启示录6
1.我看见羔羊揭开七印中第一印的时候，就听见四活物中的一个活物，声音如雷，说，你来看。
2.我就观看，见有一匹白马；骑在马上的拿着弓，并有冠冕赐给他。他便出来，胜了又要胜。
3.揭开第二印的时候，我听见第二个活物说，你来看。
4.就另有一匹马出来，是红的，有权柄给了那骑马的，可以从地上夺去太平，使他们彼此相杀，又有一把大剑赐给他。
5.揭开第三印的时候，我听见第三个活物说，你来看。我就观看，见有一匹黑马；骑在马上的，手里拿着天平。
6.我听见在四活物中间似乎有声音说，一钱银子买一升麦子，一钱银子买三升大麦，油和酒不可糟蹋。
7.揭开第四印的时候，我听见第四个活物说，你来看。
8.我就观看，见有一匹灰色马；骑在马上的，名字叫作死，阴府也随着他。有权柄赐给他们，可以用刀剑、饥荒、死亡、地上野兽，杀害地上四分之一部分的人。
9.揭开第五印的时候，我看见在祭坛底下，有为神的道并为作见证被杀之人的灵魂。
10.大声喊着说，圣洁真实的主啊！你不审判住在地上的人给我们伸流血的冤，要等到几时呢？
11.于是有白袍赐给他们各人，又有话对他们说，还要安息片时，等着一同作仆人的和他们的弟兄，也像他们被杀，满足了数目。
12.揭开第六印的时候，我观看，见有大地震，日头变黑像毛布，月亮像血。
13.天上的星辰坠落于地，如同无花果树被大风摇动，落下未熟的果子一样。
14.天就挪移，好像书卷被卷起来；众山和海岛都被挪移，离开本位。
15.地上的君王、大臣、富户、千夫长、勇士和一切为奴的、自主的，都藏在山洞和磐石里；
16.向山和磐石说，倒在我们身上吧！把我们藏起来，躲避坐宝座者的面目和羔羊的忿怒。
17.因为祂忿怒的大日到了，谁能站得住呢？
本章论述了对即将受最后审判之人的审查，审查他们对圣言理解的性质，由此而来的其生活状态的性质。有些人处于源自良善的真理（1，2节）；有些人缺乏良善（3，4节）；有些人蔑视真理（5，6节）；有些人在良善与真理上已完全荒废（7，8节）。那些受主保护，但由于邪恶而留在低地，在最后审判时将要得释放之人的状态（9，10，11节）。那些处于邪恶，并由此处于虚假之人的状态，以及这种状态在最后审判之日是何性质（12-17节）。
第1节.“我看见羔羊揭开七印中第一印的时候”表主审查所有即将受最后审判之人对圣言的理解和由此而来的生命状态（295节）。“就听见四活物中的一个活物，声音如雷，说”表照着圣言的神性真理（296节）。“你来看”表按照顺序，第一类人的表现（297节）。
第2节.“我就观看，见有一匹白马”表这些人对出于圣言的真理与良善的理解（298节）。“骑在马上的拿着弓”表他们拥有出于圣言的真理与良善的教义，他们凭这教义与来自地狱的虚假与邪恶争战（299节）。“并有冠冕赐给他”表他们争战的标志（300节）。“他便出来，胜了又要胜”表永远战胜邪恶与虚假（301节）。
第3节.“揭开第二印的时候，我听见第二个活物说，你来看”在此和前面所表相同（302-304节）。
第4节.“就另有一匹马出来，是红的”表在良善和由此而来的生活方面，这些人完全丧失了对圣言的理解（305节）。“有权柄给了那骑马的，可以从地上夺去太平”表夺去仁爱、属灵的安全和内在的安息（306节）。“使他们彼此相杀”表内在的憎恨、地狱的侵扰和内在的不安（307节）。“又有一把大剑赐给他”表邪恶的虚假摧毁真理（308节）。
第5节.“揭开第三印的时候，我听见第三个活物说，你来看”在此和前面所表相同（309-311节）。“我就观看，见有一匹黑马”表在真理、因而在教义方面，这些人完全丧失了对圣言的理解（312节）。“骑在马上的，手里拿着天平”表对良善与真理的估价，也就是这些人具有哪一种（313节）。
第6节.“我听见在四活物中间似乎有声音说”表主对圣言的神性保护（314节）。“一钱银子买一升麦子，一钱银子买三升大麦”表对良善与真理的估价如此之小，以至于几乎什么也不是（315节）。“油和酒不可糟蹋”表主规定内藏于圣言的神圣良善与真理不可遭到侵犯和亵渎（316节）。
第7节.“揭开第四印的时候，我听见第四个活物说，你来看”在此和前面所表相同（317-319节）。
第8节.“我就观看，见有一匹灰色马”表无论在良善还是在真理方面，都完全丧失了对圣言的理解（320节）。“骑在马上的，名字叫作死，阴府也随着他”表属灵生命的灭绝和由此而来的诅咒（321节）。“有权柄赐给他们，杀害地上四分之一部分的人”表摧毁教会的一切良善（322节）。“可以用刀剑、饥荒、死亡、地上野兽”表用教义的虚假、生活的邪恶、对自我的爱和欲望（323节）。
第9节.“揭开第五印的时候”表主审查那些在最后审判之日将要得救，与此同时得以保留之人的生活状态（324节）。“我看见在祭坛底下，有为神的道并为作见证被杀之人的灵魂”表那些因照着圣言真理生活并承认主的神性人而遭到恶者排斥的人受到主的保护，免得他们被引入歧途（325节）。
第10节.“大声喊着”表内心的悲痛（326节）。“说，圣洁真实的主啊！你不审判住在地上的人给我们伸流血的冤，要等到几时呢”表由于最后审判延迟，那些向圣言和主的神性施暴的人没有被移除（327节）。
第11节.“于是有白袍赐给他们各人”表他们与处于神性真理的众天使的交流与结合（328节）。“又有话对他们说，还要安息片时，等着一同作仆人的和他们的弟兄，也像他们被杀，满足了数目”表最后审判还要延迟片刻，直到那些以同样的方式遭到恶者排斥之人聚集起来（329节）。
第12节.“揭开第六印的时候，我观看”表主审查那些内心邪恶，即将受审判之人的生活状态（330节）。“见有大地震”表教会的状态在这些人当中完全改变，以及恐惧（331节）。“日头变黑像毛布，月亮像血”表在他们当中，一切爱之良善都遭到玷污，一切信之真理都遭到歪曲（332节）。
第13节.“天上的星辰坠落于地”表对良善与真理的一切认知都被驱散（333节）。“如同无花果树被大风摇动，落下未熟的果子一样”表通过脱离属灵人的属世人的推理（334节）。
第14节.“天就挪移，好像书卷被卷起来”表与天堂分离，与地狱结合（335节）。“众山和海岛都被挪移，离开本位”表一切爱之良善和信之真理都逐渐远离（336节）。
第15节.“地上的君王、大臣、富户、千夫长、勇士和一切为奴的、自主的”表那些分离之前，或通过其他人，或凭自己而具有对真理与良善的理解和认知的知识、学识渊博，却未照之生活的人（337节）。“都藏在山洞和磐石里”表那些现在处于邪恶和邪恶的虚假之人（338节）。
第16节.“向山和磐石说，倒在我们身上吧！把我们藏起来，躲避坐宝座者的面目和羔羊的忿怒”表通过源自邪恶的虚假而对邪恶的确认，直到他们不承认主的任何神性（339节）。
第17节.“因为祂忿怒的大日到了，谁能站得住呢”表他们通过由于最后审判而与善者并忠信者分离变成这样，要不然，他们承受不住这最后的审判。
