AR 172, 173, 176 - The Church of Philadelphia

AR 172

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write."
(Revelation 3:7)
This symbolically means,
to people and concerning people
who are governed by truths
springing from goodness derived from the Lord.

AR 173
"'These things says He who is holy, who is true.'"
(Revelation 3:7)

This symbolically means the Lord
in relation to Divine truth.
Clearly it means the Lord.
He who is holy, who is true,
is the Lord in relation to Divine truth,
because the Lord is called holy
owing to His Divine truth,
and called just or righteous
owing to His Divine goodness.
It is in consequence of this
that His emanating Divinity --
which is Divine truth --
is called the Holy Spirit;
and here the Holy Spirit is He who is holy, who is true.

Holiness is often mentioned in the Word,
and it is everywhere predicated of truth;
and because all truth that is true in itself
originates from goodness and from the Lord,
it is that truth that is called holy.
In contrast,
the goodness from which truth originates
is called just or righteous.
It is owing to this
that angels governed by truths of wisdom,
called spiritual angels, are termed holy,
while angels governed by the goodness of love,
called celestial angels, are termed just or righteous.
The same is the case with people in the church.

It is because of this also
that prophets and apostles are called saints, or holy,
for prophets and apostles
symbolize the church's doctrinal truths.

It is because of this, too,
that the Word is called holy,
for the Word is Divine truth.

That is why the Law in the ark in the Tabernacle
was called the most holy place and also the sanctuary.

That, too, is why Jerusalem is called holy,
for Jerusalem symbolizes a church
which possesses Divine truths.
 
For the same reason the altar, the Tabernacle,
and the garments of Aaron and his sons
were called holy after they were anointed with oil;
for oil symbolizes the goodness of love,
and this sanctifies or makes a thing holy,
and everything made holy relates to truth.

AR 176

. . . the New Jerusalem symbolizes a church
formed of people who are governed by truths
springing from goodness derived from the Lord . . ..