启示录7
1.这些事以后，我看见四位天使站在地的四角，执掌地的四风，叫风不吹在地上、海上和树上。
2.我又看见另有一位天使，从日出之地上来，拿着永生神的印。他就向那得着权柄能伤害地和海的四位天使大声喊着。
3.说，不可伤害地、海和树林，等我们在我们神众仆人的额上先盖上了印。
4.我听见以色列人各支派中受印的数目有十四万四千。
5.犹大支派中受印的有一万二千；流便支派中受印的有一万二千；迦得支派中受印的有一万二千；
6.亚设支派中受印的有一万二千；拿弗他利支派中受印的有一万二千；玛拿西支派中受印的有一万二千；
7.西缅支派中受印的有一万二千；利未支派中受印的有一万二千；以萨迦支派中受印的有一万二千；
8.西布伦支派中受印的有一万二千；约瑟支派中受印的有一万二千；便雅悯支派中受印的有一万二千。
9.这些事以后，我观看，见有一大群人，没有人能数过来，是从各民族、各支派、各人民、各方言来的，站在宝座和羔羊面前，披着白袍，手拿棕树枝，
10.大声喊着说，愿救恩归与坐在宝座上我们的神，也归与羔羊。
11.众天使都站在宝座和众长老并四活物的周围，面伏在宝座前敬拜神，
12.说，阿们！祝福、荣耀、智慧、感谢、尊贵、权柄、大力都归与我们的神，直到世世代代。阿们！
13.长老中有一位回应我说，这些披着白袍的是谁？是从哪里来的？
14.我对他说，我主，你知道。他向我说，这些人是从大苦难中出来的，曾把他们的袍子洗了，用羔羊的血使他们的袍子洁白。
15.所以，他们在神宝座前，昼夜在祂殿中事奉祂。坐宝座的要住在他们中间。
16.他们不再饥、不再渴，日头和炎热也必不落到他们身上。
17.因为宝座中间的羔羊必牧养他们，领他们到生命水的泉源；神也必从他们眼上擦去一切的眼泪。
本章论述了那些现在和将来在基督天堂里的人；首先论述了他们与恶者的分离（1-3节）；此后论述了那些处于对主之爱，并由此处于智慧的人，高层天堂便由他们组成（4-8节）；又论述了那些从主处于仁及其信的人，因为他们与邪恶作斗争，低层天堂便由他们组成（9-17节）。
第1节.“这些事以后，我看见四位天使站在地的四角”表整个天堂现正努力施行最后的审判（342节）。“执掌地的四风，叫风不吹在地上、海上和树上”表主拦阻并遏制进入善者与恶者混居所在低层区域的更密切、因而更强劲的流注（343节）。
第2节.“我又看见另有一位天使，从日出之地上来”表主预备并管控（344节）。“拿着永生神的印”表唯独祂知道所有人和每个人，能将他们彼此区别并分开（345节）。“他就向那得着权柄能伤害地和海的四位天使大声喊着，（第3节）说，不可伤害地、海和树林”表主拦阻并遏制进入低层区域的更密切、更强劲的流注（346节）。
第3节.“等我们在我们神众仆人的额上先盖上了印”表那些从主处于源自良善的真理之人被分开之前（347节）。
第4节.“我听见受印的数目有十四万四千”表所有承认主为天地之神，并从祂经由圣言处于源自爱之良善的教义真理之人（348节）。“以色列人各支派中受印的”表主的天堂与教会由他们组成（349节）。
第5节.“犹大支派中受印的有一万二千”表属天之爱，也就是对主之爱，所有将要在新天堂和新教会的人都具有这爱（350节）。“流便支派中受印的有一万二千”表将要在那里的人所具有的出自属天之爱的智慧（351节）。“迦得支派中受印的有一万二千”表属于源自这爱之智慧的生活的功用，也是将要在那里之人所具有的 （352节）。
第6节.“亚设支派中受印的有一万二千”表他们所具有的属世之爱（353节）。“拿弗他利支派中受印的有一万二千”表示他们所具有的对功用，以及何为功用的领悟（354节）。“玛拿西支派中受印的有一万二千”表他们所具有的事奉和行动的意愿（355节）。
第7节.“西缅支派中受印的有一万二千”表他们所具有的属灵之爱，也就是对邻之爱（356节）。“利未支派中受印的有一万二千”表他们所具有的对源于良善之真理的情感，聪明便由此而来（357节）。“以萨迦支派中受印的有一万二千”表他们所具有的生活良善（358节）。
第8节.“西布伦支派中受印的有一万二千”表他们所具有的良善与真理的婚姻之爱（359）。“约瑟支派中受印的有一万二千”表他们所具有的良善与真理的教义（360节）。“便雅悯支派中受印的有一万二千”表他们所具有的源自良善、遵循教义的真理生活（361节）。
第9节.“这些事以后，我观看，见有一大群人，没有人能数过来”表其余所有不属那些没有列举出来，却仍在主的新天堂和新教会中的人，他们组成最底层的天堂和外在教会，其品质除了唯独主以外，没有人能知道（363-364节）。“是从各民族、各支派、各人民、各方言来的”表基督教界所有具有出于良善的宗教信仰和出于教义的真理之人（365节）。“站在宝座和羔羊面前”表听从主并行祂所吩咐的事（366节）。“披着白袍，手拿棕树枝”表与高层天堂的交流和结合，并出于神性真理的称谢（367节）。
第10节.“大声喊着说，愿救恩归与坐在宝座上我们的神，也归与羔羊”表发自内心承认主是他们的救主（368节）。
第11节.“众天使都站在宝座和众长老并四活物的周围”表整个天堂的所有人（369节）。“面伏在宝座前敬拜神”表他们内心的谦卑，以及出于谦卑而对主的崇拜（370节）。
第12节.“说，阿们”表神性真理和由此而来的确认（371节）。“祝福、荣耀、智慧、感谢”表主的神性属灵事物（372节）。“尊贵、权柄、大力”表主的神性属天事物（373节）。“都归与我们的神，直到世世代代”表这些事物在主里面，并且来自主，直到永远（374节）。“阿们”表所有人的赞同（375节）。
第13，14节.“长老中有一位回应我说，这些披着白袍的是谁？是从哪里来的？我对他说，我主，你知道”表知道的渴望和求问的意愿，以及回复和得知（376节）。“他向我说，这些人是从大苦难中出来的”表他们就是那些经历过试探，并与邪恶并虚假争战过的人（377节）。“曾把他们的袍子洗了”表他们将自己的宗教信仰准则从虚假的邪恶中洁净（378节）。“用羔羊的血使他们的袍子洁白”表并通过真理将自己从邪恶的虚假中洁净，从而被主改造（379节）。
第15节.“所以，他们在神宝座前，昼夜在祂殿中事奉祂。坐宝座的要住在他们中间”表他们在主面前，照着在其教会中从祂所接受的真理一直过着忠信的生活（380节）。
第16节.“他们不再饥、不再渴”表今后他们不再缺乏良善与真理（381节）。“日头和炎热也必不落到他们身上”表今后他们必没有对邪恶的欲望，也没有对邪恶之虚假的欲望（382节）。
第17节.“因为宝座中间的羔羊必牧养他们”表唯独主将教导他们（383节）。“领他们到生命水的泉源”表并且要通过圣言的真理引向与祂自己的结合（384节）。“神也必从他们眼上擦去一切的眼泪”表他们必不再处于与邪恶及其虚假的争战，由此不再处于悲痛，而是从主处于良善与真理，因此处于天上的喜乐（370节）。
