stones mean truths made translucent by goodness, like the truths in the
Word’s literal meaning. Because these truths are meant by those precious
stones, the stones are called his covering. On the literal meaning covering
the insides of the Word, see § 213 above.
4. The curtains, veils, and pillars in the tabernacle represented the types 220
of good and truth that exist in the Word’s literal meaning.The tabernacle
that Moses built in the desert represented heaven and the church,
which is why Jehovah revealed the form of it on Mount Sinai. All the
objects inside the tabernacle—the lampstand, the golden incense altar,
and the table for showbread—represented and meant what is holy in
heaven and the church. The most holy place, which contained the ark
of the covenant, represented and therefore meant the inmost aspect of
heaven and the church. The law written on two tablets meant the
Word. The angel guardians above it meant safeguards to prevent viola-
tion of the Word’s holiness.
Since outer things derive their essence from inner things, and outer
and inner things together derive their essence from what is inmost,
which in this case was the law, therefore all aspects of the tabernacle rep-
resented and meant the holy things in the Word.
It follows from this that the outermost features of the tabernacle—
the curtains, veils, and pillars that were coverings, containers, and struc-
tural supports—meant the outermost aspects of the Word, which are the
forms of truth and goodness in its literal meaning. Because this was their
meaning, all the curtains and veils were made of cotton interwoven with
blue and purple threads, and with double-dyed scarlet threads, depicting
angel guardians (Exodus 26 : 1 , 31 , 36 ).
Where Secrets of Heavendeals with this chapter in Exodus [§§ 9592 –
9692 ], I have explained both generally and specifically what the taberna-
cle and its contents represented and meant. There I have shown that the
curtains and veils represented outer aspects of heaven and the church, and
therefore outer aspects of the Word as well. The cotton or linen meant
truth from a spiritual origin. The blue threads meant truth from a heav-
enly origin. The purple threads meant heavenly goodness. The double-
dyed cloth meant spiritual goodness. Angel guardians meant protection
of the inner aspects of the Word.
5. The exteriors of the Temple in Jerusalem, as well, represented the 221
types of good and truth that exist in the Word’s literal meaning.The Tem-
ple represented heaven and the church just as the tabernacle did,
although the Temple meant the heaven where the spiritual angels are,
§221 sacred scripture 297