Genesis
2:24 The human race is after all both male and female.
1 As I see it there are six elements that culminate into the marriage relationship, which as I'll show, correlate equally well with the six churches on earth [n1:22]. These are the respective masculine and feminine qualities, brought into the relationship by the bridegroom and the bride. The first four can be viewed as the couple's parents—or, in-laws if you will—with the bridegroom and bride constituting the fifth and sixth elements [n1:44]. And, as we're not the total by-products of what our parents have instilled in us, albeit they play a predominant role, they can be viewed collectively or, in the spiritual sense. Meaning a man's feminine side, for example, is developed by means of all his relating with women which, would be akin to his spiritual mother [n5].
2 Both men and women have these tendencies, which have been nurtured by each of our collective parents. And, as shown by our left and right brains, the two receptacles of this [n4:105-107; n8:13-15], they tend to balance each other out. The masculine, which predominates in the man or, the qualities of his father, represents the rational or intellectual side, which is also the understanding [1:32]. The feminine, which predominates in the woman or, the qualities of her mother, is what makes her a woman, and is the reciprocal of the understanding: the emotional or feeling aspect or, the will [n1:34].
3 Thus as they approach each other from opposite ends of the spectrum, men and women are opposite
human beings. They aren't diametrically opposed though—or, at least they shouldn't be!—for they were meant to be reciprocals,
ruled by their dominant tendencies, in a state of balance with their lesser tendencies. And, once a suitable pair is found, they
become united—in marriage—and come together as a whole: "And the two shall become one flesh."
Genesis
2:24 The human race is after all both male and female.
4 When this occurs, although rare in earthly marriages, the two become—one human being. This is how it's commonly expressed in heaven at least [n4:97]. It's also portrayed by the sperm striking the ovum to form the zygote, the two opposite organisms joining to form a new one, as fertilization occurs. While the zygote goes on to develop into a baby, to form a new human being—or, half a human being. And here, the birth of a child testifies to the consummation of marriage, which in the spiritual sense signifies the birth of new doctrine, more so a boy child: the embodiment of faith or understanding, regarding this pact between God and The Church or, Husband and Wife [n4:111-112]. For an account of my own experience here, see chapter 5 [n1].
5 The six elements of marriage are as follows:
1) The man's intellect: the masculine aspect of the man or his spiritual father.
2) The man's will: the feminine aspect of the man or his spiritual mother.
3) The woman's intellect: the masculine aspect of the woman or her spiritual father.
4) The woman's will: the feminine aspect of the woman or her spiritual mother.
5) The man himself: the understanding in the relationship or the spiritual bridegroom / husband.
6) The woman herself: the will in the relationship or the spiritual bride / wife.
6 Once these elements are established, they culminate into a seventh state, a state of coalescence or, the marriage itself [n1:44]. There's also an eighth and ninth state, which correspond to the honeymoon (eighth) and the life thereafter (ninth). These two, along with the seventh, correspond to the numbers 21, 22 and 23, as detailed in the last chapter [n2:5-6]. I address this, along with the six elements and their number correspondents, further in chapters 4 and 6 [n4:1-3,83,89; n6:58].
7 Then there's the relation to the numbers 12 and 43 which, in accord with the man's parents (12) and the woman's parents (43), signify the man himself or the husband (5), and the woman herself or the wife (6). And here, where the number 12 begins with the number 1, which is the man's father (1) or his dominant strength, the number 43 begins with the number 4, which is the woman's mother (4) or her dominant strength; and, in accord with the number 14, signify true love [n4:10,124]. And so illustrates how men and women are reciprocals and approach each other from opposite ends of the spectrum [n3]. The numbers 12 and 43 also portray the two sets of polarities on Jung's cross of opposites [n1:22], thinking versus feeling (12), and intuitive versus sensational (43), which then gives rise to the fifth aspect—or, crux of the matter [n1:25,32].
