43. Truths in the Word’s literal sense are meant by the foundations of the wall of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21. This follows from the fact that the New Jerusalem means a new church in respect to doctrine, as shown in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem Regarding the Lord 62, 63. Its wall, therefore, and the foundations of the wall, can only mean the outer component of the Word, which is its literal sense; for that is the origin of doctrine, and through doctrine, the church. Moreover, doctrine is like a wall which, with its foundations, surrounds a city and protects it.

Respecting the wall of the New Jerusalem and its foundations, we read in the book of Revelation the following:

(The angel) measured (the city Jerusalem’s) wall, a hundred and forty-four cubits, (which was) the measure of a person, that is, of an angel. (Revelation 21:17)

And the wall had twelve foundations, “adorned with all kinds of precious stones”:

The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. (Revelation 21:19-20)

The number 144 symbolizes all the truths and goods of the church drawn from the Word’s literal sense, and so does the number 12. A person symbolizes intelligence; an angel, Divine truth from which that intelligence originates; measuring, their character; the wall and its foundations, the Word’s literal sense; and precious stones, the Word’s truths and goods in their sequence, from which doctrine originates, and through doctrine, the church.

63. The Holy City, New Jerusalem, means that new church in respect to its doctrine. That is why it was seen descending out of heaven from God, for a doctrine of genuine truth comes from no other source than the Lord through heaven.

Because the church in respect to its doctrine is meant by the Holy City, New Jerusalem, therefore it is said to be prepared as a bride, adorned for her husband (Revelation 21:2), and after that we are told:

One of the seven angels...came to me and spoke with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” And he carried me away in the spirit onto a...high mountain, and showed me the great city, the Holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. (Revelation 21:9-10)

People know that a bride and a wife mean the church when the Lord is meant by the bridegroom and husband. The church is a bride when it wishes to receive the Lord, but a wife when it does receive Him.

It is apparent that the Lord is meant by the husband there, for the bride is called the Lamb’s wife.