Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 5091

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5091. 'And they both dreamed a dream' means foresight regarding them. This is clear from the meaning of 'a dream' as foresight, dealt with in 3698,'they both' being both kinds of sensory powers meant by 'the cupbearer and the baker', whose dreams have reference to themselves, as is evident from what follows. The reason 'a dream', in the highest sense, means foresight is that dreams which come directly from the Lord by way of heaven foretell things to come. Such was the nature of Joseph's dreams, the cupbearer's dream and the baker's dream, Pharaoh's dream, Nebuchadnezzar's dream, and prophetical dreams in general. The things to come that are foretold in dreams have no other origin than the Lord's Divine foresight. From this one may also realize that every single thing is foreseen by Him.


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