241、启4:7.“第一个活物像狮子”表示在能力方面的圣言的神性真理。“狮子”表示在其能力中的真理，在此表示在能力方面的圣言的神性真理，这一点可从以下事实明显看出来：在地上，狮子的力量胜过一切动物；在灵界，狮子是代表神性真理的能力的形像；在圣言中，狮子表示在其能力中的神性真理。至于圣言中的神性真理的能力是什么，可参看《新耶路撒冷教义之主篇》(49节)和《天堂与地狱》(228-233节)。这就是为何耶和华或主，被比作“狮子”，也被称为“狮子”；如在以下经文中，阿摩司书：
狮子吼叫，谁不惧怕呢？主耶和华说话，谁不会说预言呢？(阿摩司书3:8)
何西阿书：
我必不回头毁灭以法莲，他们必跟随耶和华。祂如狮子吼叫。(何西阿书11:9-10)
以赛亚书：
狮子和少壮狮子怎样咆哮，耶和华也必怎样降临在锡安山上争战。(以赛亚书31:4)
启示录：
看哪，犹大支派的狮子，大卫的根，已经得胜。(启示录5:5)
创世记：
犹大是狮子的幼崽，他蹲伏，卧如老狮，谁敢惹他？(创世记49:9)
在这些经文中，来自主的神性真理的能力被描述为“狮子”。“吼叫”表示祂用能力说话和行动，以对抗地狱，地狱想把人掳走，但主把他从地狱中救出来，就像狮子抓取猎物一样；“蹲伏”表示让自己处于能力，“犹大”在至高意义上表示主(AR 96, 266节)。启示录：
天使大声呼喊，好像狮子吼叫。(启示录10:3)
民数记：
他蹲伏，卧如老狮，谁敢惹他？(民数记24:9)
又：
看哪，这百姓兴起如老狮，挺身好像少壮狮子。(民数记23:24)
这论及以色列，以色列表示教会，它在神性真理中的能力被如此描述。弥迦书：
雅各余剩的人必在民中间，如森林百兽中的狮子，又如少壮狮子在羊群中。(弥迦书5:7-8)
此外还有其它许多经文(如以赛亚书11:6; 21:6-9; 35:9; 耶利米书2:15; 4:7; 5:6; 12:8; 50:17; 51:38; 以西结书19:3, 5-6; 何西阿书13:7-8; 约珥书1:6-7; 民数记2:12; 诗篇17:12; 22:13; 57:4; 58:6; 91:13; 104:21-22; 申命记33:20)。
241. The first living creature was like a lion. (4:7) This symbolizes the Divine truth of the Word in respect to its power.
A lion symbolizes truth in its power, here the Divine truth of the Word in respect to its power, as can be seen from the power of the lion, which surpasses that of every other animal on the earth. It can be seen as well from lions in the spiritual world and the fact that they are images representative of the power of Divine truth. And it can be seen, too, from the Word, in which lions symbolize Divine truth in its power. The nature of the power of Divine truth in the Word may be seen in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem Regarding the Sacred Scripture 49, and in the book Heaven and Hell, nos. 228-233.
So it is that Jehovah or the Lord is likened to a lion, and also called a lion, as in the following passages:
A lion has roared! Who does not fear? The Lord Jehovih has spoken! Who does not prophesy? (Amos 3:8)
I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim... They shall walk after Jehovah. He roars like a lion. (Hosea 11:9-10)
As a lion roars, and a young lion..., so Jehovah... will come down to fight upon Mount Zion... (Isaiah 31:4)
Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed... (Revelation 5:5)
Judah is a lion's whelp... He bowed down, he lay down... as an old lion. Who rouses him? (Genesis 49:9)
[2] A lion in these passages describes the power of the Divine truth emanating from the Lord. Roaring symbolizes His speaking and acting with power against the hells, which try to carry off a person as a lion does its prey, but from which the Lord rescues him. To bow down means to put Himself into a condition of power. Judah, in the highest sense, symbolizes the Lord (nos. 96, 266).
(The angel) cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. (Revelation 10:3)
He bows down, he lies down... as an old lion. Who rouses him? (Numbers 24:9)
Lo, the people rises like an old lion, and like a young lion lifts itself up. (Numbers 23:24)
This last declaration is said of Israel, which symbolizes the church, whose power, which lies in Divine truths, is thus described.
