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417. Four angels standing on the four corners of the earth. That this signifies the Divine proceeding from the Lord in the whole spiritual world, is plain from the signification of angels, for they denote the Divine which proceeds from the Lord; concerning which see above, n. 130, 200, 302; and from the signification of the four corners of the earth, which denote the whole spiritual world. By four corners is signified the spiritual world, because there are lands there just as on our globe; for in that world, as is the case on our earth, there are mountains, hills, rocks, plains, valleys, and many other things. This has been often stated above. And as the Last Judgment upon all in the spiritual world is treated of in the Apocalypse, and in this place the separation of the good from the evil, therefore that world is meant by the earth. The reason why the earth also signifies the church, as frequently stated before, is, that the appearance of the land (terra) in the spiritual world is exactly in agreement with the state of the church with spirits and angels there. The appearance is the most beautiful where the angels of the superior heavens dwell, and beautiful also where the angels of the lower heavens dwell, but it is totally wanting in beauty where evil spirits dwell. For where the angels dwell, are gardens, fruit gardens, flower-beds, palaces, and everything in heavenly form and harmony, whence pleasantnesses issue forth, imparting inmost delight to the mind; but where evil spirits are, every place is marshy, stony, and barren, and they live in huts of a vile appearance, and also in caverns and dens.
[2] These things are mentioned to show that "the earth," in the proximate sense, means the spiritual world; nor could any other earth (terra) appear to John, for it was seen by him when he was in the spirit. Man also, when in the spirit, cannot see any thing on our Earth (tellus), but only what is in the spiritual world. Therefore John saw four angels, and they were standing on the four corners of that earth. Four angels were seen, because by their standing on four corners is signified the Divine which proceeds from the Lord in the whole spiritual world, for that entire world has four quarters; these are the eastern, western, southern, and northern, that world being thus divided. Those who are in the good of love to the Lord dwell in the eastern quarter, and also in the western, but the former in the clear good of love because they are in the interior [good of love]; the latter, in the obscure good of love, because they are in the exterior [good of love]; in the southern quarter dwell those who are in the clear light of truth, and in the northern those who are in an obscure light of truth. Concerning these quarters see Heaven and Hell 141-153, where they are treated of. And since all things have reference to the good of love, and to the truth from that good, or generally to good and truth, therefore by those four quarters are also meant all things of heaven and the church. Those quarters are also meant in the Word by the four winds, here also by the four corners. It is therefore evident, that the angels were not seen standing on the four corners of the earth, but in the four quarters. They are called the four corners, because corners signify the extremes, and the extremes signify all things, because they include all.
[3] That corners signify quarters is evident from these passages in the Word, where quarters are described by corners, as in the following:
In Moses:
"For the tabernacle thou shalt make twenty boards for the south corner southwards. And for the second side of the tabernacle, towards the north corner, twenty boards," and so forth (Exodus 26:18, 20; 27:9, 11; 36:21, 23, 25).
Here the south corner denotes the southern quarter, and towards the north corner, the northern quarter, for there were twenty boards for each side.
So in Ezekiel:
"By the border of Dan, from the east corner unto the west corner, Asher one. And thence by the border of Asher, from the east corner even unto the corner towards the west," and company (48:1-8).
In the same prophet:
"These the measures; the north corner four thousand and five hundred, and the south corner as many, and the east corner as many, and the west corner as many, by the boundary to the east corner towards the west, and so forth" (48:16, 17, 23-25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34; also 47:17-20).
Again, in Moses:
"Ye shall measure from without the city the corner towards the east two thousand cubits, and the south corner as many, and the west corner as many, and the north corner as many" (Num. 35:5; also in Joshua 15:5; 18:12, 14, 15, 20).
In these passages, by the east, the south, the west, and the north corners are meant the sides facing the eastern, southern, western, and northern quarters; from which it is evident, that by the four angels standing upon the four corners of the earth, is not meant upon its four corners, but in its four quarters. Similarly in another passage in the Apocalypse, it is said:
Satan "shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth" (20:8).
[4] The reason why four corners are mentioned, and not the four quarters, is that corners signify all things, since they are the extremes; for the extremes embrace all things from the centre to the ultimate circumferences; for they are the ultimate boundaries. It was for this reason that horns were placed upon the four corners of the altar, and that blood was poured on them, and thus the whole altar expiated; as is evident from Exodus 27:2; 29:12; 30:2, 3, 10; 38:2; Leviticus 4:7, 18, 25, 30, 34; 16:18, 19; Ezekiel 41:22; 43:20.