342.启7:1.“这些事以后，我看见四位天使站在地的四角”表整个天堂现正努力对处于灵人界者施行最后的审判。随之而来的许多事涉及就在最后审判之前的灵界状态，若不靠着主的启示，没有人能知道这些事。我蒙恩得以看到最后的审判以什么样的方式施行，包括审判前的变化，以及接下来的安排，所以我能由此讲述这一章以及后续各章所包含一切细节的含义。
此处“四位天使”表示整个天堂；“地的四角”表示天堂与地狱之间的整个灵人界；因为最后的审判施行在那些处于灵人界的人身上，而非处于天堂的任何人，也非处于地狱的任何人。“天使”之所以表示天堂，是因为“天使”在至高意义上表示主的神性人（344节）；由于天堂是靠着主而为天堂，故“天使”也表示天堂。
“四位天使”在此表示整个天堂，因为约翰看见他们站在“地的四角”，而“四个角”表示四个方位。上述这些话之所以表示整个天堂努力施行最后的审判，是因为当审判即将来临时，主使众天堂接近灵人界，因着众天堂的这种靠近，那些在下之人的心智内层会经历这种状态的变化，以致他们除了眼前的恐惧外，什么也看不见。
“角”表示方位（或译为面、边corner），因而“四角”表示所有方位。这一点从以下经文明显看出来：
你们要从城外，量向东的角、向南的角，向西的角，向北的角。（民数记35:5）
你要给帐幕，给南面和北面做木板。（出埃及记26:18，20，23）
院子的南面、北面、西面、东面。（出埃及记27:9，11-13）
四个方位在以西结书（47:18-20；｛48章）中还常被称为“四角”（four corners）
由于“角”表示方位，故它们也表示一切事物，如与天堂或地狱有关，亦或良善或真理有关的一切事物。这一点从以下经文明显看出来：
撒旦要出来迷惑在地上四角的列族。（启示录20:8）
我要除灭列族，他们的城角荒凉。（西番雅书3:6）
以色列聚集起来，如同一人，各角落的众百姓都站立。（士师记20:1，2）
必有一杖从以色列兴起，打碎摩押的四角。（民数记24:17）
是吹号吶喊的日子，要攻击高耸的城角楼。（西番雅书1:16）
我必将他们抛到极远的角落。（申命记32:26）
“角”表示支撑高层事物的最底层或最终层，犹如支撑房屋的地基，因而也表示一切事物。这一点从以下经文明显看出来：
祂要在锡安找一块房角石，是稳固根基的宝石。（以赛亚书28:16）
他们必不取石头为房角石。（耶利米书51:26）
必有一块房角石从犹大而出。（撒迦利亚书10:4）
他们所弃的石头成了房角的头一块。（诗篇118:22；马太福音21:42；马可福音12:10；路加福音20:17，18）。
342. CHAPTER 7
1. After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.
2. Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea,
3. saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."
4. And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of Israel:
5. of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;
6. of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;
7. of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;
8. of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.
9. After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
10. and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
11. And all the angels stood around the throne, with the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
12. saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving, and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen."
13. Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?"
14. And I said to him, "Lord, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who are coming out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb.
15. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.
16. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; neither shall the sun strike them, nor any heat;
17. for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
THE SPIRITUAL MEANING
The Contents of the Whole Chapter
This chapter describes people who are and who will be in the Christian heaven. It describes first their separation from evil people (verses 1-3); after that, those of them who are impelled by love toward the Lord and so by wisdom, of whom the higher heavens consist (verses 4-8); and those who are impelled by charity from the Lord and its accompanying faith because they fought against evils, of whom the lower heavens consist (verses 9-17).
