79. 'And hast examined them who say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars' signifies that they scrutinise the things in the Church that are said to be good and true but yet are evil and untrue. That these things are signified can only be seen by means of the spiritual sense, and if it is known therefrom what is understood by 'apostles' and 'liars'. By 'apostles' are not understood apostles, but all who teach the goods and truths of the Church, and in the abstract sense the goods and truths themselves of its Doctrine. That by 'apostles' are not understood apostles is plainly evident from this [saying] to them:-
When the Son of Man shall sit upon the throne of His glory, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel Matt. xix 28; Luke xxii 30.
Who does not see that the apostles are not going to judge anyone, and that they are not able to do so, least of all the twelve tribes of Israel, but that only the Lord can do this in accordance with the goods and truths of the doctrine of the Church out of the Word? Then again from these [words]:-
The wall of the city New Jerusalem had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb Rev. xxi 14,
since by 'New Jerusalem' the New Church is signified (n. 880, 881), and by its 'foundations' all the goods and truths of its doctrine (n. 902 seq.). [2] And also from these:-
Exult, O heaven, and the holy apostles and prophets Rev. xviii 20.
What is the exultation of apostles and prophets, unless by them are understood all who are in the goods and truths of the doctrine in the Church? By the Lord's 'disciples' are understood those who are instructed by the Lord in the goods and truths of the doctrine, while by 'apostles' are understood those who after having been instructed teach the same, for it is said:-
Jesus sent His twelve disciples to preach the kingdom of God, and the apostles, having returned, told Him all that they had done Luke ix 1, 2,10; Mark vi 7, 30.
That by 'liars' are understood those who are in untruths, and abstractly the untruths themselves, can be established from very many places in the Word, where those that lie and lies are mentioned, and if these were cited they would fill pages. 'Lies' in the spiritual sense are nothing but untruths. From these considerations it can now be established that by 'thou hast examined them that say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars' is signified that they scrutinise the things in the Church that are said to be good and true but yet are evil and untrue.