[5] That corners signify all things, because they signify the extremes, for the reason stated above, that the extremes include and embrace all things, is clearly evident from certain statutes given to the sons of Israel; as for instance, that they should not round off or shave the corner of their head (66), and that the same is signified by the beard, see the Arcana Coelestia 9660); that extremes or ultimates, signify all things in the aggregate, thus the whole (n. 10044, 10329, 10335). Now since a field signifies the church, and harvest the truths of the church, therefore by their not wholly reaping the corner of the field when they reaped the harvest, is meant the preservation of all those things which are signified by the harvests of the field.
[6] That corners signify all things because they are extremes, is also evident from the following passages in Moses:
"I will cast them into the farthest corners, I will make the remembrance of them cease from among men" (Deuteronomy 32:26).
To cast into the farthest corners signifies to deprive of all good and truth; therefore it is also said, "I will make the remembrance of them to cease from among men," which signifies, that they no longer possess any thing of spiritual life, which comes to pass when man remains only in the ultimates of life, called the Corporeal Sensual; in this condition are very many, who have not attained to anything of spiritual life. Such persons then become not unlike beasts, which have no other life, with this difference, that a man, because he is born a man, can speak and reason, but he does this from the fallacies of the senses, or of the outermost things of nature, the world, and the body. This is what is meant here by being cast into the farthest corners.
[7] In Jeremiah:
"And their camels shall be a prey, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil; and I will scatter them into every wind into the cut off of the corner; and I will bring their destruction from all the passages thereof, saith Jehovah" (49:32).
These things are said concerning the devastation of Arabia and Hazor by the king of Babylon, and by Arabia and Hazor are signified the knowledges of good and truth, and by the king of Babylon evil and falsity vastating. The vastation of all confirmatory scientifics and of the knowledges of good and truth, is signified by their camels being a prey, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil; for camels denote confirmatory scientifics, and cattle the knowledges of good and truth. The vastation of all things pertaining to good and truth, until none remains, is signified by, "I will scatter them into every wind into the cut off of the corner;" the cut off of the corner denoting the extremes where good and truth no longer exist. That evils and falsities will then break in on every side, is signified by, "I will bring their destruction from all the passages thereof." For in the spiritual world, where the evil are, ways from the hells lie open on all sides, and through these, evils and falsities therefrom break in; and all who are in similar evils and falsities pass through the same ways, and associate with them. These things are said in order that it may be known what is meant by "I will bring their destruction from all the passages." By their becoming a prey and a spoil, as well as by being scattered and destroyed, is signified devastation.
[8] In the same prophet:
"Behold, the days come, in which I will punish all them which are circumcised in their uncircumcision; Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the sons of Ammon, and Moab, and all the utmost of the corner, that dwell in the wilderness; for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart" (9:25, 26).
Here, by "all the utmost of the corner," are signified those who are in the ultimates of the church separated from interior things, interior things being spiritual, therefore, those who are in sensual things only, which are the ultimates of the natural man. Concerning the nature and quality of those who are merely sensual, see the Doctrine of the New Jerusalem. (n. 25:23).
[9] Again, in Moses:
"There shall come a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall break in pieces the corners of Moab" (Num. 24:17).
By the corners of Moab are meant all things signified by Moab. By Moab are signified those who are in the ultimates of the Word, of the church, and of worship; and in the opposite sense, those who adulterate such things by looking to themselves, and regarding their own honour in every one of these things. The corners of Moab, therefore, mean adulterations of the Word, and consequently of the church and worship, as they exist with those who are of such a character. Similar things are signified by the corner of Moab in Jeremiah (48:45).
[10] In Zephaniah:
"A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high corners" (1:16).
Here, "a day of the trumpet and alarm," signifies spiritual combat against evils and falsities. The fenced cities signify confirmatory false doctrinals, and the high corners those things which favour their loves. Hence the signification of "a day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high corners" is evident.
Again:
"I will cut off the nations; their corners shall be laid waste; I will make desolate their streets, that none passeth by; and I will lay waste their cities, so that there is no inhabitant" (3:6).
The destruction of all the goods of the church, is signified by "I will cut off the nations" and "their corners shall be laid waste." Nations mean the goods of the church, and corners, being the extremes (as above), all things belonging to it. By "I will make desolate their streets," and by "their cities shall be laid waste," is signified the destruction of the truths of doctrine; streets denoting truths and cities doctrinals; the total destruction, until no good and truth remain, is signified by there being no inhabitant, none to pass by; for to pass by is used in the Word of truths, and to inhabit of goods.
[11] In the book of Judges:
"Then all the sons of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, and the corners of all the people, even all the tribes of Israel, stood together in the assembly of the people of God" (20:1, 2).
