From the signification here given to earth, we may readily understand what is meant by the pillars and foundations of the earth spoken of in the Word; as where it is said, "the word of Jehovah layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him." (Zech. xii. 1.) And of the wicked it is said. "They know not, neither will they understand: they walk on in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are out of course." (Ps. lxxxii. 5.) Inasmuch as earth denotes the church, it is evident that the foundations of the earth must denote those primary doctrines or fundamental truths, upon which every thing of the church rests. And since in every true church, these must be derived from God's own Word, therefore it is said that, "his Word layeth the foundation of the earth." And when the fundamental doctrines of a church are false, it is plain that "all the foundations of the earth are out of course."

We may also learn from this spiritual meaning of earth, what is signified by a flood of water mentioned in Genesis, which destroyed every living substance from off the face of the earth. (vii. 23.) For we are taught in the writings of the New Church (what indeed is now fully confirmed by recent geological discoveries) that there has never been a universal deluge of natural waters upon the face of our earth since the creation of man. Waters, in the language of correspondence, signify either truths or falses, according to the subject treated of. Hence, by a flood of waters destroying every living substance from off the face of the earth, is denoted such an accumulation of falses in the church, as to overwhelm and destroy all genuine good and truth, thus all spiritual life with the men of that church. By Noah and the creatures saved alive with him in the ark, are denoted the few remains of the essential things of a church, which were preserved and kept alive by the providence of God.

This, therefore, about the flood, in its literal sense, does not contain true history, as has commonly been supposed; but in its internal and spiritual sense, it does contain a true history of the consummation of the

Ancient Church, deluged and destroyed by false doctrines originating in evil lusts. And not only so, but it contains, in its spiritual sense, a true history of the consummation of every church destroyed in a similar manner. The pure and living principles of heaven always perish, when they suffer inundation from the false principles that flow from hell. Such is the nature of an inspired and truly divine composition: it is applicable alike to men in all times and places.

From what has now been said concerning the true meaning of earth when mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures, we may be able to form a correct idea of what is meant by the new earth mentioned in the Apocalypse, which John saw when the former earth had passed away. (xxi. 1.) This text has generally been taken in its literal sense. And accordingly it has been commonly understood in the Old Church, that the passing away or destruction of this natural earth is there taught, and the creation of a new one. But if those who give the passage this interpretation would be consistent, they would interpret literally all that follows in the same chapter. Then we should have not only a lake of literal fire and brimstone, wherein the wicked would be. cast and find their second death, (which indeed is a doctrine that has also been generally taught in the church) but we should have a literal city descending from the sky, or the visible heavens above our heads, whose height would be twelve thousand furlongs, or fifteen hundred miles-more than thirty times the height of our atmosphere! For this is the measure of the length and breadth of the city; and it is said that "the length, and the breadth and height of it are equal." And the measure of its wall, a hundred forty and four cubits, is said to be "the measure of a man, i. e. of an angel."

Now every one must see the falsity of a principle of interpretation which brings us to such an absurd conclusion as this:-which would lead us to believe that the Lord will, at some future day, send down from the visible heavens a literal city more than thirty times the height of our atmosphere, and that the measure of a man or an angel is to be an hundred forty and four

cubits. And yet the rule of literal interpretation, brings us to this strange conclusion, is the very sa the application of which men have been brought to believe that this natural earth is to be destroyed by fire, and the wicked are then to be cast into a literal lake of fire and brimstone. The Scriptures do as really and as plainly teach that such a city as is here described will actually descend from the visible heavens, as that this natural earth will ever be destroyed. The one conclusion is reached just as legitimately as the other, and by the application of the same rule of interpretation. And it is therefore fair to conclude that one is just as absurd as the other. The Word of God, rightly interpreted, teaches neither of these things. And yet is not the Church full of such vain imaginings as these? which it has drawn from the literal sense of the Word, and so confirmed by that sense, as at last to see them to be true to see darkness as light.