295.启6:1.“我看见羔羊揭开七印中第一印的时候”表主审查所有即将受最后审判之人对圣言的理解和由此而来的生命状态。之所以表示这些事，是因为按照顺序，接下来是审查所有即将受最后审判之人的生活状态，并且主照着圣言来审查。因此，这就是“羔羊揭开书卷七印”所表示的。“展开那书卷、揭开那七印”表示知道所有人的生命状态，并照着各人的状态审判各人（参看259-265，267，273，274节）。
295. CHAPTER 6
1. Now I saw when the Lamb opened the first of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying, as though with a voice of thunder, "Come and see."
2. And I looked, and behold, a white horse. And he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
3. When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come and see."
4. And another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, so that people might kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.
5. When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see." So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a scale in his hand.
6. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine."
7. When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come and see."
8. So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with famine, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.
9. When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.
10. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, who are holy and true, will You not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
11. Then white robes were given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until the number of both their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was complete.
12. Then I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became as black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.
13. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.
14. Then the sky departed like a book rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.
15. And the kings of the earth and the great men, the rich men and the commanders, and the powerful, and every slave and every freeman, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,
16. and they said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
17. For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
THE SPIRITUAL MEANING
The Contents of the Whole Chapter
This describes the examination of those people on whom the Last Judgment would fall, and they were examined to see what understanding of the Word they had among them, and so what their state of life was. Some were found to possess truths springing from goodness (verses 1, 2); some to be without any goodness (verses 3, 4); some to have a contempt for the truth (verses 5, 6); and some to be utterly devastated and purged as regards both goodness and truth (verses 7, 8).
Described, too, is the state of people who, because of the evil, were protected by the Lord in a lower earth, who would be set free at the time of the Last Judgment (verses 9-11).
Also the state of people who were caught up in evils and so in falsities - what it would be like on the day of the Last Judgment (verses 12-17).