That "the corners of all the people stood together in the assembly of the people of God," signifies all from every side, or from every quarter, is evident from its being said, that all the sons and all the tribes of Israel went out, and that the congregation was gathered together from Dan even to Beersheba. But in the spiritual sense, by "the corners of all the people" are meant all the goods and truths of the church; and similarly also by all the tribes of Israel from Dan even to Beersheba, are signified those things from ultimates to primaries (prima), and by the assembly of the people of God, is signified consultation concerning the things of the church. For in the historical parts of the Word, equally as in the prophetical, there is everywhere a spiritual sense. Therefore in the historical sense, by corners are signified quarters, such as are in the spiritual world; but in the spiritual sense, for the reason stated above, they signify all the truths and goods of the church.
[12] From these considerations the signification of corner stone in the following passages is evident:-
In Isaiah:
"He will lay in Zion a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone of sure foundation" (Arcana Coelestia 634, 5897, 6239, 6451, 6465, 9216, 9824, 9828, 9836, 9905, 10044, 10099, 10329, 10335, 10548).
417. Four angels standing upon the four corners of the earth, signifies the Divine proceeding from the Lord in the whole spiritual world. This is evident from the signification of "angels," as being the Divine proceeding from the Lord (See above, n. 130, 200, 302); and from the signification of "the four corners of the earth," as being the whole spiritual world; for "the four corners" signify the spiritual world because there are lands there as well as on our globe; for there, as here, there are mountains, hills, rocks, plains, valleys, and other things, as has been several times said above; and as the Last Judgment on all in the spiritual world is treated of in Revelation, and here the separation of the good from the evil there, therefore "the earth" means that world. "The earth" signifies the church, as has been frequently said before, because the face of the earth in the spiritual world is exactly like the face of the church with the spirits and angels there; the face of the earth is most beautiful where the angels of the higher heavens dwell, and also beautiful where the angels of the lower heavens dwell, but unbeautiful where evil spirits dwell; for where the angels dwell there are paradises, gardens, flower beds, palaces, and all things in heavenly form and harmony, from which enjoyments flow and inmostly delight the mind; but with the evil spirits all places are marshy, or stony, or barren, and they dwell in huts of a vile appearance, and also in caverns and caves.
[2] This has been said to make known that "the earth," in the nearest sense, means the spiritual world; nor could any other earth appear to John, since it was seen by him when he was in the spirit; and when man is in the spirit he sees nothing on our globe, but only what is in the spiritual world. This is why John saw four angels, and these were standing upon the four corners of that earth. There were four angels seen, because these standing "on four corners" signify the Divine proceeding from the Lord in the whole spiritual world, for the four quarters, namely, the eastern, western, southern, and northern, constitute the whole of that world, for that world is thus divided; and those who are in the good of love to the Lord dwell in the eastern quarter, likewise in the western, the former in clear because interior good of love, the latter in obscure because exterior good of love; those who are in the clear light of truth dwell in the southern quarter, and those who are in the obscure light of truth in the northern. (But on these quarters see in the work on Heaven and Hell, n. 141-153, where they are treated of.) And because all things have reference to the good of love and to the truth from that good, or in general to good and truth, therefore these four quarters also mean all things of heaven and the church. These quarters are meant also in the Word by "the four winds," and here by "the four corners." It is evident, therefore, that the angels were not seen standing on the four corners of the earth, but in the four quarters. The quarters are called "the four corners" because "corners" signify the outermost parts, and the outermost parts signify all things, because they include all.
[3] That "corners" signify quarters is evident from the passages in the Word, where quarters are designated as "corners," as in the following. In Moses:
Thou shalt make for the tabernacle twenty boards for the south corner southward. And for the second side of the tabernacle, towards the north corner, twenty boards (Exodus 26:18, 20; 27:9, 11; 36:21, 23, 25).
"For the south corner" means for the southern quarter; and "towards the north corner" means towards the northern quarter, for there were twenty boards for each side. So in Ezekiel:
Next the border of Dan, from the east corner even to the west corner, Asher one. And thence next the border of Asher, from the east corner even unto the corner towards the west (4 Ezekiel 48:1-8).
In the same:
These shall be the measures: the north corner four thousand and five hundred, and the south corner the same, and from the east corner the same, and the west corner the same, next the border to the east corner towards the west (Ezekiel 48:16, 17, 23-28, 33, 34; also Ezekiel 47:17-20).
In Moses:
Ye shall measure without the city the corner towards the east two thousand cubits, and the south corner the same, and the west corner and the north corner the same (Numbers 35:5).
Also in Joshua (Joshua 15:5; 18:12, 14, 15, 20). Here the east, south, west, and north corners mean the sides towards the east, south, west, and north quarters. This makes clear that the "four angels standing upon the four corners of the earth" mean not upon its four corners, but in its four quarters. So elsewhere in Revelation:
Satan shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth (Revelation 20:8).
