Arcana Coelestia (Potts) n. 9570

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9570. And it shall make its lamps go up. That this signifies the light of the spiritual heaven, is evident from the signification of "making its lamps go up," as being to kindle a light in them, that they may give light; and as the spiritual heaven was represented by the lampstand (see n. 9548), therefore by "making the lamps go up" is signified the light of the spiritual heaven. The light of the spiritual heaven is the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord, and the consequent faith, intelligence of truth, and wisdom of good (see what was cited in n. 9548). How the case is with the light of the spiritual heaven shall be briefly stated. In the Lord's celestial kingdom, which is the inmost or third heaven, there is a light which immeasurably surpasses the light in the spiritual kingdom, which is the middle or second heaven. The light of the celestial kingdom, that is, of the inmost heaven, does not appear as light, but as flame; the reason being that the good of love reigns in this heaven, and in heaven the good of love is presented to view as flame. But in the Lord's spiritual kingdom, which is the middle or second heaven, there is a light which immeasurably surpasses the light of the world, and yet it appears bright white, for the reason that in this heaven there reigns the truth of faith from the good of charity; and in heaven the truth of faith from this good is presented to view as a bright white light. From this in the Word also "light" signifies the truth which is from good, and in the supreme sense the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord's Divine good. From all this it can now be seen what is meant by "the light of the spiritual heaven," and what by "the flame of the lamp," from which is this light.


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