176. 'Behold, I have set before thee an open door' signifies that heaven has been opened to those who are in truths derived out of good from the Lord. It is plain that by 'an open door' is signified admission. The door is said to be open to those who belong to the Church in Philadelphia, because by that Church are understood those who are in truths derived out of good from the Lord, and the Lord opens heaven to them. But on this matter something not previously known shall be said. The Only Lord is the God of heaven and earth (Matt. xxviii 18); those therefore who do not approach Him directly do not see the way to heaven, nor consequently do they see the door, and if perchance they are allowed to reach it, it is shut, and not opened by knocking. In the spiritual world there actually are ways that lead to heaven, and here and there are gates, and those who are led by the Lord to heaven go along the ways leading thither, and enter through the gates. That there are ways there may be seen in the work concerning HEAVEN ANT) HELL (n. 479, 534, 590); and gates also (n. 429, 430, 583, 584); for all the things that are observed in the heavens are correspondences, consequently also the ways and the gates; for ways correspond to truths, and consequently signify them, and gates correspond to entry, and consequently signify that. [2] Since the Only Lord leads a man to heaven, and opens the door, He therefore calls Himself 'the Way' and also 'the Door'; 'the Way' in John:-
I am the Way, the Truth (veritas), and the Life John xiv 6.
'The Door' in the same [gospel]:-
I am the door of the sheep; by Me if any one enters in, he shall be saved John x 7, 9.
Since there are both ways and doors in the spiritual world, and angelic spirits actually go along the ways, and enter through the doors while going into heaven, therefore 'doors', 'gates' and 'entrances' are frequently mentioned in the Word, and by them entry is signified, as in these places:-
Lift up your heads, O gates, lift them up, O doors of the world, that the King of glory may come in Ps. xxiv 7, 9.
Open the gates, that the just nation practising fidelities (faciens fidetitates) may enter in Isa. xxvi 2.
The five prudent virgins went in to the wedding, and the door was shut; and the five foolish virgins came and knocked, but it was not opened Matt. xxv 10-12.
Jesus said, Strive to enter in through the strait gate, for many will seek to enter in, and shall not be able Luke xiii 24, 25,
besides elsewhere. Since a 'door' signifies entry, and 'the New Jerusalem' signifies the Church [formed] from those who are in truths derived out of good from the Lord, therefore the New Jerusalem also is described as to 'gates', upon which are angels, and it is said that they shall not be shut (Rev. xxi 12, 13, 25).
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