687. Furthermore, baptism as regeneration is represented by many things both in heaven and in the world; in heaven, as just said, by white and purple garments, also by the marriage of the church with the Lord, also by the new heaven and the new earth, and the New Jerusalem descending therefrom, Of which He who sat upon the throne, said:
Behold, I make all things new (Apoc. 21:1-5);
And by the river of living water proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb (Apoc. 22:1, 2);
Also by the five prudent virgins who had lamps and oil, and went in with the bridegroom to the marriage feast (Matt. 25:1, 2, 10). One who is baptized, that is regenerated, is meant by, Creature (Mark 16:15; Rom. 8:19-21);
and by, A new creature (2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15);
for he is called "a creature" from his being created; and this also signifies to be regenerated (as may be seen in the Apocalypse Revealed, n. 254). [2] In the world regeneration is represented by various things, as by the blossoming of all things on earth in spring, and by the gradual development of the blossoms even to the fruit; also by the growth of every tree, shrub and flower, from the first warm month to the last. It is also represented by the progressive ripening of all kinds of fruit from the earliest germ to the end of the process; then again by morning and evening showers, and by dews, at the coming of which the flowers open, while they close at the approach of the darkness of night; also by the fragrance from gardens and fields; by the rainbow in the cloud (Gen. 9:14-17); by the resplendent colors of the dawn; and in general by the continual renovation of everything in the body by means of the chyle and the animal spirit, and consequently by the blood. The purification of this from exhausted material, and its renovation, and seeming regeneration, are perpetual. [3] If we turn our thoughts to the more insignificant things on earth, an image of regeneration is presented in the wonders transformation of the silk-worm and other worms into nymphs and butterflies, and of still other kinds which after a time are provided with wings; to which may be added still more trifling matters, as the desire of certain birds to plunge themselves into water for the sake of washing and cleansing themselves, after which they return as warblers to their songs. In a word, the whole world from what is first to what is last in it is full of representations and types of regeneration.