The Contents of the Individual Verses:
| Verse Contents | Spiritual Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1. Now I saw when the Lamb opened the first of the seals; | An examination by the Lord of all those people on whom the Last Judgment would fall, as to their understanding of the Word and thus their states of life, |
| and I heard one of the four living creatures saying, as though with a voice of thunder, | in accordance with the Divine truth in the Word. |
| "Come and see." | A manifestation regarding the people first in order. |
| 2. And I looked, and behold, a white horse. | An understanding of truth and goodness from the Word among them. |
| And he who sat on it had a bow; | Their having a doctrine of truth and goodness from the Word, from which they fought against falsities and evils emanating from hell. |
| and a crown was given to him, | A token of their combat. |
| and he went out conquering and to conquer. | Their victory over evils and falsities to eternity. |
| 3. When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come and see." | The same here as before [verse 1]. |
| 4. And another horse, fiery red, went out. | An understanding of the Word among them extinguished as to goodness and thus extinguished as regards their life. |
| And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, | The abolition of charity, of spiritual security, and of inner rest. |
| so that people might kill one another; | Intestine hatreds, infestations by the hells, and inner anxieties. |
| and there was given to him a great sword. | The destruction of truth by the falsities accompanying evil. |
| 5. When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see." | The same here as before [verse 1]. |
| So I looked, and behold, a black horse, | An understanding of the Word among them extinguished as to truth, thus extinguished as regards their doctrine. |
| and he who sat on it had a scale in his hand. | Their valuation of goodness and truth, what it was like among them. |
| 6. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, | The Divine protection of the Word by the Lord, |
| "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; | because the value they placed on goodness and truth was so little as to be scarcely anything. |
| and do not harm the oil and the wine." | The Lord's provision that they not violate and profane the goods and truths concealed inwardly in the Word. |
| 7. When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come and see." | The same here as before [verse 1]. |
| 8. So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. | An understanding of the Word extinguished as to both goodness and truth. |
| And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hell followed with him. | The extinction of spiritual life and thus damnation. |
| And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill | The destruction of all good in the church |
| with sword, with famine, with death, and by the beasts of the earth. | by doctrinal falsities, by evil practices, by self-love, and by lusts. |
| 9. When He opened the fifth seal, | An examination by the Lord of the states of life of people who would be saved on the day of the Last Judgment, and who in the meantime were sequestered. |
| I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. | People who, having been expelled by the evil because of their life in accordance with the Word's truths and their acknowledgment of the Lord's Divine humanity, were protected by the Lord to keep them from being led astray. |
| 10. And they cried with a loud voice, | Pain of heart |
| saying, "How long, O Lord, who are holy and true, will You not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" | over the fact that the Last Judgment was so long delayed, and that those who did violence to the Word and to the Lord's Divinity were not being removed. |
| 11. Then white robes were given to each of them; | A communication and conjunction of them with angels possessing Divine truths, |
| and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until the number of both their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was complete. | that the Last Judgment would be delayed a little while longer, until those people should be gathered together who likewise were expelled by the evil. |
| 12. Then I looked when He opened the sixth seal, | An examination by the Lord of the states of life of people who were inwardly evil, on whom the Last Judgment would fall. |
| and behold, there was a great earthquake; | The state of the church among them completely changed, and their terror. |
| and the sun became as black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. | All goodness of love was adulterated in them, and every truth of faith falsified. |
| 13. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, | All concepts of goodness and truth were dispelled |
| as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. | by reasonings of the natural self divorced from the spiritual self. |
| 14. Then the sky departed like a book rolled up, | The people's separation from heaven and conjunction with hell. |
| and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. | All goodness of love and truth of faith vanished. |
| 15. And the kings of the earth and the great men, the rich men and the commanders, and the powerful, and every slave and every freeman, | Those who before the separation had possessed an understanding of truth and good, a knowledge of their concepts, and learning, acquired from others or on their own, and yet who lacked a life in accordance with them, |
| hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, | were now caught up in evils and in the falsities accompanying evil. |
| 16. and they said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! | Affirmations of evil by falsities springing from evil, until they did not acknowledge anything of the Lord's Divinity. |
| 17. For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" | They became of such a character of themselves as a result of their separation from good and faithful people, because of the Last Judgment, which they could not otherwise endure. |
THE EXPOSITION
Now I saw when the Lamb opened the first of the seals. (6:1) This symbolizes an examination by the Lord of all those people on whom the Last Judgment would fall, as to their understanding of the Word and thus their states of life.
This is the symbolic meaning because there follows next in order an examination of all the people on whom the Last Judgment would fall as to their states of life, and this by the Lord in accordance with the Word. Consequently this is what is symbolically meant by the Lamb's opening the seals of the book.
To be shown that to open the book and loose its seals means, symbolically, to know the states of life of all people and to judge each one according to his state, see nos. 259, 265-267, 273, 274 above.
295. THE SIXTH CHAPTER
1. And I saw when the Lamb had opened the first of the seals, and I heard one of the four animals saying as with a voice of thunder, Come and look.
2. And I saw, and behold a white horse, and the one sitting upon it having a bow, and a crown was given unto him, and he went forth conquering and to conquer.
3. And when He had opened the second seal, I heard the second animal saying, Come and look.
4. And there went forth another horse, red, and it was given to the one sitting upon it to take away peace from the land, so that they should slay one another, and there was given unto him a great sword (machaera).
5. And when He had opened the third seal, I heard the third animal saying, Come and look. And I saw, and behold a black horse, and the one Sitting upon it having a balance in his hand.
6. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four animals saying, A measure (chaenix) of wheat for a penny (denarius), and three measures of barley for a penny, and do not hurt the oil and the wine.
