245、启4:8.“四活物周围各有六个翅膀”表示在其能力和保护方面的圣言。前面已经说明，“四活物”表示圣言；下面我们会看到，“翅膀”表示能力，以及保护。“六”表示在真理和良善方面的全部或所有，因为六是由“三”和“二”相乘得出的，而“三”表示在真理方面的全部或所有(AR 505节)，“二”表示在良善方面的全部或所有(AR 762节)。“翅膀”表示能力，因为鸟用翅膀上腾；此外，对鸟来说，翅膀取代了人的膀臂，而“膀臂”表示能力。既然“翅膀”表示能力，每个活物都有六个翅膀，那么从前面所说的明显可知，每个活物的翅膀表示哪种能力，即：“狮子的翅膀”表示与来自地狱的邪恶和虚假争战的能力，这种能力属于来自主的圣言的神性真理。“牛犊的翅膀”表示影响心智的能力，因为圣言的神性真理影响那些以神圣方式阅读圣言的人。“人的六个翅膀”表示在感知神是什么，什么东西属于神，或说在感知神的性质和属于神的东西方面，变得智慧的能力，因为这是一个阅读圣言的人特有的标志；“鹰的翅膀”表示认识真理和良善，并由此为自己获得聪明的能力。
论到基路伯的翅膀，我们在以西结书中读到：
翅膀彼此亲吻，它们也遮体，翅膀以下有手的样式。(以西结书1:23-24; 3:13; 10:5, 21)
“彼此亲吻”表示联合一致地行动；“遮体”表示保护，以免属于圣言灵义的内在真理遭到侵犯；“翅膀以下的手”表示能力。论到“撒拉弗”，经上也说：
它们有六个翅膀；用两个翅膀遮脸，两个翅膀遮脚，两个翅膀飞翔。(以赛亚书6:2)
“撒拉弗”同样表示圣言，准确地说，表示取自圣言的教义；“用来遮脸和脚的翅膀”同样表示保护；“用来飞翔的翅膀”表示能力，如前所述。“飞”表示感知和教导，在至高意义上表示主的看顾或预见和提供，这一点从以下经文也明显看出来，诗篇：
神骑着基路伯飞行，载在风的翅膀上。(诗篇18:10; 撒母耳记下22:11)
启示录：
我看见一位天使飞在天空中间，有永远的福音。(启示录14:6)
“翅膀”表示保护，这一点从以下经文明显看出来，诗篇：
耶和华必用自己的翅膀遮盖你。(诗篇91:4)
又：
隐藏在神翅膀的荫下。(诗篇17:8)
又：
投靠在祂翅膀的荫下。(诗篇36:7; 57:1; 63:7)
以西结书：
我就向你展开了翅膀，遮盖了你的赤体。(以西结书16:8)
玛拉基书：
你们必因祂的翅膀得医治。(玛拉基书4:2)
申命记：
如鹰搅动巢窝，在雏鹰以上振翅，展翅接取它们，背在两翼之上。这样，耶和华独自引导他。(申命记32:11-12)
马太福音：
耶稣说，耶路撒冷啊，我多次愿意聚集你的儿女，好像母鸡把小鸡聚集在翅膀底下。(马太福音23:37; 路加福音13:34)
245. The four living creatures, each individually having six wings about it. (4:8) This symbolizes the Word in respect to its powers and protections.
We have already shown above that the four living creatures symbolize the Word. We will see below that wings symbolize powers and also protections.
The number six symbolizes completeness in respect to truth and goodness, as six is formed of three and two multiplied together, and three symbolizes completeness in respect to truth (no. 505), while two symbolizes completeness in respect to goodness (no. 762).
Wings symbolize powers because they are means of rising upward. Moreover, in the case of birds they take the place of the arms in the human being, and arms symbolize powers.