The Contents of the Individual Verses:
| Verse Contents | Spiritual Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1. After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, | The whole of heaven now in an effort to execute the Last Judgment. |
| holding back the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. | The Lord's holding back and restraining a closer and thus stronger influx into the lower regions where good people were attached to evil ones. |
| 2. Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, | The Lord providing and moderating, |
| having the seal of the living God. | who alone knows the character of each and every person, and can distinguish and separate them from each other. |
| And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3. saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees | The Lord's restraining and holding back the closer and stronger influx into the lower regions, |
| till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." | before those people were separated who were governed by truths springing from goodness from the Lord. |
| 4. And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand, | All people who acknowledge the Lord as God of heaven and earth and are governed by truths of doctrine springing from the goodness of love, received from Him through the Word. |
| sealed out of every tribe of Israel: | The heaven and the Lord's church formed from them. |
| 5. of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; | Celestial love, which is love toward the Lord, and this in all those people who will be in the New Heaven and in the New Church. |
| of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; | Wisdom springing from celestial love in those people who will be there. |
| of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed; | Useful life endeavors, which are the exercises of wisdom springing from that love, in those people who will be there. |
| 6. of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; | Mutual love in those people. |
| of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; | A perception of useful endeavor, and of what is useful, in those people. |
| of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed; | A will to serve and to put into practice in those people. |
| 7. of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; | Spiritual love, which is love for the neighbor, in those people. |
| of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; | An affection for truth springing from goodness, producing intelligence in those people. |
| of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; | Goodness of life in those people. |
| 8. of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; | The conjugal love of goodness and truth in those people. |
| of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; | A doctrine of goodness and truth in those people. |
| of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed. | A life of truth springing from goodness in accord with doctrine in those people. |
| 9. After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could number, | All other people who are not among those enumerated and yet are in the New Heaven and the Lord's New Church, who form the lowest heaven and the external church, and whose character is known to the Lord alone. |
| of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, | All in the Christian world who have some religion springing from goodness and are guided by truths from doctrine, |
| standing before the throne and before the Lamb, | listening to the Lord and doing what He commands. |
| clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, | A communication and conjunction with the higher heavens, and a confession springing from Divine truths. |
| 10. and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" | An acknowledgment from the heart that the Lord is their Savior. |
| 11. And all the angels stood around the throne, with the elders and the four living creatures, | All in the whole of heaven listening and doing what the Lord commands. |
| and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, | A humbling of their heart, and in their humility an adoration of the Lord. |
| 12. saying, "Amen! | Divine truth and an affirmation in response to it. |
| Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving, | The Lord's spiritual Divine attributes; |
| and honor and power and might, | the Lord's celestial Divine attributes; |
| be to our God forever and ever. | these being in the Lord and emanating from the Lord to eternity. |
| Amen." | The agreement of all. |
| 13. Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" 14. And I said to him, "Lord, you know." | Their desire to know and wish to inquire, and the reply and instruction given. |
| So he said to me, "These are ones who are coming out of the great tribulation, | They are people who have undergone temptations or trials, and have fought against evils and falsities, |
| and have washed their robes | who have cleansed their religious beliefs of the evils accompanying falsity, |
| and made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb. | and by truths have purified those religious beliefs from the falsities accompanying evil, and so have been reformed by the Lord. |
| 15. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. | They are in the Lord's presence, and live constantly and faithfully in His church in accordance with the truths that they receive from Him. |
| 16. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; | Hereafter they will not lack goods and truths. |
| neither shall the sun strike them, nor any heat; | Hereafter they will not possess lusts for evil, nor for the falsity accompanying evil. |
| 17. for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them | The Lord alone will teach them |
| and lead them to living fountains of waters. | and lead them by the truths in the Word to conjunction with Him. |
| And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." | They will be caught up no longer in battles against evils and the accompanying falsities, and so will no longer experience times of distress, but will be surrounded by goods and truths and thus by heavenly joys emanating from the Lord. |
THE EXPOSITION
After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth. (7:1) This symbolizes the whole of heaven now in an effort to execute the Last Judgment on the people who were in the world of spirits.
There follows now much concerning the state of the spiritual world just before the Last Judgment, which no one could know without its being revealed by the Lord. And because I have been given to see how the Last Judgment was executed, including the transformations which preceded it and the dispositions following it, I can relate therefore the symbolic meaning of everything in this chapter and in the chapters that follow.
[2] The four angels here symbolize the whole of heaven. The four corners of the earth symbolize the entire world of spirits, which is midway between heaven and hell. For the Last Judgment was executed on people who were in the world of spirits, and not on anyone in heaven, nor on anyone in hell.
Angels symbolize heaven because an angel in the highest sense means the Lord in respect to His Divine humanity (no. 344), and as heaven is heaven owing to the Lord, angels symbolize heaven as well.
[3] The four angels here symbolize the whole of heaven because they were seen standing at the four corners of the earth, and the four corners symbolize the four quarters of the compass.
They symbolize that the whole of heaven was now in an effort to execute the Last Judgment for the reason that when the Last Judgment was at hand, the Lord caused the heavens to draw closer over the world of spirits, and the closeness of the heavens produced such a change in the state of the inner constituents of the people's minds below that they saw nothing but terrors before their eyes.
[4] That corners symbolize quarters of the compass, and thus the four quarters all points, can be seen from the following passages:
You shall measure, outside the city, the corner toward the east..., the corner toward the south..., the corner toward the west..., and the corner toward the north... (Numbers 35:5)
You shall make the boards for the Tabernacle, ...for the south corner..., and for... the north corner... (Exodus 26:18, 20, 23)
And... the court..., for the south corner..., for the north corner..., for the west corner..., and... for the east corner... (Exodus 27:9, 11-13)
[5] The four quarters are also called four corners often in Ezekiel, as in Ezekiel 47:18-20, and 48.
Since corners symbolize the quarters of the compass, they also therefore symbolize everything, such as everything in heaven or in hell, or everything pertaining to goodness or to truth, as is apparent from the following:
(Satan) will go out to lead astray the nations which are at the four corners of the earth... (Revelation 20:8)
I will cut off nations, (and) their corners will be devastated. (Zephaniah 3:6)
...(Israel) gathered together as one man... And the corners of all the people stationed themselves... (Judges 20:1-2)
A scepter shall rise out of Israel, and crush the corners of Moab... (Numbers 24:17)
A day of trumpet and alarm... upon the high corners. (Zephaniah 1:16)
I will cast them into the ends of the corners. (Deuteronomy 32:26)
[6] That a corner symbolizes the lowest component supporting higher ones, as a foundation does a house, and so symbolizes also everything, is apparent from the following:
(He) will lay in Zion a corner stone..., the price of the laying of a foundation. (Isaiah 28:16)
They shall not take from it a stone for a corner... (Jeremiah 51:26)
From (Judah) shall come the corner stone... (Zechariah 10:4)
The stone which (they) rejected has become the corner stone. (Psalms 118:22, Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17-18)
342. THE SEVENTH CHAPTER
1. After these things I saw four angels standing upon the four corners of the land, holding back the four winds of the land, so that the wind should not blow upon the land, nor upon the sea, nor upon any tree.
2. And I saw another angel coming up from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God, and he cried with a great voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to harm the land and the sea;
3. Saying, Do no harm to land, or sea, or trees, till we shall have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads.
4. And I heard the number of them that were sealed (signatorum); a hundred and forty-four thousand sealed out of every tribe of Israel.
5. Out of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand sealed: out of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand sealed: out of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand sealed.
6. Out of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand sealed: out of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand sealed: out of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand sealed.
7. Out of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand sealed: out of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand sealed: out of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand sealed.
8. Out of the tribe of Zebulon twelve thousand sealed: out of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand sealed: out of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand sealed.
9. After these things I saw, and behold a great crowd, which no one could number, out of every nation and [all] tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.