7. And when He had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth animal saying, Come and look.
8. And I saw, and behold a pale horse, and the one sitting upon it, whose name was death, and hell was following with him, and there was given unto them the power of putting to death over a fourth part of the land, with the sword (romphaea), with famine, with death, and by the beasts [of the land].
9. And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony that they held.
10. And they were crying out with a great voice, saying, How long, O Lord, Who art Holy and True, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on those dwelling upon the land?
11. And white robes were given to each one; and it was said unto them that they should rest yet a little while, until both their fellow-servants and their brothers, who were going to be slain as they had been, are made up to the full extent.
12. And I saw when He had opened the sixth seal, and behold a great earthquake was brought about, and the sun became black as a hairy sack, and the moon became as blood.
13. And the stars of heaven fell to earth, as a fig-tree shaken by a great wind casts its unripe figs.
14. And the heaven departed as a book rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15. And the kings of the land and the great men, and the rich men and the rulers of thousands, and the mighty men, and every bondman and every freeman hid themselves away in the caves, and in the rocks of the mountains.
16. And they were saying to the mountains and the rocks, Fall upon us, and hide us away from the face of the One sitting upon the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.
17. Because the great day of His wrath is coming, and who is able to stand?
THE SPIRITUAL SENSE
THE CONTENTS OF THE WHOLE CHAPTER
It treats of the examination of those upon whom there is going to be the last judgment; and an examination as to what kind of an understanding of the Word there had been with them, and from this what the state of their life was.
That there were those who were in truths derived from good (verses 1-2); those who were without good (verses 3-4); those who were in contempt of truth (vers 5-6); and those who were altogether vastated as to good and as to truth (verses 7-8).
Of the state of those who, having been protected by the Lord in the lower land on account of the evil, were to be set free at the time of the last judgment (verses 9-11).
Of the state of those who were in evils and the untruths therefrom; what it is like at the day of the last judgment (verses 12-17).
THE CONTENTS OF EACH OF THE VERSES
1. And I saw when the Lamb had opened the first of the seals, signifies the examination by the Lord of all upon whom there is going to be the last judgment, as to the understanding of the Word, and from this as to the states of their life.
And I heard one of the four animals saying as with a voice of thunder, signifies in accordance with the Divine Truth of the Word.
Come and look, signifies the manifestation concerning those first in order.
2. And I saw and behold a white horse, signifies the understanding of truth and good out of the Word with these.
And the one sitting upon it having a bow, signifies that with these there is a doctrine of good and truth out of the Word, out of which they have fought against the untruths and evils that are from hell.
And a crown was given unto him, signifies their badge of combat.
And he went forth conquering and to conquer, signifies victory over evils and untruths for ever.
3. And when He had opened the second seal, and I heard the second animal saying, Come and look, signifies the same here as above.
4. And there went forth another horse, red, signifies the understanding of the Word utterly lost as to good, and consequently as to life with these.
[And] it was given to the one sitting upon it to take away peace from the land, signifies the abolition of charity, spiritual security, and internal rest.
So that they should slay one another, signifies intestine hatreds, infestations from the hells, and eternal unrests.
And there was-given unto him a great sword, signifies the destruction of truth by means of the untruths of evil.
5. And when He had opened the third seal, and I heard the third animal saying, Come and look, signifies the same here as above.
And I saw and behold a black horse, signifies the understanding of the Word utterly lost as to truth, thus as to the doctrine with these.
And the one sitting upon it having a balance in his hand, signifies the evaluation of good and truth, what it was like with these.
6. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four animals saying, signifies the Divine protection of the Word by the Lord.
A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny, signifies because the evaluation of good and truth is so very little as to be scarcely anything.
And do not hurt the oil and the wine, signifies that it is provided by the Lord that the holy goods and truths that lie hidden interiorly in the Word should not be violated and profaned.
7. And when He had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth animal saying, Come and look, signifies the same as above.
8. And I saw and behold a pale horse, signifies the understanding of the Word utterly lost as to both good and truth.
And the one sitting upon it, whose name was death, and hell was following with him, signifies the extinction of spiritual life and the resulting damnation.
And there was given unto them the power of putting to death over a fourth part of the land, signifies the destruction of every good of the Church.
With the sword and with famine and with death and by the beasts of the land, signifies by means of untruths of doctrine, evils of life, love of proprium, and lusts.
9. And when He had opened the fifth seal, signifies examination by the Lord of the states of life of those who were to be saved at the day of the last judgment, and were reserved in the meantime.
I saw underneath the altar the souls of those slain for the Word of God and for the testimony that they held, signifies those who, having been rejected by the evil on account of a life in accordance with the truths of the Word and the acknowledgment of the Lord's Divine Human, have been protected by the Lord lest they should be led astray.
10. And they were crying out with a great voice, signifies grief of heart.
Saying, How long, O Lord, [Who art Holy and True,] dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on those dwelling upon the land?, signifies over the fact that the last judgment is deferred, and that those who inflict violence on the Word and the Lord's Divine are not being removed.
11. And white robes were given to each one, signifies the communication and conjunction of these with angels who are in Divine truths.
And it was said [unto them] that they should rest yet a little while, until both their fellow-servants and their brothers who were going to be slain as they had been, are made up to the full extent, signifies that the last judgment would be deferred a little longer, until those who were in like manner rejected by the evil should be gathered together.
