Spiritual Meaning of

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That the earth signifies the region where the church is, and therefore those who live there, may be confirmed by the following passages from the Word, in addition to those already cited. In Jeremiah:--

Here the earth denotes those who dwell where the church is that is vastated. In Isaiah:--

The earth denotes the man who is to be vastated, where the church is. In Jeremiah:--

Here the end of the earth does not signify the whole world, but only the region where the church was, and consequently the men who were of the church. Again:--

In this passage, in like manner, the whole world is not meant, but only the region where the church is, and therefore the inhabitant or man of the church; the nations here denote falsities. In Isaiah:--

Here the meaning is the same. Again:--

Again:--

The earth denotes the man of the church. In Zechariah:--

where the earth manifestly denotes the man of the church. The earth is distinguished from the ground as are the man of the church and the church itself, or as are love and faith.

That by earth or land is signified man, consequently the church, which is of man, may be seen in Malachi:--

That earth denotes the church is seen in Isaiah:--

where the foundations of the earth denote the foundations of the church. Again:--

New heavens and a new earth denote the kingdom of the Lord and the church. In Zechariah:--

meaning the church. Also, as before, in Genesis:--

everywhere denoting the church created, formed, and made. In Joel:--

meaning the church and the things of the church; when these are vastated, heaven and earth are said to quake, and the sun and moon to grow dark, that is, love and faith.

[3] In Jeremiah:--

Here the earth plainly denotes the man in whom there is not anything of the church. Again:--

Here also the church is meant, whose exteriors are the earth, and the interiors the heavens, of which it is said that they shall be black, with no light in them, when there is no longer wisdom of good and intelligence of truth. Then the earth also is empty and void; and in like manner the man of the church who should be a church. That by the whole earth is meant in other places also only the church, may be seen in Daniel:--

the whole earth denotes the church and what is of the church; for the Word does not treat, like profane writings, of monarchial sovereignties, but of the holy things and states of the church, which are here signified by the kingdoms of the earth.

[4] In Jeremiah:--

here from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth, means the church and everything that is of the church. In Isaiah:--

where the whole earth denotes the church. In Ezekiel:--

where also the whole earth denotes the church. In Isaiah:--

where the earth denotes the church, because the church is there treated of.

[5] Because land or earth in the Word signifies the church, it signifies also what is not the church, for every such word has contrary or opposite meanings; as for example the various lands of the Gentiles; in general all lands outside the land of Canaan. Land is therefore taken also for the people and for the man outside the church, and hence for the external man, for his will, his Own, and so forth. The term is rarely used in the Word for the whole world, except when the whole human race is meant as regards their state, whether of the church or not of the church. And because the earth is the containant of the ground, which also signifies the church, and the ground is the containant of the field, the word earth signifies, because it involves, many things; and what it signifies is evident from the subject treated of, which is that of which the term is predicated. From all this it is evident that by the whole earth that was overspread by the sons of Noah, is not signified the whole world, or the whole human race, but all the doctrines both true and false that were of the churches.

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