886. [verse 5] 'And the One sitting upon the throne said, Behold I am making all things new, and He said unto me, Write, for these words are true and trustworthy' signifies the Lord speaking about the last judgment to those who were going to come into the world of spirits, or who were going to die from the time when he was in the world until now, these things: that the former heaven with the former land, and the former Church, with all the things in them collectively and separately, are going to perish; and that a new heaven with a new land, and a new Church which is to be called the New Jerusalem, is going to be created, and that they know these things for certain and will remember them, because the Lord Himself has testified it. The things that are in this verse, and in the following verses as far as the 8th inclusive, were said to those in Christendom who were going to come into the world of spirits, which happens immediately after decease, with the end in view that they might not suffer themselves to be led astray by the Babylonians and dragonists. For, as was said above, all after death are gathered together in the world of spirits and like to have companionships among themselves as in the natural world. They are there at the same time as the Babylonians and dragonists, who continually burn with the lust of leading astray. These latter were also allowed to fashion for themselves by imaginary and illusory arts as it were heavens, by means of which they could lead astray. To prevent this these things were said by the Lord, so that they might know for certain that those heavens with their lands were going to perish, and that the Lord was going to create a new heaven and a new land, and that then those were to be saved who did not suffer themselves to be led astray. It should, however, be known that these things were said to those who had lived from the time of the Lord up till the last judgment, which was effected in the year 1757, because they could have been led astray; but those there subsequently cannot, because the Babylonians and dragonists have been separated and cast out. [2] But now to the exposition: by 'the One sitting upon the throne' is understood the Lord (n. 808 at the end). The Lord here spoke 'upon the throne' because He said, 'Behold, I am making all things new', by which is signified that He is going to effect the last judgment and then create a new heaven and a new land, and also a new Church, with all the things collectively and separately that are in them. That 'a throne' is judgment in a representative form may be seen (n. 229, 845, 865); that the former heaven and the former Church have perished in the day of the last judgment (n. 865, 877). By 'He said unto me, Write, for these words are true and trustworthy' is signified that they know these things for certain and will remember them, because the Lord Himself has testified it. By the Lord's making use a second time of the word 'He said' (dixit) is signified that they know it for certain. By 'Write' is signified for remembrance, or that they will remember it (n. 639); and by 'these words are true and trustworthy' is signified that they are to be believed, because the Lord has testified it.