161

This is the speech of the Lord Jesus, and with him
the present and the future world have also a twofold
signification, also both a particular and a common
one. As to the particular—there is something exter-
nal and internal in every one; body and soul in every
one; this is his present and future world. As to the
common signification—there is an external and an
internal world, that is, the material world is the pre-
sent, and the future is the internal world. As to
what is stated in the ostensible law, that the earth
has seven stories and the heaven also seven, the
interpretation of this is, that the earth is divided into
seven regions, whence is concluded that the heaven
also is divided into seven, separate from which they
account the Kersi or Arsh, that is the ninth heaven.
As to what is said, that on the day of resurrection
the heaven will be folded together,

" On the day on which we shall fold the heavens, as the angel folds
44 the book (of good and bad actions of men), we shall replace them as
4i they were formed at the beginning of the creation. The heavens will
" then be folded by his grace, power, and strength,"

verse 3, which is as follows: " Jesus answered and said unto him (Nico-
demus): Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he
" cannot see the kingdom of God."—Further, v. 5: " Verily, verily, I
" say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the spirit,he cannot
4' enter into the kingdom of God."—V. 6: That which is born of the
*' flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit, is spirit."—V. 7:
" Marvel not that I said unto thee, you must be born again."—V. 8: The
" wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou nearest the sound thereof,
44 but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth : so is every
** one that is born of the spirit."

v. in. i i