qui cultus, quatenus est separatus a charitate, est nullus cultus, nam in illo os loquitur absque intellectu et voluntate, seu absque mente; absque intellectu, quia dicunt credendum esse tametsi non intelligunt, et absque voluntate, quia removent facta seu bona charitatis.
[30] Quod is cultus nullus cultus sit, significatur per haec in Libro Primo Regnum,
Cum stetit Jeroboamus super altari in Bethele, vir Dei clamavit ad illum quod altare diffinderetur et cinis effunderetur; quod etiam factum est (12:26 ad fin. ; et cap. 13:1-6):
quod prorsus nullus cultus esset, significatur per quod "altare diffinderetur, et cinis effunderetur." Quod fides separata a charitate significata sit tunc per "Samariam", est quia regnum Judaicum significabat ecclesiam caelestem seu ecclesiam quae in bono amoris, et regnum Israeliticum significabat ecclesiam spiritualem quae est in veris ex illo bono: hoc significatum est per regnum Judaicum et Israeliticum quando sub uno rege erant, seu quando conjuncta; cum autem separata sunt, tunc per regnum Israeliticum significatum est verum separatum a bono, seu quod idem, fides separata a charitate. Praeterea cultus significatur per "altare", quia per "holocausta" et "sacrificia" quae offerebantur super eo, plurimis aliis in locis, quae ob copiam non adducuntur:
et quia cultus idololatricus per "altaria gentium" significatus est, ideo mandatum est ut ubivis destruerentur (Videatur Deuteronomius 7:5; 12:3; Judicum 2:2: et alibi):
[31] ex quo patet quod altaria in usu fuerint apud omnem posteritatem ex Ebero, ita apud omnes qui Hebraei vocabantur, qui quoad plurimam partem fuerunt in terra Canaane, et proxime circum illam, tum etiam in Syria, unde Abram. Quod fuerint in terra Canaane et proxime circum illam, constat ex altaribus, quae ibi, memoratis et destructis; quod in Syria, constat
Ex altaribus a Bileamo, qui e Syria erat, aedificatis (Numeri 23:1):
Et ex altari in Damasco (2 Regnum 16:10-15);
Et ex eo, quod Aegyptii abominati sint Hebraeos propter sacrificia (Exodus 8:22 [B.A. 26]),
usque adeo ut non vellent panem cum illis comedere (Genesis 43:32).
Causa erat, quia Antiqua Ecclesia quae fuit ecclesia repraesentativa, ac per multum orbis Asiatici extensa, ignoravit sacrificia, et aspexit illa, quando ab Ebero instituta fuerunt, sicut abominanda; quod nempe vellent placare Deum per caedem diversorum animalium, et sic per sanguinem. Inter eos qui ab Antiqua Ecclesia fuerunt, erant etiam Aegyptii; sed hi quia applicuerunt repraesentativa ad magica, ecclesia illa apud eos exstincta fuit. Quod non panem cum illis vellent comedere, erat causa, quia per "prandia" et "cenas" eo tempore repraesentabatur et inde significabatur consociatio spiritualis, quae est consociatio et conjunctio per illa quae ecclesiae sunt, et per "panem" In genere significabatur omnis cibus spiritualis, et inde per "prandium" et "cenam" omnis conjunctio.
[32] (Quod Antiqua Ecclesia per multum orbis Asiatici, nempe per Assyriam, Mesopotamiam, Syriam, Aethiopiam, Arabiam, Libyam, Aegyptum, Philisthaeam usque ad Tyrum et Zidonem, per terram Canaanem cis et trans Jordanem, fuerit extensa, videatur n. 1238, 2385; quod fuerit ecclesia repraesentativa, n. 519, 521, 2896: de ecclesia ab Ebero instituta, quae vocata est Ecclesia Hebraea, n. 1238, 1241, 1343, 4516, 4517; quod sacrificia ab Ebero primum incepta fuerint, et dein in usu apud posteros ejus, n. 1128, 1343, 2180, 10042; quod sacrificia non mandata fuerint, sed modo permissa, ostensum ex Verbo; causa quod dicantur mandata, n. 922, 2180, 2818: et quia Verbum conscriptum est apud illam gentem, et Verbum Historicum de illa gente, quod non aliter potuerit quam ut altaria et sacrificia nominarentur, et quod cultus Divinus per illa significaretur, n. 10453, 10461, 10603, 10604.)
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