[4] "Four corners" are mentioned, and not four quarters, because "corners" also signify all things, since they are outermost parts, for the outermost parts comprehend all things from the center to the last circumferences, for they are the last borders. This is why four horns were placed on the four corners of the altar, and upon them the blood was poured, and thus expiation was made for the whole altar (as is evident from Exodus 27:2; 29:12; 30:2, 3, 10; 38:2; Leviticus 4:7, 18, 25, 30, 34; 16:18, 19; Ezekiel 41:22; 43:20).
[5] That "corners" signify all things because the outermost parts (for the reason stated above, that the outermost parts include and comprehend all things) is clearly evident from some of the statutes given to the sons of Israel, as:
That they should not round or shave the corner of their head (66; and that "the beard" has a like signification, see Arcana Coelestia 9960; that the outermosts or ultimates signify all things in the complex, thus the whole, n. 10044, 10329, 10335.) And as "a field" signified the church, and "harvest" its truths, so "not to finish wholly the corners of thy field when thou reapest" signifies the conservation of all things that are signified by "the harvest of the field."
[6] That "corners" signify all things because they signify outermost things can be seen also from the following passages. In Moses:
I will hurl them into the extreme corners; I will make the remembrance of them to cease from man (Deuteronomy 32:26).
"To hurl into the extreme corners" signifies to be deprived of all good and truth; it is therefore added, "I will make the remembrance of them to cease from a man," which signifies that they would no longer have anything of spiritual life, which comes to pass when man is merely in the ultimates of life, called the corporeal sensual, in which alone most of those are who acquire nothing of spiritual life; for such then become not unlike the beasts, for this is the kind of life beasts have, but with this difference, that as man is born a man he is able to speak and to reason, but this he does from the fallacies of the senses, or of the outermost things of nature, of the world, and of the body; this is what is meant here by "being hurled into the extreme corners."
[7] In Jeremiah:
Their camels shall be for a prey, and the multitude of their cattle for a spoil; and I will disperse them unto every wind among the cut off of the corner; and from all the passages thereof I will bring calamity (Jeremiah 49:32).
This is said of the devastation of Arabia and Hazor by the king of Babylon; and "Arabia" and "Hazor" signify the knowledges of good and truth, and "the king of Babylon" signifies evil and falsity laying waste. The vastation of all confirming knowledges (scientifica), and cognitions of good and truth is signified by "their camels shall be for a prey, and the multitude of their cattle for a spoil;" "camels" meaning confirming knowledges (scientifica), and "cattle" the cognitions of good and truth. Vastation in respect to all things of good and truth, so that there is nothing left, is signified by "I will disperse them unto every wind, among the cut off of the corner;" "the cut off of the corner" meaning the outermost parts where there is no longer any good and truth. That evils and falsities will then break in on every side is signified by "from all the passages thereof I will bring calamity;" for in the spiritual world where the evil are, on every side ways from the hells are open, and evils and their falsities break in through these; and all who are in like evils and falsities go through these ways and consociate themselves with the evil there. This has been said to make known what is signified by "from all the passages I will bring calamity;" "to be for a prey and a spoil," and "to disperse and to bring calamity" signify devastation.
[8] In the same:
Behold, the days come in which I will visit upon everyone that is circumcised in the foreskin; Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the sons of Ammon, and Moab, and all the cut off of the corner that dwell in the wilderness; for all nations are uncircumcised, and the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart (Jeremiah 9:25, 26).
Here "the cut off of the corner" signify those who are in the ultimates of the church separate from the interiors, which are spiritual, thus those who are only in things sensual, which are the ultimates of the natural man. (Respecting those who are merely sensual, who and of what quality they are see Jeremiah 25:23);
have a similar signification.
[9] In Moses:
There shall arise a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall arise out of Israel, which shall break in pieces the corners of Moab (Numbers 24:17).
"The corners of Moab" mean all things that are signified by "Moab;" and "Moab" signifies those who are in the ultimates of the Word, of the church, and of worship; and in the contrary sense those who adulterate these by turning themselves towards self, and having regard to their own honor in every particular of these; therefore "the corners of Moab" mean adulterations of the Word, and thence of the church and of worship, such as are with those of that character:
The corner of Moab (Jeremiah 48:45);
has a similar signification.
[10] In Zephaniah:
A day of the trumpet and alarm upon the fenced cities and upon the high corners (Zephaniah 1:16).
"A day of the trumpet and alarm" signifies spiritual combat, which is against falsities and evils; "fenced cities" signify false doctrinals that have been confirmed; and "high corners" signify those things that favor their loves. This makes clear what is signified by "a day of the trumpet and alarm upon the fenced cities and upon the high corners." In the same:
I will cut off the nations; their corners shall be laid waste; I will make desolate their streets that none may pass by; and I will lay waste their cities so that there is no inhabitant (Zephaniah 3:6).
