253. 5763. were with me, that is, to the dead who had risen, and they replied that they therefore seemed to be condemned, for they did not seem to themselves to have righteousness in them. But they thought that by grace what was unrighteous in them was pardoned, for they were declaring that only the one God exists, and this was also affirmed - but in three essences. But it was put to them, Whom did Melchisedek represent, to whom sacrificial victims were given [cf. Heb. 5:1, 6; 7:4]? To this they could give no reply. Further, they were asked, what did the sacrifices represent? And when they could still give no answer, the question was put to them, Whom did Isaac portray when he was made a sacrificial victim [Gen. 22:1-12]? But to this they kept silence, saying that it was unpleasant to them to hear these things. Comment: spiritual beings understand a person's speech just as the person is thinking, along with all his circumstances, differently than man does. And since this speaking was guided by the angels of God the Messiah, it was full [of meaning]. [Jews] [See WE 5764 up to this point, explaining Exod. 34:30.] * For outer truth joined with inner is such that it terrifies earthly people, and it condemns them. This is supported by many instances in which earthly minded people shudder at truths that concern spiritual life or the life after death. For truth is entirely opposite to falsity, which is brought on by the loves of the world and of oneself, and because truth kills or destroys those loves, the earthly person is greatly upset by it.