Since wings symbolize powers, and each living creature had six wings, it is apparent from what we said above what power is symbolized by each one's wings, namely, that the wings of the lion symbolize the power of combating the evils and falsities arising from hell, this being the power of the Word's Divine truth from the Lord; that the wings of the calf symbolize the power to affect hearts, for the Divine truth of the Word affects people who read it reverently; that the six wings of the human being symbolize the power to perceive the nature of God and what pertains to God, as this is peculiarly the mark of a human being in reading the Word; and that the wings of the eagle symbolize the power to recognize truth and good, and so to acquire for oneself intelligence.
[2] As regards the wings of cherubim, we read in Ezekiel that their wings kissed each other, that they had wings also covering their bodies, and that they had the likeness of hands under their wings (Ezekiel 1:23-24; 3:13; 10:5, 21). Kissing each other symbolizes conjoint and unanimous action. Covering their bodies symbolizes protection against violation of the interior truths which constitute the spiritual sense of the Word. And having the likeness of hands under their wings symbolizes powers.
Regarding seraphim, too, we are told that they had six wings, and that with two of them they covered their face, and with two their feet, and with two they flew (Isaiah 6:2). Seraphim likewise symbolize the Word, or more accurately doctrine drawn from the Word. The wings with which they covered their faces and feet likewise symbolize protections. And the wings with which they flew symbolize powers, as before.
That flying symbolizes to perceive and teach, and in the highest sense to foresee and provide, is clear as well from the following:
(God) rode upon a cherub, He flew, and He traveled on the wings of the wind. (Psalms 18:10, cf. 2 Samuel 22:11)
I saw (an) angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel... (Revelation 14:6)
[3] That wings symbolize protections is apparent from the following:
(Jehovah) covers you under His wing. (Psalms 91:4)
(To be hidden) under the shadow of (God's) wings... (Psalms 17:8)
(To trust) in the shadow of (His) wings. (Psalms 36:7; 57:1, cf. 63:7)
I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. (Ezekiel 16:8)
To you (shall be) healing in His wings. (Malachi 4:2)
As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings..., carrying them on its wings, so Jehovah... leads him... (Deuteronomy 32:11-12)
(Jesus said,) "O Jerusalem...! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings... (Matthew 23:37, Luke 13:34)
245. [verse 8] 'And the four animals, each separately, had six wings round about' signifies the Word as to power and as to its guards. That by 'the four animals' the Word is signified, has been shown above; that by 'wings 'are signified powers, and also guards, will be seen below. By 'six' is signified all as to truth and good, for six comes into existence out of 3, 2 multiplied together, and by 'three' is signified all as to truths (505), and by 'two' all as to good (762). Powers are signified by the 'wings,' because by means of them [birds] raise themselves upwards, and wings with birds are in place of arms with a man, and by 'arms' powers are signified. Since powers are signified by the 'wings,' and each animal had six wings, it is plain from the things said above what kind of power is signified by the 'wings' of each, namely, that by the 'wings of a lion' is signified the power of fighting against evils and untruths out of hell. This is the power of the Divine Truth of the Word from the Lord. [It is plain also] that by the 'wings of a calf' is signified the power of affecting the mind (animus), for the Divine Truth of the Word affects those who read it in a holy manner (sancte); that by the 'six wings of a man' is signified the power of discerning what God is, and what is of God, for this is properly man's in reading the Word, and that by the 'wings of an eagle' is signified the power of recognising what is true and good, and thus of furnishing oneself with intelligence.
[2] Concerning the wings of the cherubs [we] read in Ezekiel that:
The wings were kissing each other, and were also covering their bodies, and the likeness of hands was under them. 1:23-24; 3:13; 10:5, 21.
By 'kissing each other' is signified conjoint and unanimous action; by 'covering the bodies' is signified guarding lest the interior truths that are of the spiritual sense of the Word should be violated; and by 'hands under the wings' are signified powers. Concerning the 'seraphs' it is also said that:
They had six wings, with two of which they were covering the face, with two the feet, and with two they were flying. Isaiah 6:2.