The destruction of all the goods of the church is signified by "I will cut off the nations, and their corners shall be laid waste;" "nations" meaning the goods of the church, and "corners" all things of it, because its outermost parts (as above). The destruction of the truths of doctrine is signified by "I will make desolate their streets and I will lay waste their cities;" "streets" meaning truths, and "cities" doctrinals; total destruction even until there is no truth and good left is signified by "that none pass by, and there is no inhabitant;" for "to pass by" in the Word is predicated of truths, and "to dwell" of goods.
[11] In the book of Judges:
All the sons of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba. And the corners of all the people, all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God (Judges 20:1, 2).
"The corners of all the people presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God" signifies all on every side, or from every quarter, as is clearly evident from its being said that "all the sons of Israel and all the tribes of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled from Dan to Beersheba;" but in the spiritual sense, "the corners of all the people" signify all the truths and goods of the church; so, too, "all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba," signify all these from the last to the first, and "the assembly of the people of God" signifies consideration of the things of the church; for in the histories of the Word, as well as in the prophecies, there is everywhere a spiritual sense; therefore in the historical sense "corners" signify quarters, such as are in the spiritual world; but in the spiritual sense they signify all the truths and goods of the church, for the reason given above.
[12] From this what is signified by "corner stone" in the following passages becomes evident. In Isaiah:
I will lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a proved stone, a precious corner stone, of a foundation that is founded (Arcana Coelestia 634, 5897, 6239, 6451, 6465, 9216, 9824, 9828, 9836, 9905, 10044, 10099, 10329, 10335, 10548)
417. "Quatuor angelos stantes super quatuor angulis terrae." - Quod significet Divinum a Domino procedens in universo mundo spirituali, constat ex significatione "angelorum", quod sint Divinum a Domino procedens (de qua supra, n. 130(a), 200, 302): et ex significatione "quatuor angulorum terrae", quod sit universus mundus spiritualis; per "quatuor angelos" enim significatur mundus spiritualis, ex causa quia ibi aeque sunt terrae sicut in nostra tellure; sunt enim ibi aeque montes, colles, petrae, planities, valles et plura, ut supra aliquoties dictum est; et quia de ultimo judicio super omnes in mundo spirituali in Apocalypsi agitur, et hic de separatione bonorum a malis ibi, inde est quod per "terram" ille mundus intelligatur. Quod per "terram" significetur ecclesia, ut saepius prius dictum est, est quia facies terrae in mundo spirituali est prorsus sicut facies ecclesiae apud spiritus et angelos ibi; facies pulcherrima ubi angeli superiorum caelorum habitant, et quoque pulchra ubi angeli inferiorum caelorum, et impulchra ubi spiritus mali; ubi enim angeli habitant, sunt paradisi, horti, floreta, palatia, et omnia in caelesti forma et harmonia, ex qua amoenitates ( 1
ineffabiles) effluunt, et animos intime oblectant; at apud malos spiritus sunt paludinosa, saxosa et sterilia omnia, et habitant in tuguriis quae aspectu vilia sunt, praeter in cavernis et speluncis.
[2] Haec dicta sunt ut sciatur quod per "terram" in proximo sensu intelligatur mundus spiritualis; nec alia terra potuit apparere Johanni, quia visa illi est cum fuit in spiritu; quando etiam homo est in spiritu, tunc nihil quod in nostra tellure est videt, sed quod in mundo spirituali; inde est, quod etiam viderit quatuor angelos, et hos stantes super quatuor angulis terrae istius. Quod visi sint "quatuor angeli", est quia per illos stantes in "quatuor angulis significatur Divinum a Domino procedens in universo mundo spirituali; universum enim illum mundum faciunt quatuor plagae, nempe orientalis, occidentalis, meridionalis et septentrionalis, ita enim divisus est ille mundus; in orientali plaga habitant qui in bono amoris in Dominum sunt, similiter in occidentali, sed illi in bono amoris claro quia in interiori, hi in bono amoris obscuro quia in exteriori; in plaga meridionali habitant qui in luce veri clara sunt, in septentrionali qui in luce veri obscura: (sed de his plagis videatur in opere De Caelo et Inferno 141-153, ubi de illis actum est): et quia omnia se referunt ad bonum amoris et ad verum ex illo bono, seu in genere ad bonum et verum, ideo per quatuor illas plagas etiam intelliguntur omnia caeli et ecclesiae. Illae plagae etiam in Verbo intelliguntur per "quatuor ventos", hic etiam per "quatuor angulos." Inde patet quod angeli non visi sint stare in quatuor angulis terrae, sed in quatuor plagis. Quod plagae etiam dicantur "quatuor anguli", est quia per "angulos" significantur extrema, et "extrema" significant omnia, quia includunt illa.