12. And I saw when He had opened the sixth seal, signifies the examination by the Lord of the states of life of those who were interiorly evil, upon whom there is going to be the judgment.
And behold a great earthquake was brought about, signifies the state of the Church with those entirely changed, and terror.
And the sun became black as a hairy sack, and the moon became as blood, signifies with those every good of love adulterated, and every truth of faith falsified.
13. And the stars [of heaven] fell to earth, signifies all the cognitions of good and truth detached (disparatus).
As a fig-tree shaken by a great wind casts its unripe figs, signifies by means of the reasonings of the natural man separated from the spiritual.
14. And the heaven departed as a book rolled up, signifies separation from heaven and conjunction with hell. And every mountain and island were moved out of their places, signifies that every good of love and truth of faith receded.
15. And the kings of the land and the great men and the rich men and the rulers of thousands and the mighty men and every bondman and [every] freeman, signifies those who before the separation were in an understanding of truth and good, in a knowledge of the cognitions thereof, and in erudition, from others or from themselves, and yet were not in a life in accordance with them.
Hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, signifies those now in evils and in the untruths of evil.
16. And they were saying to the mountains and the rocks, Fall upon us, and hide us away from the face of the One sitting upon the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, signifies confirmations of evil by means of untruths derived from evil, until they should not acknowledge any Divine of the Lord.
17. Because the great day of His wrath is coming, and who is able to stand?, signifies that they became such from themselves through separation from the good and the faithful on account of the last judgment, which they would not otherwise endure.
THE EXPOSITION
[verse 1] 'And I saw when the Lamb had opened the first of the seals' signifies the examination by the Lord of all upon whom there is going to be the last judgment, as to the understanding of the Word, and as a consequence as to the states of their life. These things are signified because there now follows in order the examination of all upon whom there is going to be the last judgment, as to the state of their life, and this by the Lord in accordance with the Word. This, therefore, is what is signified by the Lamb's having opened the seals of the book. That 'to open the book' and 'to loosen the seals thereof' signifies to get to know the states of the life of all, and to judge each one in accordance with his own [state], may be seen above (259, 265-267, 273-274).
295. Revelation 6
1. And I saw when the lamb had opened the first of the seals, and I heard one of the four animals saying, as with a voice of thunder, Come and look.
2. And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he that sat upon him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him, and he went forth conquering and to conquer.
3. And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second animal saying, Come and look.
4. And there went out another horse that was red, and it was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
5. And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third animal saying, Come and look. And I saw, and behold, a black horse; and he that sat upon him had a balance in his hand.
6. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four animals, saying, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and hurt not the oil and the wine.
7. And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth animal saying, Come and look.
8. And I saw, and behold, a pale horse; and his name that sat upon him was Death, and hell followed with him; and power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with the sword, and with hunger, and with death, and by beasts. 1
9. And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held.
10. And they cried with a great voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11. And white robes were given unto each of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet a little while, until their fellow-servants also, and their brethren, that would be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
12. And I saw when he had opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood.
13. And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree casteth its unripe figs, when shaken by a great wind.
14. And the heaven departed as a book rolled together: and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15. And the kings of the earth, and the great ones, and the rich, and the rulers of thousands, and the mighty, and every servant, and every freeman, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains;
16. And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall upon us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth upon the throne, and from the anger of the Lamb.
17. Because the great day of His anger is come, and who shall be able to stand?
Footnotes:
1. The original Latin omits "of the earth."
THE SPIRITUAL SENSE
The contents of the whole chapter
It treats of the exploration of those on whom the Last Judgment is to be executed; and exploration is made as to what the quality of their understanding of the Word had been and thence the quality of their state of life. That there were those who were in truths from good (verses 1-2); those who were without good (verses 3-4); those who were in contempt of truth (verses 5-6); and those who were totally vastated both as to good and truth (verses 7-8). Of the state of those who were guarded by the Lord in the lower earth, on account of the evil, and were to be delivered at the time of the Last Judgment (verses 9-11). Of the state of those who were in evils and thence in falsities, what it is at the day of the Last Judgment (verses 12-17).
The contents of each verse, (Revelation 6)
Verse 1. "And I saw when the Lamb had opened the first of the seals," signifies exploration by the Lord of all those upon whom the Last Judgment was about to come as to their understanding of the Word, and thence as to their states of life, (295). "And I heard one of the four animals saying, as with a voice of thunder," signifies, according to the Divine truth of the Word, (296). "Come and look," signifies a manifestation concerning the first in order, (297).
Verse 2. "And I saw, and behold, a white horse," signifies the understanding of truth and good from the Word with these, (298); "And he that sat upon him had a bow," signifies that they had the doctrine of truth and good from the Word, from which they fought against the falsities and evils which are from hell, (299); "And a crown was given unto him," signifies their badge of combat, (300); "And he went forth conquering, and to conquer," signifies victory over evils and falsities to eternity, (301).
Verse 3. "And when He had opened the second seal, I heard the second animal saying, Come and look," signifies the same here as above, (302-304).