How much more agreeable not only with sound philosophy, and enlightened reason, and all we know of the order of Providence, but with the general tenor of the Sacred Scriptures, is the conclusion to which we are brought by applying to the Word the principles of interpretation revealed for the use of the New Jerusalem Church. According to these principles the earth signifies the church; therefore by the new earth which John saw, and the passing away of the former earth, is denoted the establishment of the New Church, and the passing away of the Old. The things of a church, or of that which is so called, may consist of merely human imaginings; i. e., of false doctrines wherein men have confirmed themselves from the literal sense of the Word. But when genuine truth descends from heaven into human minds, in such a manner that the doctrines once believed to be true are seen to be only imaginary and false, then these doctrines are overthrown and rejected; and the things which appertain to a true church are received in their places. Thus the former earth passes away and the new earth appears.

But as every natural phenomenon is the effect of some spiritual cause, so any change in the state of the

church upon earth must be the result of a correspondin change in the state of the church in the spiritual world. Therefore the passing away of the former earth and the appearance of a new one, are an effect consequent upon that change in the world of spirits which is denoted by the passing away of the former, and the appearance of a new heaven.*

Then the Revelator describes the descent of true doctrines and their reception into human minds, under the image of "the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven." The city signifies the church as to doctrine; and inasmuch as all true doctrine comes down to man from the Lord, through the medium of his Holy Word, therefore this was representatively exhibited to John by the descent of a city.† Consequently all the things which are there said concerning this city, are, when rightly understood, things said concerning the doctrines of the New Jerusalem Church. Thus it is said to be four square, with its length, breadth and height equal, to denote that all things good and true will be acknowledged and included in the doctrines of this church. Breadth, according to the Science of Correspondences, is predicated of good, and length of truth, and height of their orders or degrees, as from the highest or most interior spiritual truths, to the lowest or most exterior truths of natural science, together with the good or the use of each. And when, by means of those heavenly doctrines, the mind of man has been brought into an angelic state, or a state of true order, he has then reached the stature of spiritual manhood ;-he hath "the measure of a man, i. e., of an angel." This fulness of heavenly stature is denoted by 144 cubits, which is his measure. The number 144, as well as the number twelve from which it is derived, signifies, in the language of correspondence, what is full and complete, or all the goods and truths of the church. The lake

* See this subject more fully explained in a little work entitled the Last Judgment, By Emanuel Swedenborg, n. 65-74

That the city which is here described, does not mean a literal city but the Church, may appear still more evident from what is said near the close of the chapter: "And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the noon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is

of fire and brimstone mentioned in the eighth verse, signifies the falses and evils in which the minds of these persons are immersed, who are of the character there described.

This is a very general and brief view of some of the things contained in this twenty-first chapter of the Apocalypse, as unfolded according to the Science of Correspondences, or by the application of the principle of interpretation which is revealed in the theological writings of Swedenborg.*

It must by this time appear abundantly evident, that earth or land, when mentioned in the Sacred Scriptares, does not mean this material globe or any portion of it, but the Church. Hence it is manifest, where the prophets of the Old Testament speak of the land being devoured by fire, of a consummation upon all the earth, &c., that the end or consummation of the then existing Jewish Church is signified, which took place at the time of the Lord's first advent; for we know that the natural land was not then literally devoured by fire. And that the "new heaven and the new earth," spoken of in the Revelation, signify a New Church, both internal and external, which the Lord at his second coming would establish, is placed beyond all doubt, when we consider that his first advent, to consummate the Jewish and establish the Christian Church, is foretold

the light thereof. And the nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of it-there shall be no night there." &c. Now it is the church built upon true doctrine derived from the Word, which hath no need of natural light; for it enjoys spiritual illuminat on. "The glory of God," or the divine truth of the word enlightens it, and that continually; "for there is no night there." And all who walk according to this light, i. e., who live as these truths require, are signified by "the nations of them that are saved."

Indeed, so evident is it that the church is here described under the image of a city, that not a few in the Old Church have perceived and acknowledged it; though for want of a knowledge of Correspondences, they could not make out the precise meaning of its foundation, walls, gates, streets, &c. In a marginal note on the first verse of this chapter in Bagster's Compreher sive Bible printed in London in 1828, it is said "As this immediately succeeds the account of the judgment, it must refer exclusively to the heavenly state; the new heaven,' and 'the new earth,' and the new Jerusalem,' being emblernatical of the glory and happiness which will be the portion of the good forever.”

* For a full and detailed explanation of the contents of this chapter, agreeably to the Science of Correspondences, see Apocalypse Revealed, by Emanuel Swedenborg, vol. 3, n. 876-931.