By 'seraphs' in like manner is signified the Word, properly doctrine out of the Word, and by the 'wings with which they were covering faces and feet' guards likewise are signified, and by the 'wings with which they were flying' powers, as above. That by 'flying' is signified to perceive and instruct, and in the highest sense to look out and provide, is established also from these passages:
God rode upon a cherub, He did fly, He sailed upon the wings of the wind. Psalms 18:10; [H.B. 11]; 2 Samuel 22:11.
I saw an angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel. Revelation 14:6.
That guards are signified by 'wings' is plain from these passages:
Jehovah shall cover thee under His wing. Psalms 91:4.
To be hid under the shadow of God's wings. Psalms 17:8.
To put trust in the shadow of His wings. Psalms 36:7; [H.B. 8]; 57:1 [H.B. 2]; 63:7 [H.B. 8].
I stretched out a wing over thee, and covered thy nakedness. Ezekiel 16:8.
Unto you shall be healing in His wings. Malachi 4:2 [H.B. 3:20].
As an eagle stirs up her nest, flutters over her young, spreads abroad her wings, bears them on her wings, so Jehovah leads him. Deuteronomy 32:10-12.
Jesus said:
O Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen [gathers] her chickens under her wings. Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34.
245. Verse 8. And the four animals each by himself had six wings about him, signifies the Word as to its powers and as to its guards. That by "the four animals" the Word is signified, was shown above; that by wings are signified powers, and also guards, will be seen below. By "six" is signified all as to truth and good, for six is composed of "three" and "two" multiplied together, and by "three" is signified all as to truth, (505), and by "two" all as to good, (762). By "wings" are signified powers, because by them birds lift themselves up, and wings with birds are in the place of arms with men, and by "arms" are signified powers. Since by "wings" are signified powers, and each animal had six wings, it is evident, from what has been said above, what kind of power is signified by the wings of each, namely, that by "the wings of the lion" is signified the power of fighting against evils and falsities from hell; which power is of the Divine truth of the Word from the Lord. That by "the wings of the calf" is signified the power of affecting minds, for the Divine truth of the Word affects those who read it as holy. That by "the six wings of the man" is signified the power of being wise as to what God is, and what is of God, for this is properly man's in reading the Word: and that by "the wings of the eagle" is signified the power of knowing truth and good, and thereby acquiring intelligence for oneself.
[2] Concerning the wings of the cherubim we read in Ezekiel that:
The wings kissed each other, and that they also covered their bodies, and that under them there was the likeness of hands, (Ezekiel 1:23-24; 3:13; 10:5, 21).
By "kissing each other," is signified to act in conjunction and unanimously; by "covering their bodies," is signified to guard lest the interior truths which belong to the spiritual sense of the Word be violated; and by "the hands under the wings" are signified powers. Concerning "the seraphim," it is also said, that:
They had six wings; with two of which they covered the face, and with two the feet, and with two they flew, (Isaiah 6:2).
By "seraphim" in like manner is signified the Word, properly doctrine from the Word, and by "the wings with which they covered the faces and feet," in like manner are signified guards, and by "the wings with which they flew," powers, as above. That by "flying" is signified to perceive and instruct, and in the highest sense to look out for and provide, is also evident from these passages:
God rode upon a cherub, He did fly, and was carried upon the wings of the wind, (Psalms 18:10; 2 Samuel 22:11).
I saw an angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel, (Revelation 14:6).
[3] That by wings are signified guards, is plain from the following passages:
Jehovah shall cover thee under His wings, (Psalms 91:4).
To be hid under the shadow of God's wings, (Psalms 17:8).
To confide in the shadow of His wings, (Psalms 36:7; 57:1; 63:7).
I stretched out a wing over thee, and covered thy nakedness, (Ezekiel 16:8).
Unto you shall be healing in His wings, (Malachi 4:2).
