Arcana Coelestia (Potts) n. 10580

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10580. And Jehovah said, Behold a place with Me, and thou shalt stand upon the rock. That this signifies a state of faith in God, is evident from the signification of "place," as being state (see n. 2625, 2837, 3356, 3387, 4321, 4882, 5605, 7381, 9440, 9967, 10146); and from the signification of "rock," as being faith (n. 8581, 10438). That it signifies a state of faith in God is because it is said, "a place with Me." No one can know that this is signified by these words, except from the internal sense, thus unless he knows what is meant in this sense by "place," and what by "rock." For otherwise what could be meant by there being "a place with Jehovah upon a rock?" It could only mean that Jehovah dwelt there, and gave Moses a place with Him; when yet Jehovah dwells in heaven with the angels, and in the church with men. That a "rock" denotes faith is from the appearances in the other life. There they who are in faith dwell upon rocky heights, but they who are in love dwell upon mountains. The rocky heights there appear of stone, but the mountains not of stone, because they are elevations of earth. From this it is that a "rock" signifies faith.


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