Spiritual Meaning of

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That tribes signify the goods of love and truths of faith, is evident also from the Lord's words in Matthew:--

where by all the tribes of the earth mourning, is signified that there would no longer be any acknowledgment of truth and of the life of good, for the subject treated of is the consummation of the age. In like manner in John:--

What is signified by coming in the clouds of heaven (AR 2135A); see further what was shown me from experience concerning twelve (AR 2129, 2130).

[15] The reason why all things of faith and love are called tribes, is that the same expression in the original tongue signifies also a scepter and a staff. That a scepter, and also a staff, signifies power, will of the Lord's Divine mercy be shown elsewhere. Hence the name tribe involves in it that goods and truths have within them all power from the Lord. For this reason also the angels are called powers, and likewise sovereignties, for princes signify the primary things of charity and faith, as do the twelve princes descended from Ishmael (Gen. 25:16) (AR 2089, 3272), and also the princes who presided over the tribes (Num. 7) (Num. 13:4-16).

[16] From what has been hitherto said concerning the twelve tribes, it may be known why the Lord's disciples, who were afterwards called apostles, were twelve in number; and that they represented the church of the Lord as to goods and truths in like manner as did the tribes (AR 2129, 3354, 3488, 3857). That Peter represented faith; James, charity; and John, the works of charity, may be seen above (preface to chapter 18 and to chapter 22), (AR 3750). This likewise is very plain from what the Lord said concerning them and to them.

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