79. And has tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars, signifies that they scrutinize those things which are called goods and truths in the church, which nevertheless are evils and falsities. That this is what is signified, cannot be seen except by the spiritual sense, and unless it is thence known what is meant by "apostles" and by "liars": by "apostles" are not meant apostles, but all who teach the goods and truths of the church, and, in the abstract sense, the goods and truths themselves of its doctrine. That apostles are not meant by "apostles," clearly appears from these words addressed to them:
When the Son of man shall sit on the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matt. 19:28; Luke 22:30).
Who does not see that the apostles are not to judge anyone, and cannot, much less the twelve tribes of Israel, but that the Lord alone will do this according to the goods and truths of the doctrine of the church from the Word? In like manner from this passage:
The wall of the city New Jerusalem had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (Rev. 21:14).
Because by the "New Jerusalem" is signified the New Church (n. 880, 881), and by its "foundations," all the goods and truths of its doctrine (n. 902, and following numbers).
[2] And also from this passage:
Exult O heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets (Rev. 18:20).
What can the exultation of the apostles and prophets signify, unless by them are meant all who are in the goods and truths of doctrine in the church? By the Lord's disciples are meant those who are instructed by the Lord in the goods and truths of doctrine; but by apostles they who, after they are instructed, teach them; for it is said:
Jesus sent His twelve disciples to preach the kingdom of God, and the apostles, when they were returned, told Him all that they had done (Luke 9:1-2, 10; Mark 6:7, 30).
That by "liars" are meant they who are in falsities, and, abstractly, the falsities themselves, may appear from many places in the Word, where "liars" and "lies" are mentioned, which, if they were adduced, would fill pages; "lies" in the spiritual sense, are nothing else than falsities. From these considerations it may appear, that by "thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars," is signified that they scrutinize those things in the church which are called goods and truths, but which nevertheless are evils and falsities.