[3] Quod "anguli" significent plagas, constat ex locis in Verbo ubi plagae describuntur per "angulos"; ut in his sequentibus:
Apud Mosen,
"Pro Habitaculo facies viginti asseres pro angulo meridiei versus austrum, ... lateri Habitaculi secundo versus angulum septentrionis viginti asseres", et sic porro (Exodus 26:18, 20; 27:9, 11; 36:21, 23, 25 2
):
"pro angulo meridiei" est pro plaga meridionali, et "versus angulum septentrionis" est versus plagam septentrionalem, nam erant viginti asseres utrobivis. Similiter apud Ezechielem,
"Juxta terminum Danis ab angulo orientis usque ad angulum occidentis, Ascher unus; et inde juxta terminum Ascheris ab angulo orientis et usque ad angulum Versus occidentem, ... et sic porro (48:1-8);
apud eundem,
Hae mensurae; angulus septentrionis quingentae et quatuor millia; et angulus meridiei totidem, et ab angulo orientis totidem, angulus occidentis totidem, juxta terminum ad angulum orientis versus occidentem, et sic porro (48:16, 17, 23-25, 26-28, 33, 34; et quoque cap. 47:17-20);
apud Mosen,
Metiemini extra urbem angulum Versus ortum duo millia ulnarum, et angulum meridiei totidem, et angulum occidentis totidem, et angulum septentrionis totidem (Numeri 35:5);
et praeterea apud Josuam (Cap. 15:5; 18:12, 14, 15, 20): hic per "angulum orientis", "meridiei", "occidentis" et "septentrionis intelligitur latus ad plagam orientalem, meridionalem, occidentalem et septentrionalem. Ex quibus patet quod per "quatuor angelos stantes super quatuor angulis terrae" non intelligatur super quatuor angulis ejus, sed in quatuor plagis ejus: similiter alibi in Apocalypsi,
Satanas "exibit ad seducendum gentes quae in quatuor angulis terrae" (20:8).
[4] Quod "quatuor anguli" dicantur, et non quatuor plagae, est quia etiam per "angulos" significantur omnia, quoniam sunt extrema; extrema enim comprehendunt omnia quae a centro ad ultimas peripherias sunt, nam sunt ultimi termini.
Inde erat quod super quatuor angulis altaris ponerentur quatuor cornua, et super illis funderetur sanguis, et sic totum altare expiaretur (Ut patet in Exodo, cap. 27:2; 29:12; 30:2, 3, 10; 38:2; Levit. 4:7, 18, 25, 30, 34; 16:18, 19; Ezech. 41:22; cap. 43:20 3
).
[5] Quod per "angulos" significentur omnia, quia extrema, ex causa de qua supra, quia extrema includunt et comprehendunt omnia, constat manifeste ex quibusdam statutis apud filios Israelis; ut
Quod non circumducerent seu raderent angulum capitis sui (Leviticus 19:27);
Quod non raderent angulum barbae suae (Leviticus 19:27; 21:5);
Et quod non 4
consummarent angulum agri sui cum meterent (Leviticus 19:9; 23:22).
Cur haec statuta illis data sunt, non sciri potest nisi sciatur quid significat "crinis capitis", quid "barba", quid "ager", et simul quid "angulus." Per "crinem capitis" et "barbae" significatur ultimum vitae hominis, quod sensuale corporeum vocatur; et per "agrum" significatur ecclesia, ac per "messem" verum doctrinae: quare repraesentabatur per illa quod extrema conservarentur, quia significant omnia: nisi enim extrema sunt, etiam media non conservantur sed diffluunt; sicut comparative nisi cutes forent circum hominem, diffluerent interiora: similiter in omni re, ita quoque in illis quae significantur per "crinem capitis", per "barbam" et per "messem agri": (quod per "crinem capitis" significetur extremum vitae hominis, quod vocatur sensuale corporeum, videatur supra, n. 66; et quod per "barbam" similiter, in Arcanis Caelestibus, n. 9960:
quod "extrema seu "ultima" significent omnia in complexu, ita totum, n. 10044, 10329, 10335): et quia "ager" significabat ecclesiam, ac "messis" vera ejus, inde per "non consummare angulum agri tui cum metis" significatur conservatio omnium quae significantur per "messes agri."