Verse 4. "And there went out another horse that was red," signifies the understanding of the Word destroyed as to good, and thence as to life, with these, (305). "And it was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth," signifies the taking away of charity, spiritual security, and internal rest, (306). "And that they should kill one another," signifies intestine hatreds, infestations from the hells, and internal unrest, (307). "And there was given unto him a great sword," signifies the destruction of truth by falsities of evil, (308).
Verse 5. "And when He had opened the third seal, I heard the third animal saying, Come and look," signifies the same here as above, (309-311). "And I saw, and behold, a black horse," signifies the understanding of the Word destroyed with these as to truth, and thus as to doctrine, (312). "And he that sat upon him had a balance in his hand," signifies the estimation of good and truth, what it was with these, (313).
Verse 6. "And I heard a voice in the midst of the four animals saying," signifies the Divine guarding of the Word by the Lord, (314). "A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny," signifies, because the estimation of good and truth is so small as to be scarcely anything, (315[1-2]). "And hurt not the oil and the wine," signifies that it is provided by the Lord, that the holy goods and truths which lie interiorly concealed in the Word, should not be violated and profaned, (316).
Verse 7. "And when He had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth animal saying, Come and look," signifies the same here as above, (317-319).
Verse 8. "And I saw, and behold, a pale horse," signifies the understanding of the Word destroyed both as to good and as to truth, (320). "And his name that sat upon him was Death, and hell followed with him," signifies the extinction of spiritual life and thence damnation, (321). "And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill," signifies the destruction of all good in the church, (322). "With sword, and with hunger, and with death, and by the beasts of the earth," signifies by falsities of doctrine, by evils of life, by the love of the proprium, and by lusts, (323).
Verse 9. "And when He had opened the fifth seal," signifies exploration by the Lord of the states of life of those who were to be saved at the day of the Last Judgment, and were in the meantime reserved, (324). "I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held," signifies those who were rejected by the evil on account of their life according to the truths of the Word, and their acknowledgment of the Lord's Divine Human, and who were guarded by the Lord lest they be seduced, (325).
Verse 10. "And they cried with a great voice," signifies grief of heart, (326), "Saying, How long, O Lord, 1dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" signifies by reason that the Last Judgment is delayed, and that they who offer violence to the Word and to the Lord's Divine are not removed, (327).
Verse 11. "And white robes were given unto each of them," signifies their communication and conjunction with angels who are in Divine truths, (328); "And it was said, that they should rest yet for a little while, until their fellow-servants also, and their brethren, that would be killed as they were, should be fulfilled," signifies that the Last Judgment would yet be delayed a little, till they should be collected, who were in like manner rejected by the evil, (329).
Verse 12. "And I saw when He had opened the sixth seal," signifies exploration by the Lord of their state of life, who were interiorly evil, upon whom the judgment was about to come, (330). "And behold, there was a great earthquake," signifies the state of the church with those totally changed, and terror, (331). "And the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood," signifies the adulteration of all the good of love with them, and the falsification of all the truth of faith, (332).
Verse 13. "And the stars 1fell unto the earth," signifies the dispersion of all the knowledges of good and truth, (333). "Even as a fig tree casteth its unripe figs, when shaken by a great wind," signifies by the reasonings of the natural man separated from the spiritual, (334).
Verse 14. "And the heaven departed as a book rolled together," signifies separation from heaven and conjunction with hell, (335). "And every mountain and island were moved out of their places," signifies that all the good of love and truth of faith departed, (336[1-4]).
Verse 15. "And the kings of the earth, and the great ones, and the rich, and the rulers of thousands, and the mighty, and every servant, and every freeman," signifies those who, before separation, were in the understanding of truth and good, in the science of the knowledges thereof, in erudition, either from others or from themselves, and yet not in a life according to them, (337). "Hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains," signifies that they were now in evils and in falsities of evil, (338).
Verse 16. "And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall upon us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth upon the throne, and from the anger of the Lamb," signifies confirmations of evil by falsities from evil, until they did not acknowledge any Divine of the Lord, (339).
Verse 17. "Because the great day of His anger is come, and who shall be able to stand?" signifies that they had become such of themselves by separation from the good and the faithful on account of the Last Judgment, which otherwise they could not endure, (340).
1. The original Latin omits "Who are holy and true."
THE EXPLANATION
Verse 1. And I saw when the Lamb had opened the first of the seals, signifies exploration by the Lord of all those upon whom the Last Judgment was about to come, as to their understanding of the Word, and thence as to their states of life. This is signified, because now follows in order the exploration of all upon whom the Last Judgment was about to come, as to their states of life, and this from the Lord according to the Word. This then is the signification of "the Lamb's opening the seals of the book." That "to open the book," and "loose the seals thereof," signifies to know the states of the life of all, and to judge everyone according to his own, may be seen above, (259-265, 267, 273, 274).
295. CAPUT VI.
ET vidi cum aperuisset Agnus primum ex sigillis, et audivi unum ex quatuor Animalibus dicens tanquam voce tonitrui, Veni et aspice.