10. And crying with a great voice, saying, Salvation (salus) to our God sitting upon the throne and to the Lamb.
11. And all the angels were standing around the throne and the elders and the four animals, and they fell before the throne upon their faces and adored God.
12. Saying, Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving, and honour, and vigour (virtus) and strength, to our God for ages of ages, Amen.
13. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, These [people] clothed with white robes, who are they and whence have they come?
14. And I said unto him, Sir (Domine), thou knowest; and he said unto me, They are those who are coming out of great affliction, and have washed their robes, and made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb.
15. By reason of this they are before the throne of God, and they are serving Him day and night in His temple, and the One sitting upon the throne shall remain over them.
16. They shall not hunger any more, nor thirst any more, neither shall the sun fall upon them, nor any heat.
17. For the Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne shall feed (pascere) them and conduct them to living fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes.
THE SPIRITUAL SENSE
THE CONTENTS OF THE WHOLE CHAPTER
In this chapter it treats of those who are and those who will be in the Christian heaven; and first of their separation from the evil (verses 1-3); after that it treats of those who are in love directed to the Lord and thereby in wisdom, out of whom the higher heavens [are formed] (verses 4-8); and of those who are in charity and the faith thereof from the Lord, because they have fought against evils, out of whom the lower heavens [are formed] (verses 9-17).
THE CONTENTS OF EACH OF THE VERSES
1. Afterwards I saw four angels standing upon the four corners of the land, signifies the entire heaven now in the effort to effect the last judgment.
Holding back the four winds of the land, so that the wind should not blow upon the land, nor upon the sea, nor upon any tree, signifies a nearer and consequently stronger influx into the lower regions where the good were conjoined with the evil, held back and restrained by the Lord.
2. And I saw another angel coming up out of the rising of the sun, signifies the Lord providing and moderating. Having the seal of the living God, signifies Who alone has a knowledge of all [men] and of individuals, and is able to distinguish and separate them each one from the other.
3. And he cried with a great voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to harm the land and the sea, saying, Do no harm to land, or sea, or trees, signifies the restraining and holding back by the Lord of the nearer and stronger influx into the lower regions.
Till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads, signifies before those have been separated who are in truths out of good from the Lord.
4. And I heard the number of them that were sealed (signatorum) a hundred and forty-four thousand, signifies all who acknowledge the Lord as being the God of heaven and earth, and are in truths of doctrine out of the good of love from Him by means of the Word.
Sealed out of every tribe of Israel, signifies The Lord's heaven and Church from those.
5. Out of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand sealed, signifies celestial love, which is love directed to the Lord, and this with all who will be in the New Heaven and in the New Church.
Out of the tribe of Reuben 12000 sealed, signifies the wisdom out of celestial love with those who will be there.
Out of the tribe of Gad 2000 sealed, signifies the uses of life, which are of the wisdom out of that love with those who will be there.
6. Out of the tribe of Asher 12000 sealed, signifies mutual love with those.
Out of the tribe of Naphtali 12000 sealed, signifies the perception of uses and of what uses are with those.
Out of the tribe of Manasseh 12000 sealed, signifies the will of being serviceable and of action with those.
7. Out of the tribe of Simeon 12000 sealed, signifies spiritual love which is love towards the neighbour with those.
Out of the tribe of Levi 12000 sealed, signifies the affection of truth out of good which results in intelligence with those.
Out of the tribe of Issachar 12000 sealed, signifies the good of life with those.
8. Out of the tribe of Zebulon 12000 sealed, signifies the conjugial love of good and truth with those. Out of the tribe of Joseph 12000 sealed, signifies the doctrine of good and truth with those. Out of the tribe of Benjamin 12000 sealed, signifies the life of truth out of good in accordance with the doctrine with those.
9. After these things I saw, and behold a great crowd which no one could number, signifies all the rest who are not of those enumerated, and yet are in the New Heaven and in the Lord's New Church, and who make the ultimate heaven and the external Church, of whose quality no one but the Only Lord has knowledge.
Out of every nation and [all] tribes and peoples and tongues, signifies all in Christendom who are in religion out of good, and in truths out of doctrine.
Standing before the throne and before the Lamb, signifies hearing the Lord and doing the things He commands.
Clothed with white robes, and palms in [their] hands, signifies communication and conjunction with the higher heavens, and confession out of Divine truths.
10. And crying with a great voice and saying, Salvation (salus) to our God sitting upon the throne and to the Lamb, signifies acknowledgment from the heart that the Lord is their Saviour.
11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and the elders and the four animals, signifies all in the entire heaven.
[And they fell before the throne upon their faces and adored God, signifies the humiliation of their hearts and, as a result of the humiliation, adoration of the Lord.]
12. Saying, Amen, signifies the Divine Truth (Veritas) and confirmation therefrom.
Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving, signifies the Lord's spiritual Divine things.
And honour and vigour (virtus) and strength, signifies the Lord's celestial Divine things.
To our God for ages of ages, signifies those things in the Lord and from the Lord to eternity.
Amen, signifies the agreement of all.
13. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, These [people] clothed with white robes, who are they, and whence have they come?
14. And I said unto him, Sir (Domine), thou knowest, signifies a longing to know, and a will to inquire, and the answer and information.
And he said, They are those who are coming out of great affliction, signifies that they are those who have been in temptations, and have fought against evils and untruths. And have washed their robes, signifies and who have cleansed their religious principles (religiosa) from evils of untruth.
And have made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb, signifies and have purified them from untruths of evil by means of truths, and so have been reformed by the Lord.
15. By reason of this they are before the throne of God, and are serving Him day and night in His temple, and the One sitting upon the throne shall remain over them, signifies that they are in the presence of the Lord, and are living constantly and faithfully in accordance with the truths that they are receiving from Him in His Church.
16. They shall not hunger any more, nor thirst any more, signifies that henceforth they shall not lack goods and truths.
Neither shall the sun fall upon them nor any heat, signifies that henceforth they shall not have a lusting after evil nor after the untruth of evil.
17. For the Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne shall feed (pascere) them, signifies that the Only Lord shall teach them. And conduct them to living fountains of waters, signifies and shall lead them by means of the truths of the Word to conjunction with Himself.
And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, signifies that they shall not any more be in fights against evils and the untruths thereof, and so shall not be in sorrows but in goods and truths, and thereby in heavenly joys from the Lord.