[6] Quod "anguli" significent omnia, quia extrema, etiam constare potest a sequentibus his locis:
Apud Mosen,
"In extremos angulos ejiciam eos, cessare faciam ab homine memoriam eorum" (Deuteronomius 32:26):
ejicere in extremos angulos" significat deprivari omni bono et vero; quare etiam dicitur "Cessare faciam ab homine memoriam eorum", per quod significatur ut non amplius eis sit aliquid vitae spiritualis; quod fit cum homo solum in ultimis vitae est, quod vocatur sensuale corporeum, in quo solo sunt plerique qui non aliquid vitae spiritualis adepti sunt; fiunt enim tunc non absimiles bestiis, hae enim nec in alia vita sunt; cum differentia quod homo quia natus homo possit loqui et ratiocinari; sed hoc facit ex fallaciis sensuum, seu extremorum naturae mundi et corporis: hoc intelligitur hic per "ejici in extremos angulos."
[7] Apud Jeremiam,
"Erunt cameli... in praedam, et multitudo pecorum... in spolium, et dispergam eos in omnem ventum, in abscissos anguli, et ab omnibus transitibus ejus adducam exitium" (49:32):
haec dicta sunt de devastatione Arabiae et Chazoris a rege Babelis; ac per "Arabiam" et "Chazorem" significantur cognitiones boni et veri, et per "regem Babelis" malum et falsum vastans; vastatio omnium scientificorum confirmantium et cognitionum boni et veri, significatur per quod "erunt cameli eorum in praedam, et multitudo pecorum in spolium"; "cameli" sunt scientifica confirmantia, et "pecora" sunt cognitiones boni et veri: vastatio quoad omnia boni et veri, usque ut non sit reliquum, significatur per "Dispergam eos in omnem ventum, in abscissos anguli"; "abscissi anguli"; sunt extrema ubi non bonum et verum amplius; quod tunc mala et falsa undequaque irruptura sint, significatur per "Ab omnibus transitibus ejus adducam exitium"; in mundo enim spirituali, ubi mali sunt, ibi undequaque patent viae ab infernis, perque illas irrumpunt mala et falsa inde, et per easdem vias eunt omnes qui in similibus malis et falsis sunt, et se illis consociant. Haec dicta sunt ut sciatur quid intelligitur per "Ab omnibus transitibus adducam exitium": per "esse in praedam" et "in spolium", tum per "dispergere et adducere exitium", significatur devastatio.
[8] Apud 5
eundem,
"Ecce dies venientes quibus Visitabo super omnem circumcisum in praeputio, Aegyptum et Jehudam et Edomum, et filios Ammonis et Moabum, et omnes abscissos anguli habitantes in deserto; nam omnes gentes praeputiatae, et omnis domus Israelis praeputiati corde" (9:24, 25 [B.A. 25, 26]):
per "abscissos anguli" hic significantur qui in ecclesiae ultimis separatis ab interioribus sunt; interiora sunt spiritualia; ita qui solum in sensualibus, quae ultima naturalis hominis sunt: (de illis qui mere sensuales sunt, quinam et quales sunt, videatur in Doctrina Novae Hierosolymae, n. 50): quod hi per "abscissos anguli" significentur, est quia per "angulos" significantur plagae mundi spiritualis, et per plagas illas significantur omnia bona et vera caeli et ecclesiae, ut in praemissis dictum est. Habitationes spirituum et angelorum eo ordine ibi succedunt, quod in medio sint qui in summa sapientia et intelligentia, et e medio usque ad ultimas peripherias in minore et minore; et decrescentiae illae sunt prorsus secundum distantias e medio; in ultimis sunt qui non in aliqua, et extra illos sunt qui in malis et inde falsis: hi sunt qui intelliguntur per "abscissos anguli"; et quia ibi deserta sunt, dicitur de illis, "habitantes in deserto." (De decrescentiis illis in mundo spirituali, videatur in opere De Caelo et Inferno 43, 50, 189.) Iidem significantur per "gentes praeputiatas", et per "domum Israelis praeputiatos corde"; per "praeputiatos" significantur qui absque amore et charitate sunt, ita qui absque bono, et inde in amoribus sui et mundi: et qui in his amoribus sunt, illi in ultimis naturalis hominis sunt prorsus separatis a spiritualibus; quare sunt "abscissi anguli habitantes in deserto." Per "Aegyptum", "Jehudam", "Edomum", "filios Ammonis" et "Moabum", intelliguntur omnes qui separaverunt a se bona et vera ecclesiae per amores illos; unde extra illa sunt, ita "abscissi anguli."
Simile significatur per "abscissos anguli" apud Jeremiam (cap. 25:23).
[9] Apud Mosen,
"Orietur Stella ex Jacobo, et surget Sceptrum ex Israele, quod conteret angulos Moabi" (Numeri 24:17):
per "angulos Moabi" intelliguntur omnia quae per "Moabum" significantur; per "Moabum" significantur illi qui in ultimis Verbi, ecclesiae, et cultus sunt; et in opposito sensu, qui adulterant ea per id quod se vertant ad se, ac spectent sui honorem in singulis eorum; quare "anguli Moabi" sunt adulterationes Verbi et inde ecclesiae et cultus, quales sunt apud illos qui tales sunt.
