879. [verse 2] 'And I John saw the holy city New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven' signifies the New Church going to be set up by the Lord at the end of the former one, which [New Church] in companionship with the New Heaven will be in Divine truths as to doctrine and life. The reason why John here mentions himself saying 'I John', is because by him as an apostle is signified the good of love directed to the Lord, and consequently the good of life; and therefore he was loved more than the rest of the apostles, and at the supper reclined upon the Lord's breast (John xiii 23; xxi 20); and the Church that is now treated of does likewise. That by 'Jerusalem' is signified the Church will be seen in the following paragraph. This is called 'a city' and described as a city on account of doctrine and of a life in accordance therewith, for 'a city' in the spiritual sense signifies doctrine (n. 194, 712). It is called 'holy' on account of the Lord Who Only is Holy, and on account of the Divine truths that are derived out of the Word from the Lord in those who are called 'holy' (n. 173, 586, 666, 852); and it is called 'new' because the One sitting upon the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new' (verse 5); and it is said to be 'coming down from God out of heaven' because it descends from the Lord by means of the New Heaven of Christians treated of in verse 1 of this chapter (n. 876), for the Church on earth is formed by the Lord by means of heaven so that they may act as one and be associated together.