Apocalypse Explained, Vol. 1

these truths. From this it is that as the Lord is the Word, so is He the doctrine The systematic body of teachings or principles of the church. of the church, for all doctrine is from the Word. (That the Lord is the doctrine of the church, because all truth that is from doctrine is from the Word, thus from the Lord, see Heavenly Secrets original Latin title: "Arcana Coelestia", n. 2531, 2859, 3712.)

20. “To the seven churches” signifies to all who are in truths from good Truths that are not just known intellectually but are lived out through good actions and love. or in faith from charity In this context, charity refers to the active love of one's neighbor and the desire to do good..—This is evident from the signification of “seven,” as meaning all [persons]. For “seven,” in the Word, signifies beginning and end, thus an entire period and a full state, the same as a “week” (Heavenly Secrets original Latin title: "Arcana Coelestia", n. 728, 6508, 9228); and because “seven” signifies fulness, it also signifies all, since all constitutes fulness, for fulness, as regards those that constitute a society (here, the church), means all; therefore, when magnitude is treated of in the Word, “seven” signifies fulness; but when multitude is treated of, “seven” signifies all. “Three” also in the Word signifies fulness and all (as may be seen Heavenly Secrets original Latin title: "Arcana Coelestia", n. 2788, 4495, 7715); but “seven” is used where anything holy is treated of, and “three” in other cases (Heavenly Secrets original Latin title: "Arcana Coelestia", n. 10127); therefore “seven” is here used, because truths from good, which are holy things of the church, are treated of. It is also evident from the signification of “churches,” as meaning those who are in truths from good, or in faith from charity. These are meant by “churches,” because such truths constitute the church with every one; for those who are not in truths from good, though born within the church, yet are not of the church, because there is no church in them. From this it is that the Lord’s church consists of all those, wheresoever they are, who are a church, that is, who are in truths from good. (That the church, like heaven, is in man, and not outside of him, consequently that man who is in truths from good is a church, see Heavenly Secrets original Latin title: "Arcana Coelestia", n. 3884; and Heaven and Hell, n. 53, 54, 57.) It is also said, who are in faith from charity, since this is the same; for truth is of faith, and good is of charity; for in fact, everything that man believes is called truth, and everything that man loves is called good. (That every truth is from good, and that everything of faith is from charity, see The New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine, n. 84–107, 108–122; and The Last Judgment, n. 33–39; also Heaven and Hell, n. 364, 424, 482, 526.) He who knows nothing of the internal sense The hidden, spiritual meaning of the Bible that lies beneath the literal stories and words. of the Word, when he reads these things believes no otherwise than that by “seven churches” are meant the seven churches afterwards named (verse 11); whereas churches are not meant, but all who are of the church; because this is the spiritual sense of the Word.

21. “In Asia” signifies those who are in the light of intelligence.—This can be seen by a spiritual idea only, such as