9964. Or when they come near unto the altar to minister in what is holy. That this signifies in the representative worship of the Lord Himself, is evident from the fact that the altar was the chief representative of the Lord in respect to the Divine good (see n. 9714); thus "coming near unto the altar, and ministering there in what is holy" denotes the worship of the Lord Himself. The representative worship of the Lord consisted chiefly in burnt-offerings and sacrifices offered upon the altar (n. 922, 923, 2180, 6905, 8680, 8936); the representative worship of the Lord in respect to Divine good was at the altar, and the representative worship of Him in respect to Divine truth was in the Tent of meeting. Therefore it is said that by "going in into the Tent of meeting" is signified the representative worship of all things of heaven and of the church (n. 9963); and by "coming near unto the altar" is signified the representative worship of the Lord Himself; for heaven and the church are receptacles of the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord. The Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord is the truth that proceeds from the good of His love, and it is implanted where this good also is received, consequently where the Lord is received, from whom is this good.