THE EXPOSITION
[verse 1] 'Afterwards I saw four angels standing upon the four corners of the land' signifies the entire heaven now in the effort to effect the last judgment upon those who were in the world of spirits. Many things now follow concerning the state of the spiritual world just before the last judgment. No one is able to know these things except by means of revelation from the Lord. And because it has been given to me to see how the last judgment has been carried through, and also the changes that have preceded it, and the orderly arrangements that have followed, I am able in consequence to report the things, in this chapter and those that follow, that are signified by all [the statements] therein.
[2] Here, by 'four angels' is signified the entire heaven; by 'the four corners of the land' is signified the entire world of spirits, which is intermediate between heaven and hell; for the last judgment was effected on those who were in the world of spirits, but not on any in heaven nor on any in hell. Heaven is signified by 'angels' because by 'angel' in the highest sense is understood the Lord as to the Divine Human (344); and because heaven is heaven from the Lord, by 'angels' heaven is also signified.
[3] The entire heaven is signified by 'four angels' here because they were seen to stand 'upon the four corners of the land,' and, by 'the four corners' the four quarters are signified. It is signified that the entire heaven was now in the effort to effect the last judgment, because the Lord, when the judgment was impending, caused the heavens to draw near over the world of spirits, and by the approach of the heavens there was effected such a change of state of the interiors of the minds with those below that they saw nothing but terrors before their eyes.
[4] That 'corners' signify quarters, and consequently that 'the four corners' signify all the quarters, can be established from the following passages:
You shall measure outside the city, the corner towards the east (ortus), the corner towards the south, the corner towards the west, and the corner towards the north. Numbers 35:5.
Thou shalt make the posts for the dwelling for the corner of the south, and for the corner of the north thereof, Exodus 26:18, 20, 23.
And the court, to the south corner, to the north corner, to the west corner and to the east (oriens) corner, Exodus 27:9, 11-13.
The four quarters are also frequently called 'the four corners' in Ezekiel, as in chapter 47:18-20 and chapter 48.
[5] Since 'corners' signify quarters, therefore they also signify all things, as all things of heaven or of hell, or of good or truth, which is plain from these statements:
Satan shall go forth to lead astray the nations that are at the four corners of the land. Revelation 20:8.
I will cut off the nations, and their corners shall be devastated, Zephaniah 3:6.
Israel was gathered together as one man, and the corners of all the people stood firm, Judges 20:1-2.
A sceptre shall rise out of Israel, that shall wear down the corners of Moab. Numbers 24:17.
A day of the trumpet and of clangour upon the high corners, Zephaniah 1:16.
Into the farthest corners will I cast them out. Deuteronomy 32:26.
[6] That a 'corner' signifies an ultimate that holds up higher things, as the foundation does a house, and thus also signifies all things, is plain from these statements:
He will found in Zion the stone of the corner, of the price of the founding of the foundation. Isaiah 28:16.
And they shall not take of it a stone for the corner. Jeremiah 51:26.
Out of Judah shall be the corner-stone, Zechariah 10:4.
The stone which they rejected is become the head of the corner. Psalms 118:22; Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17-18.
342. Revelation 7
1. After these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
2. And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a great voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea.
3. Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads.
4. And I heard the number of them that were sealed; a hundred and forty and four thousand, sealed out of every tribe 1of Israel.
5. Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
6. Of the tribe of Asher were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Naphtali were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasseh were sealed twelve thousand.
7. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.
8. Of the tribe of Zebulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
9. After these things, I saw, and, behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of every nation, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.
10. And crying with a great voice, saying, Salvation to our God that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
11. And all the angels stood around the throne, and the elders, and the four animals, and fell before the throne on their faces, and adored God.
12. Saying, Amen; blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God, for ages of ages, Amen.
13. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, Who are these that are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14. And I said unto him, Lord, thou knowest. And he said unto me, These are they that come out of great affliction, and have washed their robes, and made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb.
15. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
16. They shall not hunger anymore, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun fall upon them, nor any heat.
17. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes.
THE SPIRITUAL SENSE
The contents of the whole chapter
In this chapter it treats of those who are and will be in the Christian heaven; and first of their separation from the evil (verses 1-3); after that, of those who are in love to the Lord and thereby in wisdom, of whom the higher heavens consist (verses 4-8); and of those who are in charity and its faith from the Lord, because they have fought against evils, of whom are the lower heavens (verses 9-17).
The con, (Revelation 7:1) tents of each verse
Verse 1. "After these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth," signifies the entire heaven now in the effort to execute the Last Judgment, (342). "Holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree," signifies a withholding and restraining by the Lord, of a nearer and thence more powerful influx into the lower parts, where the good were conjoined with the evil, (343).
Verse 2. "And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun," signifies the Lord providing and regulating, (344). "Having the seal of the living God," signifies who alone knows all and each, and can distinguish and separate them one from another, (345). "And he cried with a great voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea (verse 3), saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees," signifies the presenting and withholding by the Lord of a nearer and stronger influx into the lower parts, (346). "Till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads," signifies before they are separated who are in truths from good from the Lord, (347).
Verse 4. "And I heard the number of them that were sealed, a hundred and forty and four thousand," signifies all who acknowledge the Lord as the God of heaven and earth, and are in truths of doctrine from the good of love, from Him through the Word, (348). "Sealed out of every tribe 2of Israel" signifies the Lord's heaven and church composed of them, (349).
Verse 5. "Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand," signifies celestial love, which is love to the Lord, and this with all who will be in the New Heaven and the New Church, (350). "Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand," signifies wisdom from celestial love, with them who will be there, (351). "Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand," signifies uses of life, which are of wisdom from that love, with those who will be there, (352).
Verse 6. (Revelation 7:6) "Of the tribe of Asher were sealed twelve thousand," signifies mutual love with them, (353). "Of the tribe of Naphtali were sealed twelve thousand," signifies the perception of use, and what use is with them, (354). "Of the tribe of Manasseh were sealed twelve thousand" signifies the will of serving, and of action, with them, (355).
Verse 7. (Revelation 7:7) "Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand," signifies spiritual love, which is love towards the neighbor, with them, (356). "Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand," signifies the affection of truth from good, from whence comes intelligence with them, (357). "Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand" signifies the good of life with them, (358).
Verse 8. (Revelation 7:8) "Of the tribe of Zebulon were sealed twelve thousand," signifies the conjugial love of good and truth with them, (359). "Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand," signifies the doctrine of good and truth with them, (360). "Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand," signifies the life of truth from good according to doctrine with them, (361).