So likewise:
The remnant of Jacob shall be... in the midst of... peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep... (Micah 5:7-8)
And so on in many other places, as in Isaiah 11:6; 21:6-9; 35:9; Jeremiah 2:15; 4:7; 5:6; 12:8; 50:17; 51:38; Ezekiel 19:3, 5-6; Deuteronomy 33:20.
241. [verse 7] 'And the first animal was like a lion' signifies the Divine Truth of the Word as to power. That a 'lion' signifies Truth in its own power, here the Divine Truths of the Word as to power, can be established from the power of the lion compared with every animal of the land, also by reason of the lions in the spiritual world, which are images representative of the power of Divine Truth. It can also be established out of the Word, where they signify Divine Truth in its own power. What is the nature of the power of Divine Truth in the Word may be seen in THE DOCTRINE OF THE NEW JERUSALEM CONCERNING THE SACRED SCRIPTURE 49, and in the work concerning HEAVEN AND HELL 228-233. This is why Jehovah or the Lord is compared to a 'lion' and is also said to be a 'Lion' as in the following passages:
The lion has roared, who should not fear? The Lord Jehovah has spoken, who should not prophesy? Amos 3:8.
I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim, they shall go after Jehovah, He roars like a lion. Hosea 11:9-10.
Like as the lion roars, and the young lion, so shall Jehovah come down to serve [as a soldier] upon mount Zion. Isaiah 31:4.
Behold the Lion has overcome, Who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David. Revelation 5:5.
Judah is a lion's whelp, he crouched down, he lay down as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? Genesis 49:9.
[2] In these places by a 'lion' is described the power of the Divine Truth that is from the Lord. 'To roar' signifies to speak and act powerfully against the hells desirous of carrying man away. The Lord snatches him out from them as a lion [seizes] its prey. 'To crouch down' is to put oneself into power. 'Judah' in the supreme sense signifies the Lord (96, 266).
The angel cried with a loud voice as a lion roars. Revelation 10:3.
He crouches, he lies down as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? Numbers 24:9.
Lo! the people is rising up as an old lion, and lifting itself up as a young 1lion. Numbers 23:23-24.
This is [said] of Israel, by whom the Church is signified, its power which is in Divine truths being thus described. In like manner:
The remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of the peoples, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep. 2Micah 5:7-8 [H.B. 6-7].
Besides in many other places, as Isaiah 11:6; 21:6-9; 35:9; Jeremiah 2:15; 4:7; 5:6; 6; 50:17; 17; Ezekiel 19:3, 5-6; Hosea 13:7-8; Joel 1:6-7; Nahum 2:12; Psalms 17:12; 22:13 [H.B. 14]; 57:4 [H.B. 5]; 58:6-7 [H.B. 7-8]; Psalms 91:13; 104:21-22; Deuteronomy 33:20.
Footnotes:
1. Original Edition has 'old lion,' apparently an erroneous repetition of the previous phrase. AV and Apocalypse Explained 278[3] have 'young lion.'
2. Original Edition has 'the peoples' but Hebrew has 'sheep.' So has Apocalypse Explained 278[5].
241. Verse 7. And the first animal was like a lion, signifies the Divine truth of the Word as to power. That "a lion" signifies truth in its power, here the Divine truth of the Word as to power, may appear from the power of the lion above every animal of the earth, as also from lions in the spiritual world, where they are images representative of the power of Divine truth; and likewise from the Word, where they signify the Divine truth in its power. What the power of the Divine truth in the Word is, may be seen in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem concerning the Sacred Scripture 49, and in the work on Heaven and Hell 228-233. Hence it is that Jehovah, or the Lord is compared to "a lion," and is also called "a lion;" as in the following passages:
The lion roareth, who will not fear? the Lord Jehovah hath spoken, who will not prophesy? (Amos 3:8).
I will not return to destroy Ephraim, they shall walk after Jehovah. He roareth as a lion, (Hosea 11:9-10).
As the lion roareth and the young lion, so shall Jehovah come down to fight upon Mount Zion, (Isaiah 31:4).
Behold the Lion which is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David hath conquered, (Revelation 5:5).
Judah is a lion's whelp, he coucheth, he lay down, as an old lion, who shall rouse him up? (Genesis 49:9).
