AE 1044 - Pearls

AE 1044 [3, 5]

That "pearls" signify the knowledges of good and truth
can be seen from the following passages.

The kingdom of the heavens
is like unto a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,
who, when he had found one precious pearl,
going away sold all that he had and bought it.
(Matthew 13:45-46)

"The kingdom of the heavens" means
both heaven and the church;
the "merchant" means
those who acquire for themselves the goods and truths
through which heaven and the church come;
"pearls" signify the knowledges of good and truth,
for these are the truths of the natural man;
"the one precious pearl" means
the knowledge respecting the Lord and His Divine;
"going away he sold all that he had and bought it"
signifies to reject what is one's own [proprium]
in order to receive life from the Lord.

The merchants of the earth
shall weep and wail over Babylon,
for no one buys their merchandise any more,
merchandise of gold and silver,
and of precious stone and pearl.
(Revelation 18:11-12)

The twelve gates of the wall of the New Jerusalem
were twelve pearls;
each one of the gates was one pearl.
(Revelation 21:21)

As "the gates to the New Jerusalem"
signify such things of doctrine from the Word
as introduce man into the church,
and these are
the knowledges of truth and good from the Word,
so the gates were seen to be "of pearls."