Verse 9. "After this I saw and behold, a great multitude which no one could number," signifies all the rest who are not of those enumerated, and yet are in the New Heaven and New Church of the Lord, and who constitute the ultimate heaven and the external church, whose quality no one knows but the Lord alone, (363-364). "Of every nation, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues," signifies all in the Christian world, who are in religion from good, and in truths from doctrine, (365). "Standing before the throne and before the Lamb," signifies hearing the Lord and doing the things which He commands, (366). "Clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands," signifies communication and conjunction with the higher heavens, and confession from Divine truths, (367).
Verse 10. "And crying with a great voice, saying, Salvation to our God that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb," signifies acknowledgment from the heart that the Lord is their Savior, (368).
Verse 11. "And all the angels stood round about the throne, and the elders, and the four animals," signifies all in the whole heaven 3(369).
Verse 12. "Saying, Amen" signifies Divine verity and confirmation therefrom, (371). "Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving," signifies the Divine spiritual things of the Lord, (372). "And honor, and power, and might," signifies the Divine celestial things of the Lord, (373). "Be unto our God for ages of ages," signifies these things in the Lord, and from the Lord to eternity, (374). "Amen," signifies the consent of all, (375).
Verse 13. "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, Who are these that are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?"
Verse 14. "And I said unto him, Lord, thou knowest," signifies the desire of knowing and the will of interrogating, and the answer and information, (376). "And he said unto me, These are they that come out of great affliction," signifies that they are those who have been in temptations, and have fought against evils and falsities, (377). "And have washed their robes," signifies who have cleansed their religious principles from the evils of falsity, (378). "And made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb," signifies, and purified them from the falsities of evil by truths, and thus have been reformed by the Lord, (379[1-7]) verse 15. "Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them," signifies that they are in the presence of the Lord, and constantly and faithfully live according to the truths which they receive from Him in His church, (380).
Verse 16. "They shall not hunger any more, neither thirst anymore" signifies that hereafter there shall be no lack of goods and truths with them, (381). "Neither shall the sun fall upon them, nor any heat," signifies that hereafter they shall have no lusts to evil nor to falsity of evil, (382).
Verse 17. "For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them," signifies that the Lord alone will teach them, (383). "And shall lead them to living fountains of waters," signifies, and shall lead by truths of the Word to conjunction with Himself, (384). "And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes" signifies that they shall no longer be in combats against evils and their falsities, and thereby in grief, but in goods and truths, and thence in heavenly joys from the Lord.
THE EXPLANATION
Verse 1. Afterwards I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, signifies the entire heaven now in the effort to execute the Last Judgment on those who were in the world of spirits. Many things now follow concerning the state of the spiritual world just before the Last Judgment, which no one could know but by revelation from the Lord. And since it has been granted me to see in what manner the Last Judgment was executed, and also the changes which preceded it, and the arrangements which followed; I am thereby enabled to relate the signification of all the particulars contained in this and the following chapters.
[2] By "the four angels" is here signified the entire heaven; by "the four corners of the earth" is signified the entire world of spirits, which is in the midst between heaven and hell; for the Last Judgment was executed on those who were in the world of spirits, but not on anyone in heaven, nor anyone in hell. The reason why "the angels" signify heaven is because "an angel," in the highest sense, means the Lord as to the Divine Human, (344); and as heaven is heaven from the Lord, by "the angels" is also signified heaven.
[3] "The four angels" here signify the entire heaven, because they were seen "standing on the four corners of the earth," and by the "four corners" are signified the four quarters. The reason why the above words signify the effort of the entire heaven to execute the Last Judgment is because the Lord, when the judgment was at hand, caused the heavens to draw near over the world of spirits, and by this approach of the heavens, such a change of state in the interiors of the minds of those who were below, was effected, that they saw nothing but terrors before their eyes.
[4] That "corners" signify quarters, and thence "the four corners" all quarters, may appear from the following passages:
Ye shall measure without the city, the corner towards the east, the corner towards the south, the corner towards the west, and the corner towards the north, (Numbers 35:5).
Thou shalt make the boards for the habitation for the corner of the south, and for the corner of the north, (Exodus 26:18, 20, 23).
And a court for the corner of the south, for the corner of the north, for the corner of the west, and for the corner of the east, (Exodus 27:9, 11-13).
The four quarters are also called "the four corners" frequently in Ezekiel, as in chapters 47:8-20; 48:1-30.
[5] Because "corners" signify quarters, therefore they also signify all things, as all things relating to heaven or hell, or of good or truth, as is plain from these passages:
Satan shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, (Revelation 20:8).
I have cut off the nations, and their corners are devastated, (Zephaniah 3:6).
Israel was gathered together as one man, and the corners of all the people stood up, (Judges 20:1-2).
A scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall break in pieces the corners of Moab, (Numbers 24:17).
A day of trumpet and alarm and upon the high corners, (Zephaniah 1:16).
I will cast them out into the farthest corners, (Deuteronomy 32:26).
[6] That "a corner" signifies the ultimate which sustains things higher, as the foundation does a house, and thus also all things, appears from these passages:
He will found in Zion a cornerstone, a precious established foundation, (Isaiah 28:16).
And they shall not take of that stone for a corner, (Jeremiah 51:26).
From Judah shall be a cornerstone, (Zechariah 10:4).
The stone which they rejected is become the head of the corner, (Psalms 118:22; Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17-18).
Footnotes:
1. The original Latin omits "of the sons."
2. The original Latin omits "o, (Revelation 7:1) f the sons."
3. The original Latin omits "And they fell down before the throne upon their faces, and adored God." It is explained in the chapter, (370).
342. CAPUT VII.
POST haec vidi quatuor Angelos stantes super quatuor angulis terrae, retinentes quatuor ventos terrae, ut non flaret ventus super terram, neque super mare, neque super ullam arborem.
2. Et vidi alium Angelum ascendentem ab ortu solis, habentem sigillum Dei vivi; et clamavit voce magna quatuor Angelis, quibus datum est damno afficere terram et mare.
3. Dicens, Ne damno afficiatis terram, neque mare, neque arbores, usque dum signaverimus servos Dei nostri super frontibus illorum.
