said to Peter that Peter would deny him three times(Matthew 26 : 34 ).
Jesus said to Peter three times,“Do you love me?” (John 21 : 15 , 16 , 17 ).
Jonah was in the belly of the sea monster for three days and three nights
(Jonah 1 : 17 ). Jesus said that he would demolish the temple, and rebuild it
in three days(Matthew 26 : 61 ). In Gethsemane Jesus prayed three times
(Matthew 26 : 39 – 44 ). Jesus rose on the third day(Matthew 28 : 1 ). There
are many other passages as well where threes are mentioned. They are
mentioned when the topic is a work that is finished and completed, since
such is the meaning of that number.212 There are three heavens: the highest, the middle, and the lowest. The
highest heaven constitutes the Lord’s heavenly kingdom; the middle heaven,
his spiritual kingdom; and the lowest heaven, his earthly kingdom. Just as
there are three heavens, there are three layers of meaning in the Word: the
heavenly meaning, the spiritual meaning, and the earthly meaning.
The points made above in § 210 coincide with the points just made:
the primary component is present in the middle component; and by
means of the middle component it is also present in the outermost com-
ponent. In exactly the same way, a purpose is present in the means; and
through the means the purpose is present in the result.
This shows what the Word is like. Inside its literal meaning, which is
earthly, there is an inner meaning that is spiritual; and inside the spiri-
tual meaning there is an innermost meaning that is heavenly. The outer-
most meaning, which is earthly and is called the literal meaning, is a
container for the two inner meanings. Therefore it is a foundation for
them and also a structural support.
213 From the points just made it follows that without its literal mean-
ing the Word would be like a palace without a foundation. It would be
like a palace in the air, not on the ground, which would be only a
shadow of a palace, and shadows disappear.
Without its literal meaning the Word would be like a church build-
ing that housed many sacred objects and had a sanctuary in the middle
but lacked a roof or walls to contain them. If the roof and walls were
lacking or taken away, the sacred objects would be stolen by thieves or
violated by animals from the land and birds from the sky, causing the
sacred objects to be lost.
It would be like the tabernacle of the children of Israel in the desert
having the ark of the covenant in its innermost area, and the golden lamp-
stand, the golden incense altar, and the table of showbread in its middle
area, but lacking its outermost features—its curtains, veils, and pillars.