2. Et vidi, et ecce Equus albus, et sedens super illo habens arcum, et data ei corona et exivit vincens et ut vinceret.
3. Et cum aperuisset secundum sigillum, audivi secundum Animal dicens, Veni et aspice.
4. Et exivit alius Equus rufus; et sedenti super illo datum ei tollere pacem de terra, ut alii alios occiderent, et data ei machaera magna.
5. Et cum aperuisset tertium sigillum, audivi tertium Animal dicens, Veni et aspice; et vidi, et ecce Equus niger, et sedens super illo habens stateram in manu sua.
6. Et audivi Vocem in medio quatuor Animalium, dicentem, Choenix tritici denario, et tres choenices hordei denario, et oleum et vinum ne laeseris.
7. Et cum aperuisset sigillum quartum, audivi Vocem quarti Animalis dicentem, Veni et aspice.
8. Et vidi, et ecce Equus pallidus, et sedens super illo nomen illi Mors, et Infernus sequebatur cum illo, et data illis potestas interficiendi super quartam partem terrae in romphaea et in fame et in morte et a bestiis (terrae).
9. Et cum aperuisset quintum sigillum, vidi sub ter Altari animas occisorum propter Verbum Dei, et propter testimonium quod habebant.
10. Et clamabant voce magna, dicentes, Usque quo Domine, Qui Sanctus et Verus, non judicas et vindicas sanguinem nostrum de habitantibus super terra.
11. Et datae singulis stolae albae; et dictum eis, ut requiescerent adhuc tempus parvum, usque dum complentur et conservi eorum et fratres eorum, qui futuri occidi sicut illi.
12. Et vidi cum aperuisset sigillum sextum, et ecce terrae motus magnus factus est, et Sol factus est niger tanquam saccus pilosus, et Luna facta est tanquam sanguis.
13. Et Stellae caeli ceciderunt in terram, sicut ficus dejicit grossos suos a magno Vento concussa.
14. Et Caelum abscessit tanquam Liber convolutus: et Omnis Mons et Insula e locis suis emota sunt.
15. Et reges terrae et magnates, et divites et chiliarchi, et potentes, et omnis servus et omnis liber, absconderunt se ipsos in speluncis, et in petris montium.
16. Et dicebant montibus et petris, Cadite super nos, et abscondite nos a facie Sedentis super Throno, et ab ira Agni.
17. Quia venit dies magnus irae Ejus, et quis potest consistere.
SENSUS SPIRITUALIS.
CONTENTUM TOTIUS CAPITIS.
AGITUR DE EXPLORATIONE ILLORUM, SUPER QUOS ULTIMUM JUDICIUM FUTURUM EST; ET EXPLORATUM QUALIS INTELLECTUS VERBI FUERAT APUD ILLOS, ET INDE QUALIS STATUS VITAE ILLORUM:
QUOD ESSENT QUI IN VERIS EX BONO (vers. 1, 2);
QUI ABSQUE BONO (vers. 3, 4).
QUI IN CONTEMPTU VERI (vers. 5, 6);
ET QUI QUOAD BONUM ET QUOAD VERUM PRORSUS VASTATI (vers. 7, 8).
DE STATU ILLORUM QUI IN INFERIORE TERRA PROPTER MALOS A DOMINO CUSTODITI SUNT, QUOD TEMPORE ULTIMI JUDICII LIBERANDI (vers. 9-11);
DE STATU ILLORUM QUI IN MALIS ET INDE FALSIS, QUALIS DIE ULTIMI JUDICII (vers. 12-17).
CONTENTA 2SINGULORUM VERSUUM.
1. "Et vidi, cum aperuisset Agnus primum ex sigillis," significat a Domino explorationem omnium super quos Ultimum Judicium futurum est, quoad intellectum Verbi, et inde quoad status vitae eorum (295); "et audivi unum ex quatuor Animalibus dicens tanquam voce tonitrui," significat secundum Divinum Verum Verbi (296); "Veni et aspice," significat manifestationem de primis in ordine (297).
2. "Et vidi et ecce Equus albus," significat intellectum veri et boni ex Verbo apud hos (278); "et sedens super illo habens arcum," significat quod illis doctrina veri et boni ex Verbo, ex qua pugnarunt contra falsa et mala quae ab Inferno (299); "et data ei corona," significat insigne pugnae illorum (300); "et exivit vincens et ut vinceret," significat victoriam super mala et falsa in aeternum (301).
3. "Et cum aperuisset secundum sigillum, audivi 3secundum Animal dicens, veni et aspice," significat simile hic ut supra (302, 303, 304).
4. "Et exivit alius Equus, rufus," significat intellectum Verbi deperditum quoad bonum, et inde quoad vitam apud illos (305); - sedenti super illo datum est tollere pacem de terra," significat sublatam charitatem, securitatem spiritualem, et requiem internam (306); - ut alii alios occiderent, significat intestina omnia, infestationes ab Infernis, et irrequies internas, (11, 307); "et data ei machaera magna," significat destructionem veri per falsa mali (308).
5. "Et cum aperuisset tertium sigillum, audivi 4tertium Animal dicens, veni et aspice," significat simile hic ut supra (309, 310, 321); "et vidi et ecce Equus niger," significat intellectum Verbi deperditum quoad verum, ita quoad doctrinam apud hos (312); "et sedens super illo habens stateram in manu sua," significat aestimationem boni et veri, qualis illa apud hos (313).