4. Et audivi numerum signatorum; centum quadraginta quatuor millia signati ex omni tribu (filiorum) Israelis.
5. Ex tribu Jehudae duodecim millia signati: ex tribu Rubenis duodecim millia signati: ex tribu Gadis duodecim millia signati.
6. Ex tribu Ascheris duodecim millia signati: ex tribu Naphtali duodecim millia signati: ex tribu Menassis duodecim millia signati.
7. Ex tribu Simeonis duodecim millia signati: ex tribu Levi duodecim millia signati: ex tribu Isascharis duodecim millia signati.
8. Ex tribu Sebulonis duodecim millia signati: ex tribu Josephi duodecim millia signati: ex tribu Benjaminis duodecim millia signati.
9. Post haec vidi, et ecce turba multa, quam numerare nemo poterat, ex omni gente et tribubus et populis et linguis, stantes coram Throno et coram Agno, induti stolis albis, et palmae in manibus illorum.
10. Et clamantes voce magna, dicentes, Solus Deo nostro sedenti super Throno et Agno.
11. Et omnes Angeli stabant circum Thronum, et Seniores et quatuor Animalia, et ceciderunt coram Throno super facies suas et adoraverunt Deum.
12. Dicentes, Amen, benedictio et gloria et sapientia et gratiarum actio, et honor, et virtus et robur, Deo nostro in saecula saeculorum; amen.
13. Et respondit unus ex Senioribus, dicens mihi, Hi induti stolis albis quinam sunt, et unde Venerunt;
14. Et dixi illi, Domine, tu nostri; et dixit mihi, Hi sunt qui veniunt ex afflictione magna, et laverunt stolas suas, et dealbaverunt stolas suas in sanguine Agni.
15. Propter hoc sunt coram Throno Dei, et serviunt Ipsi die et nocte in Templo Ipsius, et Sedens super Throno habitabit super illis.
16. Non esurient amplius, nec sitient amplius, neque cadet super illos sol, neque ullus aestus.
17. Quoniam Agnus Qui in medio Throni, pascet eos, et deducet eos ad vivos fontes aquarum, et absterget Deus omnem lachrymam ab Oculis illorum.
SENSUS SPIRITUALIS.
CONTENTUM TOTIUS CAPITIS.
IN HOC CAPITE AGITUR DE ILLIS QUI SUNT ET QUI ERUNT IN CAELO CHRISTIANO:
ET PRIMUM DE SEPARATIONE ILLORUM A MALIS (vers. 1-3);
POST HANC, DE ILLIS QUI IN AMORE IN DOMINUM SUNT ET INDE IN SAPIENTIA, EX QUIBUS SUPERIORES CAELI (vers. 4-8);
DEQUE ILLIS QUI IN CHARITATE ET EJUS FIDE A DOMINO SUNT, QUIA PUGNARUNT CONTRA MALA, EX QUIBUS INFERIORES CAELI (vers. 9-17).
CONTENTA 1SINGULORUM VERSUUM.
1."Postea vidi quatuor Angelos stantes super quatuor angulis terrae," significat nunc universum Caelum in conatu ad faciendum Ultimum Judicium (342); "retinentes quatuor ventos terrae ut non flaret ventus super terram, neque super mare neque super ullam arborem," significat influxum propiorem et inde fortiorem in inferiora, ubi boni conjuncti erant malis, a Domino retentum et inhibitum (343).
2,3. "Et vidi alium Angelum ascendentem ex ortu Solis," significat Dominum providentem et moderantem (344); "habentem sigillum Dei vivi," significat Qui unice cognoscit omnes et singulos, et illos a se invicem potest distinguere et separare (345); "et clamavit voce magna quatuor angelis, quibus datum est damno afficere terram et mare, dicens, Ne damno afficiatis terram, neque mare, neque arbores," significat a Domino inhibitionem et retentionem influxus propioris et fortioris in inferiora (346); "usque dum signaverimus servos Dei nostri super frontibus illorum," significat antequam separati sunt qui in veris ex bono a Domino sunt (347).
4. "Et audivi numerum signatorum centum quadraginta quatuor millia, significat omnes qui Dominum pro Deo Caeli et Terrae agnoscunt, et in veris Doctrinae ex bono amoris ab Ipso per Verbum sunt (348); "signati ex omni Tribu (filiorum) Israelis," significat Caelum et Ecclesiam Domini ab illis (349).
5. "Ex tribu Jehudae duodecim millia signati," significat Amorem caelestem, qui est Amor in Dominum, et hunc apud omnes qui in Novo Caelo et in Nova Ecclesia erunt (350); "ex tribu Rubenis duodecim millia signati," significat Sapientiam ex amore Caelesti, apud illos qui ibi erunt (351); "ex tribu Gadis duodecim millia signati," significat Usus vitae, qui sunt sapientiae ex illo amore, apud illos qui ibi erunt (352).
6. "Ex tribu Ascheris duodecim millia signati," significat Amorem mutuum, apud illos (353); "ex tribu Naphtali duodecim millia signati," significat Perceptionem usus et quia usus, apud illos (354); "ex tribu Menassis duodecim millia signati," significat Voluntatem inserviendi et Actus, apud illos (355).
7. "Ex tribu Simeonis duodecim millia signati," significat Amorem spiritualem, qui est Amor erga proximum, apud illos (356); "ex tribu Levi duodecim millia signati," significat Affectionem veri ex bono ex quo intelligentia, apud illos (357); "ex tribu Isascharis duodecim millia signati," significat Bonum vitae, apud illos (358).
8. "Ex tribu Sebulonis duodecim millia signati," significat Amorem conjugialem boni et veri, apud illos (359); "ex tribu Josephi duodecim millia signati," significat Doctrinam boni et veri, apud illos (360); "ex tribu Benjaminis duodecim millia signati," significat Vitam veri ex bono secundum doctrinam, apud illos (361).
9. Post haec vidi, et ecce turba multa, quam numerare nemo poterat," significat omnes reliquos qui non ex recensitis sunt, et tamen in Novo Caelo et in Nova Ecclesia Domini sunt, et sunt qui Caelum ultimum et Ecclesiam externam faciunt, quorum quale nemo cognoscit quam Solus Dominus (363, 364); "ex omni gente et tribubus et populis et linguis," significat omnes in Christiano Orbe, qui in religione ex bono sunt et in veris ex doctrina (365); "stantes coram Throno et coram Agno," significat audientes Dominum et facientes quae praecipit (366); "induti stolis albis et palmae in manibus (illorum)," significat Communicationem et Conjunctionem cum Caelis superioribus, et confessionem ex Divinis veris (367).