Similia per "angulum Moabi" significantur apud Jeremiam (cap. 48:45).
[10] Apud Zephaniam,
"Dies buccinae et clangoris super urbes munitas, et super angulos altos" (1:16):
"dies buccinae et clangoris" significat pugnam spiritualem, quae est contra falsa et mala; "urbes munitae" significant doctrinalia falsa quae confirmaverunt; et "anguli alti" significant illa faventia amoribus suis: inde patet quid significatur per "diem buccinae et clangoris super urbes munitas et super angulos altos." Apud eundem,
"Exscindam gentes, devastabuntur anguli eorum, desolabo plateas eorum ut non transiens; et devastabo urbes eorum ut non. .. habitans" (3:6):
destructio bonorum omnium ecclesiae, significatur per "Exscindam gentes", et per "Devastabuntur anguli eorum": "gentes" sunt bona ecclesiae, "anguli" sunt omnia ejus quia extrema (ut supra): destructio veritatum doctrinae, significatur per "Desolabo plateas eorum", et per "Devastabuntur urbes eorum;' "plateae" sunt veritates, et "urbes" sunt doctrinalia: destructio totalis usque dum ut non sit aliquod verum et aliquod bonum, Significatur (per) "ut non sit transiens et non habitans", nam "transire" in Verbo dicitur de veris, et "habitare" de bonis.
[11] In Libro Judicum,
"Exiverunt omnes filii Israelis, et congregatus est coetus sicut vir unus a Dane usque ad Beerschebam, ... et constiterunt anguli omnis populi. omnes tribus Israelis, in congregatione populi Dei" (20:1 [, 2]):
quod "constiterint anguli omnis populi in congregatione populi Dei" significet omnes undequaque seu ab omni plaga, patet manifeste ex eo, quod dicatur quod "exiverint omnes filii et omnes tribus Israelis", et quod "congregatus sit coetus a Dane ad Beerschebam"; in sensu autem spirituali per "angulos omnis populi" significantur omnia vera et bona ecclesiae; similiter etiam per "omnes tribus Israelis, a Dane usque ad Beerschebam" significantur illa ab ultimis ad prima; et per "congregationem populi Dei" significatur consultatio de rebus ecclesiae: in historicis enim Verbi ubivis est sensus spiritualis aeque ac in propheticis ejus; quare in sensu historico per "angulos" significantur plagae quales sunt in mundo spirituali, at in sensu spirituali significantur omnia vera ac bolla ecclesiae, ex causa de qua supra.
[12] Ex his constare potest quid significatur per "lapidem anguli" in his locis:
Apud Esaiam,
"Fundabit in Zione lapidem, lapidem probationis, anguli pretii fundationis fundatae" (28:16);
apud Jeremiam,
"Non sument de te lapidem pro angulo, aut lapidem fundamentorum" (51:26 6
);
apud Sachariam,
Ex Jehudah "angularis, ex illo clavus, ex illo arcus belli" (10:4);
apud Davidem,
"Lapis quem rejecerunt..., factus est in caput anguli" (Ps. 118:22 7
; Matthaeus 21:42; 8
Marc. 12:10, 11; Luca 20:17, 18):
"lapis anguli" significat omne Divinum Verum super quo fundatur caelum et ecclesia, ita omne fundamentum; et quia fundamentum est ultimum cui incumbit domus seu templum, ideo significat omnia. Quia per "lapidem anguli" significantur omnia super quibus fundatur ecclesia, ideo dicitur, "Fundabit in Zione lapidem, lapidem... anguli pretii fundationis fundatae", et dicitur "lapis pro angulo", et "lapis fundamentorum"; et quia per "lapidem anguli" significatur omne Divinum Verum super quo fundatur ecclesia, ideo quoque significatur Dominus quoad Divinum Humanum, quia omne Divinum Verum ab Illo procedit. "Aedificantes" seu "architecti" qui rejecerunt illum lapidem, ut legitur apud Evangelistas, sunt illi qui ab ecclesia; ibi ab Ecclesia Judaica, quae rejecit Dominum, et cum Ipso omne Divinum Verum: apud illos enim fuerunt non nisi quam traditiones vanae ex sensu litterae Verbi, in quibus ipsa vera Verbi falsificata et bona adulterata fuerunt.
(Quod "ultima" significent omnia, et unde hoc, videatur in Arcanu Caelestibus, n. 634, 5897, 6239, 6451, 6465, 9
9216, 9824, 9828, 9836, 9905, 10044, 10099, 10329, 10335, 10548.)
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