533. 'A woman encompassed with the sun, and the moon under her feet' signifies the Lord's New Church in the heavens, which is the New Heaven, and the Lord's New Church about to exist on earth, which is the New Jerusalem. That the Lord's New Church is signified by this 'woman' is established from the several things (ex singulis) in this chapter understood in the spiritual sense. It may be seen that by 'a woman' the Church is also signified elsewhere in the Word (n. 434); and the Church is signified because the Church is called the Bride and Wife of the Lord. She was seen 'encompassed with the sun' because the Church is in love directed to the Lord, for it acknowledges Him and does His commandments, which is to love Him (John xiv 21-24). That 'the sun' signifies love may be seen (n. 53). 'The moon' was seen 'under the woman's feet' because the Church on earth (in terris) that has not yet been conjoined to the Church in the heavens is understood. By 'the moon' is understood intelligence in the natural man and faith (n. 413); and by being seen 'under the feet' is signified that it is about to exist on earths; otherwise by 'the feet' is signified that Church itself, when it has been conjoined. [2] It should be known that there is a Church in the heavens as well as on earth, for the Word is there, temples are there, and in them preaching, and there are ministries and priesthoods there. For there all the angels have been men, and their departure out of the world was to them only a continuation of life. Therefore also they are being perfected in love and wisdom, each in accordance with the degree of affection of truth and good that they have taken with them out of the world. The Church with them is understood here by the 'woman encompassed with the sun', upon whose head was 'a crown of twelve stars'. Because, however, the Church in the heavens does not continue in existence unless there is also a Church on earth which is in concordant love and wisdom, and this is about to exist, therefore 'the moon' was seen 'under the woman's feet'. By this is here specifically signified the faith through which, as at present, there is no conjunction. [3] The reason why the Church in the heavens does not continue in existence unless the Church on earth has been conjoined to it is because heaven where angels are and the Church where men are act as one, just as the internal and external with a man; and the internal with a man does not continue to exist in its own state unless the external is conjoined to it. For the internal without the external is like a house without a foundation, or like a seed on top of the ground and not in the ground, thus like something without a root, in a word, like a cause without an effect in which it may exist. From these considerations it can he seen that there is an absolute necessity that somewhere in the world there should be a Church, where the Word is, through which the Lord is known.