8 Thus you might see how it correlates with the first four churches below, by which the fifth and sixth churches are established which, culminate into the seventh church or, the marriage (7) [n1:44]. Oddly enough, the number 56, which is 14 x 4, joins the bridegroom (5) to the bride (6) and, in relation to the fourteen Gerarai in chapter 4 [n1], it too signifies true love [n4:124]. Not only that, the number 567 signifies the marriage itself [n4:72], meaning it's one synchronicity after the next! [n1:21]. In fact you can set your clock by it! [n6:56].
9 Yet it's just as uncanny how the numbers 12 and 43 portray the New Church, which occurs in
Revelation
12 and, in the 43rd month following the 42 months of prophecy by the Two Witnesses in
Revelation
11 [n4:50,151; n6:84].
And so we have this "great wonder" that appears in Revelation 12:1: "A woman clothed with sun and the moon under her feet, and upon
her head a crown of twelve stars," who gives birth to the man child in verse 5 [n4 above]. And being "clothed
with the sun," portends of the Axis Mundi and Idaho the 43rd state in chapter 6 [n67-70], where the
sun rises in the east (4) and sets in the west (3), signifying the woman herself (43). Wow!
10 Notwithstanding the number 3, as Swedenborg contends, signifies everything as to truth
[n6:69], and the number 4 signifies everything as to good. Which, when multiplied, hence the
relation between good and truth—i.e., 4 x 3 or, the number 43—signifies everything as to the
Church (12). Here we are again! It's also defined by the Greek letter Delta
, where the triangle signifies the truth, and good is defined
by the area or context inside the triangle. Plus, when adding 3 + 4 we get 7 which, according to Swedenborg, signifies what is
holy and complete. Hence this joining of two minds or, the holy marriage above [n3].
11 Finally there's the number 343, which is 7 x 7 x 7 and seventh coordinate plotted on the Axis Mundi or the cross [n6:67]. It too, in relation to the base fourteen system [n4:1], corresponds to the marriage (7). On top of that, all coordinates—43, 44, 3, 4, 33, 34 and 343—are either a 3 or 4 or combination thereof, and further illustrate the relationship between good and truth. When added [n6:79], from the outer pair to the inner pair, you get 777, 77, 77 and 7, thus showing the relation to the marriage (7) and, what is holy and complete. It truly is amazing! While it all boils down to Nyssa, Oregon and the symbol I developed on my 34th birthday; again, in accord with the numbers 3 and 4.
12 As we're speaking of The Church of Man [n1:7], more specifically The Marriage of Heaven and Earth [n1:30-32], it seems logical that it correlate with the elements of marriage. You can determine for yourself in what follows:
13 The First Church was the Church of Adam and his progeny [n1:28], and corresponds to the development of the man's intellect or, his father [n4:20]. As the story goes, Adam fell to the earth by eating of the tree of nowledge, by means of his intellect, whereby the truth descends. And being the first of the human inhabitants, he was to go through many trials, as to develop an intimate knowledge of who his father really was. In Adam's case it was God, The Father Himself, which is why the first church concerns the man's intellect.
14 The Second Church was the Church of Noah and his progeny [n1:24], and corresponds to the development of the man's will or, his mother [n4:32-33]. As we've been told, Noah built the ark and was delivered of the great flood. The obedient one, this would have corresponded to his affection, which is of the will—hence the emotional or feeling aspect [n2]. While water is typically called the woman's element, and can be viewed correspondently with her will. This is her strength, much in the way the man's intellect is his strength. Therefore, as Noah was delivered of the flood by Mother Earth herself—signifying the will of his mother—the second church concerns the man's will. And, as I said in chapter 1 [n29], we're all the progeny of Adam and Noah, by which the Churches of Adam and Noah were the General Church (12) [n7].
15 The Third Church coincided most with the Israelite Church [n1:30], beginning with the birth of that nation in the wilderness, more specifically the expulsion of the nations from the land of Canaan. A church of representatives, by which truth culminated in symbolic form, it corresponds to the development of the woman's intellect or, her father [n4:39-40].