As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, beareth them on her wings, so Jehovah leadeth him, (Deuteronomy 32:11-12).
Jesus said, O Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, (Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34).
245. (Vers. 8.) "Et quatuor Animalia, singula se habebant alas sex in circuitu," significat Verbum quoad potentias et quoad custodias ejus. - Quod potentias "quatuor Animalia" significetur Verbum, supra ostensum est; quod per alas significentur potentiae, et quoque custodiae, infra videbitur: per "sex" significatur omne quoad verum et bonum, sex enim existunt ex "3', et "2" in se multiplicatis, et per "tria" significatur omne quoad verum (505), ac per "duo" omne quoad bonum, (11, 762). Per "alas" significantur potentiae, quia per illas se elevant sursum, et alae apud aves sunt loco brachiorum apud hominem, et per "brachia" significantur potentiae. Quoniam per "alas" significantur potentiae, et cuivis Animali erant sex alae, ex supra dictis patet quae potentia significatur per alas cujusvis, nempe, quod per "alas Leonis" significetur potentia pugnandi contra mala et falsa ex Inferno; haec potentia est Divini Veri Verbi a Domino: quod per "alas Vituli" significetur potentia afficiendi animos, nam Divinum Verum Verbi afficit illos qui id sancte legunt: quod per sex "alas Hominis" significetur potentia sapiendi quid Deus et quid Dei, nam haec est proprie hominis in legendo Verbum: et quod per "alas Aquilae" significetur potentia cognoscendi verum et bonum, et sic comparandi sibi intelligentiam. De "Alis Cheruborum" legitur apud Ezechielem quod Alae oscularentur se invicem, et quod etiam tegerent corpora illorum, et quod similitudo manuum esset sub illis, (1:23-24; 3:13; 10:5, 21); per "osculari se invicem" significatur conjunctim et unanimiter agere; per "tegere corpora" significatur custodire ne interiora vera, quae sunt Sensus spiritualis Verbi, violentur; et per "manus sub alis" significantur potentiae. De "Seraphim" etiam dicitur, quod illis essent Sex Alae, quarum duabus tegebant faciem, duabus pedes, et duabus volabant, (Esaias 6:2);
per "Seraphim" similiter significatur Verbum, proprie doctrina e Verbo; et per "alas quibus tegebant facies et pedes," similiter significantur custodiae; ac per "alas quibus volabant," potentiae, ut supra: quod per "volare" significetur percipere et instruere, et in supremo Sensu prospicere et providere, constat etiam ex his:
"Deus equitavit super Cherubo, Volavit, et vectus est super alis venti," (Psalm 18:11 (B.A. 10); 2 Samuelis 22:11);
"Vidi Angelum Volantem per medium Caeli, habentem Evangelium aeternum," (Apocalypsis 14:6).
Quod per "Alas" significentur custodiae, patet ex his:
Jehovah sub Ala Sua obtegit te," (Psalm 91:4);
"Occultari sub umbra Alarum Dei," (Psalm 17:8);
"Confidere in umbra Alarum Ipsius," (Psalm 36:8 (B.A. 7)); 1Psalm 57:2 (B.A. 1); Psalm 63:8 (B.A. 7);
"Expandi Alam super te, et operui nuditatem tuam," (Ezechiel 16:8);
"Erit vobis sanitas in Alis Ipsius," (Malachias 3:20 (B.A. 4:2));
"Sicut aquila excitat nidum suum, super pullis suis motitat se, expandit Alas suas, portat Alis solis, sic Jehovah ducit eum," (Deuteronomius 32:11-12); 2
Jesus dixit, "Hierusalem, quoties volui congregare liberos tuos, quem admodum gallina pullos suos sub Alas suas," (Matthaeus 23:37; Lucas, (13) 13:34).
Footnotes:
1. xxxvi. pro "xxvi."
2. 11, 12 pro "10, 11, 12"