[2] In these passages the power of Divine truth which is from the Lord, is described by "the lion.""To roar" signifies to speak and act from power against the hells which wish to carry man away, but from which the Lord rescues him as a lion his prey; to "couch himself," is to put himself in power; "Judah," in the highest sense, signifies the Lord, (96, 266).
The angel cried with a great voice as a lion roareth, (Revelation 10:3).
He couched, he lay down as an old lion, who shall stir him up? (Numbers 24:9).
Behold, the people shall rise up as an old lion, and lift up himself as a young lion, (Numbers 23:24)
This is concerning Israel, by whom is signified the church, whose power, which is in Divine truths, is thus described. In like manner:
The remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of the people, as a lion among the beasts of the forests, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, (Micah 5:7-8; besides many other places; as Isaiah 11:6; 21:6-9; 35:9; Jeremiah 2:15; 4:7; 5:6; 12:8; 50:17; 51:38; Ezekiel 19:3, 5-6; Hosea 13:7-8; Joel 1:6-7; Nahum 2:12; Psalms 17:12; 22:13; 57:4; 58:6; 91:13; 104:21-22; Deuteronomy 33:20).
241. (Vers. 7.) "Et Animal primum simile Leoni," significat Divinum Verum Verbi quoad potentiam. - Quod "Leo" significet Verum in sua potentia, hic Divinum Verum Verbi quoad potentiam, constare potest a potentia leonis prae omni animali terrae, tum ex leonibus in mundo spirituali, quod sint imagines repraesentivae potentiae Divini Veri; et quoque ex Verbo ubi significant Divinum Verum in sua potentia; qualis potentia Divini Veri in Verbo est, videatur in Doctrina Novae Hierosolymae de Scriptura Sacra 49, et in Opere de Caelo et Inferno 228-233; inde est, quod Jehovah seu Dominus comparetur "Leoni," et quoque dicatur "Leo," ut in sequentibus:
"Leo rugit, quis non timeat; Dominus Jehovih 1locutus est, quis non prophetet," (Amos 3:8);
"Non revertar ad perdendum Ephraimum, post Jehovam ibunt, sicut Leo rugit," (Hoschea 11:9-10); 2
"Quemadmodum rugit Leo, et juvenis Leo, sic descendet Jehovah ad militandum super monte Zionis," (Esaias 31:4).
"Ecce vicit Leo, Qui est ex tribu Jehudae, Radix Davidis," (Apocalypsis 5:5);
"Catulus Leonis Jehudah, curvavit se, cubuit sicut Leo vetus, quis excitat eum," (Genesis 49:9);
in his locis describitur potentia Divini Veri, quod a Domino, per "leonem;" "significat ex potentia loqui et agere contra inferna, quae auferre volunt hominem, a quibus Dominus illum eripit, sicut leo praedam; "curvare se" est se mittere in potentiam; "Jehudah" in supremo Sensu significat Dominum, (96, 266).
"Angelus clamavit voce magna sicut Leo rugit," (Apocalypsis 10:3);
"Incurvat se, cubat sicut Leo vetus, quis excitat eum," (Numeri 24:9);
En populos sicut vetus Leo surgit, et sicut juvenis 3Leo effert se," (Numeri 23:24); 4
haec de Israele, per quem significatur Ecclesia cujus potentia, quae in Divinis veris est, ita describitur; similiter,
"Reliquiae Jacobi in medio populorum erunt sicut Leo inter bestias sylvae, sicut Leo juvenis inter greges ovium," 5(Micham 5:7 (B.A. 8)). 6
(Praeter in multis aliis locis, ut Esaias 11:6; 21:6-9; 35:9; Jeremias 2:15; 4:7; 5:6; 12:8; 50:17; 51:38; 7Ezechiel 19:3, 5-6; Hoschea 13:7-8; Joel 1:6-7; Nahum 2:12; Psalm 17:12; Psalm 22:14 (B.A. 13) Psalm 57:5 (B.A. 4); Psalm 58:7 (B.A. 6); 8Psalm 91:13; Psalm 104:21-22; Deuteronomius 33:20).
Footnotes:
1. Jehovih pro "Jehovah"
2. 9, 10 pro "20"
3. juvenis pro "vetus"
4. 24 pro "23, 24"
5. ovium pro "populorum"
6. 7 pro "6, 7"
7. xii. pro "viii."
8. 7 pro "7, 8"