16 And here, where the woman herself signifies what is good, which is of the will or the affection, the man signifies the truth, which is of the understanding. But, as good can't exist except that it coheres to the truth, nor can truth live except that it coheres to what is good, it's appropriate for a woman to align herself with the truth. This is accomplished through her intellect, which is of her understanding. Once this occurs, the truth becomes culminated in her, and she becomes the true embodiment of good: her intellect serving as a vessel through which justice is truly cultivated.
17 The Fourth Church on earth was the
Christian Church [n1:31], and corresponds to the development of the woman's will
or, her mother [n4:46].
As Christ was born of a virgin or, so it is claimed, it can be said He was born from the purity of a woman's will, i.e.,
the woman's seed. And as He was without sin, it's clear this church concerns the good of the will which, is good itself. And, as
the Christian Church stems from the
Israelite Church, it's appropriate that He be born within the
domain of Israel : signifying the alignment of the woman's
will to the woman's intellect, hence the woman hersef (43) [n7].
18 The Fifth Church was instituted in the latter part of the 1700's, through the work of Emanuel Swedenborg [n1:32]. A scientist, with the gifts of a mystic, he took untold journeys into the spiritual realm. And it was given him to conduct a thorough and extensive examination, as to the nature of Holy Scripture and, life beyond the grave. The main thrust of his research concerned the Heavenly Marriage, more specifically, The Marriage of Good to Truth.
19 Thus in accord with the development of the understanding, regarding marriage or, the bridegroom [n4:56], the Swedenborg Church is deemed the crown of the four preceding churches. Whereby it concerns courtship practices and the search for a prospective spouse, i.e., Swedenborg was single. And includes all things leading up to and including the marriage proposal, and its acceptance by the prospective bride.
20 The Sixth Church concerns what's happening in Today's World [n1:34], and is moded in many ways after Dionysus, the Greek god of wine. This is where the name Dennis comes from, much in the way Emanuel (Swedenborg) is another name for Christ. And, as the Christian Church was initially established in Greece, where Christ was the bridegroom, and the church itself the bride—though it wasn't thoroughly established until Swedenborg's day—it's fitting to view what is Greek in origin in terms of the bride. And so correlates with Dionysus, who in many ways led a life comparable to Christ; and, adopted by many a Greek woman as a second or, spiritual husband.
21 Thus Today's Church concerns the development of the woman's will, regarding marriage, the bride to be and, portrays the engagement period prior to marriage [n4:66]. I might add it can only be accomplished through the emancipation of the woman's will, which is clearly indicative of today. In no other period of history has the woman been allowed to exercise her free will, in such an extensive fashion. And so correlates with that bastion of modern Democracy and, very fulfillment of Greece, the United States.
22 When considering what happens when fertilization occurs, the notion of the first four churches occurring within four 2,300 year periods [n2:20-21] is further illustrated. For each parent contributes 23 chromosomes to their offspring, which receives 46 altogether. Whereby the bridegroom receives 46 chromosomes from his parents, i.e., 4,600 years, and the bride receives 46 chromosomes from her parents, i.e., another 4,600 years. And when they marry, they each pass on 23 chromosomes to their children.
23 Generally speaking, it takes a man considerably less time to find a woman he wishes to marry, and much less time than that to serve as the engagement period—these periods corresponding to the fifth and sixth churches—than it takes to develop the four previous elements of marriage or, prior churches. Hence the accounting of the 2,300 years, to the 230 years and, to the 23 years: i.e., from the fourth to the seventh church. And when taken a step further, the eighth and ninth church, the wedding night and life thereafter, will occur within the next two-and-a-half years, in 2012? [nf:7; n16:76; n20:2]: i.e., the focus remaining on the seventh church, as it signifies the marriage itself. And, as Swedenborg says, the number seven signifies what is holy and complete [n10].
24 I might add the transition from the fifth church to the sixth church has occurred in my lifetime, and the transition to the seventh church—as well as the eighth and ninth—will likely occur as well. For we're speaking of the bride who's been selected at the end of the fifth church, and the following engagement period, the sixth church, which culminates into the marriage—or, seventh church.