Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 1727

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1727. 'He brought out bread' means celestial things and the refreshment received from them, while 'end wine' means spiritual things and the refreshment received from them. This is clear from the meaning of 'bread' as that which is celestial, dealt with in 276, 680, and from the meaning of 'wine', and also of a vine and a vineyard, as that which is spiritual, dealt with in 1069, 1071. And because 'breed' means celestial things, and 'wine' spiritual, they were also made symbols in the Holy Supper. Here 'Melchizedek brought out bread and wine' has a similar meaning, for in the Ancient Church 'breed' was the representative of all celestial things, and 'wine' the representative of all spiritual things. Thus here they are representatives of the Lord Himself, the source of everything celestial and everything spiritual.


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