6. "Et audivi vocem in medio quatuor Animalium, dicentem," significat Divinam custodiam Verbi a Domino (314); - Choenix tritici denario, et tres choenices hordei denario," significat quia aestimatio boni et veri tam pusilla est, ut vix ulla (315); - et oleum et vinum ne laeseris," significat quod a Domino provideatur, ne sancta bona et vera, quae interius in Verbo latent, violentur et prophanentur (316).
7. "Et cum aperuisset sigillum quartum, audivi vocem quarti Animalis dicentem, veni et aspice," significat simile quod supra (317, 318, 319).
8. "Et vidi et ecce Equus pallidus," significat intellectum Verbi deperditum et quoad bonum et quoad verum (320); - et sedens super illo nomen illi Mors, et Infernus sequebatur cum illo," significat exstinctionem vitae spiritualis et inde damnationem (321); "et data est illis potestas interficiendi super quartam partem terrae," significat destructionem omnis boni Ecclesiae (322); "in romphaea et in fame et in morte et a bestiis terrae," significat per falsa doctrinae, per mala vitae, per amorem proprii, et per concupiscentias (323).
9. "Et cum aperuisset quintum sigillum," significat a Domino explorationem status vitae illorum, qui die Ultimi Judicii salvandi erant, ac interea reservati (324); "vidi subter Altari animas occisorum propter Verbum Dei et propter testimonium quod habebant," significat illos qui a malis rejecti propter vitam secundum vera Verbi et agnitionem Divini Humani Domini, ne seducerentur, a Domino custoditi sunt (325).
10. "Et clamabant voce magna," significat dolorem cordis (326); "dicentes, Usque quo Domine, (Qui Sanctus et Verus,) non judicas et vindicas sanguinem nostrum de habitantibus super terra," significat super ia quod Ultimum Judicium protrahatur, et non removeantur qui violentiam inferunt Verbo et Divino Domini (327).
11. "Et datae singulis stolae albae," significat communicationem et conjunctionem illorum cum angeli qui in Divinis veris (erant) (328); "et dictum (iis), ut adhuc requiescerent tempus parvum, usque dum complentur et conservi eorum et fratres eorum, qui futuri occidi sicut illi," significat quod Ultimum Judicium parum adhuc pratraheretur, usque dum collecti (fuerint) qui similiter rejecti sunt a malis (329).
12. "Et vidi cum aperuisset sigillum sextum," significat a Domino explorationem status vitae illorum qui interius mali erant, super quos judicium futurum est (330); "(et) ecce terrae motus magnus factus est," significat statum Ecclesiae apud illos prorsus immutatum, et terrorem (331); "et Sol factus est niger tanquam saccus pilosus, et Luna facta est tanquam sanguis,' significat apud illos omne bonum amoris adulteratum, et omne verum fidei falsificatum (332).
13. "Et Stellae (Caeli) ceciderunt in terram," significat omnes cognitiones boni et veri disparatas (333); "sicut ficus dejicit grossos suos a magno vento agitata," significat per ratiocinationes naturalis hominis separati a spirituali (334).
14. "Et Caelum abscessit sicut liber convolutus," significat separationem a Caelo et conjunctionem cum Inferno (335); "et omnis mons et insula e locis suis emota sunt," significat quod omne bonum amoris et verum fidei recesserit (336).
15. "Et reges terrae et magnates, et divites et chiliarchi,et potentes, et omnis servus et (omnis) liber," significat illos qui ante separationem fuerunt in intellectu veri et boni, in scientia cognitionum illorum, in eruditione, ab aliis vel a se ipsis, et usque non in vita secundum illa (337); "absconderunt se ipsos in speluncis et in peris montium," significat nunc illos in malis et in falsis mali (338).
16. "Et dicebant montibus et petris, Cadite super nos, et abscondite nos a facie Sedentis super Throno, et ab ira Agni," significat confirmationes mali per falsa ex malo, usque ut non agnoscerent aliquod Divinum Domini (339).
17. "Quia venit dies magnus irae Ipsius, et quis potest consistere," significat quod tales facti sint a se ipsis per separationem a bonis et fidelibus propter Ultimum Judicium, quod alioquin non sustinerent (340).
EXPLICATIO.
(Vers. 1.) "Et vidi cum aperuisset Agnus primum ex sigillis," significat a Domino explorationem omnium super quos Ultimum Judicium futurum est, quoad intellectum Verbi, et inde quoad status vitae eorum. "Haec significantur, quia nunc in ordine sequitur exploratio omnium super quos Ultimum Judicium futurum est, quoad status vitae eorum, et hoc a Domino secundum Verbum: hoc itaque est quod significatur per quod "Agnus aperuerit sigilla Libri:" quod "aperire Librum," et "solvere sigilla ejus" significet nosse status vitae omnium, et judicare unumquemvis secundum suum, videatur supra (259-265, 267, 273, 274).
Footnotes:
2. CONTENTA pro "CONTENTUM"
3. audivi pro "et audivi"
4. audivi pro "et audivi"