10. "Et clamantes voce magna et dicentes, Salus Deo nostro sedenti super Throno et Agno," significat Agnitionem ex corde quod Dominus sit Salvator illorum (368).
11. "Et omnes Angeli stabant circum Thronum, et Seniores et quatuor Animalia," significat omnes in universo Caelo(, audientes et facientes quae Dominus praecipit) (369); ("et ceciderunt coram Throno super facies suas, et adoraverunt Deum," significat humiliationem Cordis eorum, et ex humiliatione adorationem Domini) (370).
12. "Dicentes, Amen," significat Divinam Veritatem, et ex illa confirmationem (371); "benedictio et gloria et sapientia et gratiarum actio," significat Divina Spiritualia Domini (373); et honor et virtus et robur," significat Divina Caelestia Domini (373); "Deo nostro in saecula saeculorum," significat illa in Domino et a Domino in aeternum (374); "Amen," significat consensum omnium (375).
13, 14. "Et respondit unus ex Senioribus, dicens mihi, Hi induti stolis albis quinam sunt, et unde venerunt; et dixi illi, Domine, tu nosti," significat desiderium sciendi et voluntatem interrogandi, ac responsum et informationem (376).; "et dixit, hi sunt qui veniunt ex afflictione magna," significat quod sint qui in tentationibus fuerunt, et pugnarunt contra mala et falsa (377); "et laverunt stolas suas," significat et qui mundaverunt religiosa sua a malis falsi (378); "et dealbaverunt stolas suas in sanguine Agni," significat et purificaverunt illa a falsis mali per vera, et sic a Domino reformati sunt (379).
15. "Propter hoc 2sunt coram Throno Dei, et serviunt Ipsi die et nocte in Templo Ipsius, et Sedens super Throno habitabit super illis," significat in praesentia Domini sint, ac constanter et fideliter vivant secundum vera quae recipiunt ab Ipso in Ecclesia Ipsius (380).
16. "Non esurient amplius nec sitient amplius," significat quod posthac non deficient illis bona et vera (381); "neque cadet super illos sol neque ullus aestus," significat quod posthac illis non concupiscentiae ad malum neque ad falsum mali (382).
17. "Quoniam Agnus Qui in medio Throni pascet illos," significat quod Solus Dominus illos docebit (383); "et deducet ad vivos fontes aquarum," significat et ducet per vera Verbi ad conjunctionem Secum (384); "et absterget Deus omnem lachrymam a oculis eorum," significat quod non amplius in pugnis contra mala et eorum falsa, et sic non in doloribus erunt, sed in bonis et veris, et inde in gaudiis caelestibus a Domine (385).
EXPLICATIO.
(Vers. 1.) "Postea vidi quatuor Angelos stantes super quatuor angulis terrae," significat nunc universum Caelum in conatu ad faciendum Ultimum Judicium - super illos qui in Mundo spirituum erant. Sequuntur nunc plura de statu mundi spiritualis proximo ante Ultimum Judicium, quae nemo scire potest nisi per revelationem a Domino; et quia mihi datum est videre quomodo Ultimum Judicium peractum est, et quoque mutationes quae praecesserunt, et ordinationes quae secutae sunt, possum inde referre, quae in hoc capite et quae in sequentibus per omnia ibi significantur. Hic per "quatuor Angelos" significatur Universum Caelum; per "quatuor angulos terrae" significatur Universus Mundus spirituum, qui inter Caelum et Infernum medius est; super illos enim qui in Mundo spirituum erant, factum est Ultimum Judicium, non autem super aliquem in Caelo, nec super aliquem in Inferno: quod per "Angelos" significetur Caelum, est quia per "Angelum" in supremo Sensu intelligitur Dominus quoad Divinum Humanum (344), et quia Caelum est Caelum a Domino, per "Angelos" etiam significatur Caelum: quod per "quatuor Angelos" hic significetur universum Caelum, est quia visi sunt "stare super quatuor angulis terrae;" et per "quatuor angulos" significantur quatuor plagae. Quod significetur quod universum Caelum nunc in conatu ad faciendum Ultimum Judicium esset, est quia Dominus, cum instabat Judicium, fecit appropinquare Caelos super Mundum spirituum, et per appropinquationem Caelorum facta est talis mutatio status interiorum quae mentis sunt apud illos qui infra, ut non viderint nisi terrores coram oculis. Quod "anguli" significent plagas, et inde "quatuor anguli" omnes plagas constare potest a sequentibus locis:
"Metiemini extra urbem, Angulum versus ortum, Angulum versus meridiem, Angulum versus occidentem, et Angulum versus septentrionem," (Numeri 35:5);
"Facies asseres pro Habitaculo pro Angulo meridiei, et pro Angulo septentrionis ejus," (Exodus 26:18, 20, 23);
"Et Atrium ad Angulum meridiei, ad Angulum septentrionis, ad Angulum occidentis, et ad Angulum orientis," (Exodus 27:9, 11-13);
Quatuor Plagae etiam vocantur "quatuor Anguli" saepius apud Ezechielem (ut 47:18, 20; 48).
Quoniam "anguli" significant plagas, ideo etiam significant omnia, prout omnia Caeli aut Inferni, seu boni aut veri, quod patet ab his:
Satanas "exibit ad seducendum gentes quae in quatuor Angulis terrae," (Apocalypsis 20:8);
"Exscindam gentes, et devastabuntur Anguli earum," (Zephanias 3:6);
"Congregatus est Israel ut vir unus, et constiterunt Anguli omnis populi," (Judicum 20:1-2); 3
"Surget sceptrum ex Israele, quod conteret Angulos Moabi," (Numeri 24:17);
"Dies buccinae et clangoris super Angulos altos," (Zephanias 1:16);
"In extremos Angulos ejiciam illos," (Deuteronomius 32:26).
Quod "angulus" significet ultimum quod sustentat superiora, sicut fundamentum domum, et sic quoque omnia, patet ex his:
"Fundabit in Sione lapidem Anguli, pretii fundationis fundatae, (Esajas 28:16); 4
"Non sument ex eo lapidem pro Angulo," (Jeremias 51:26); 5
"Ex Jehudah erit Lapis Angularis," (Sacharias 10:4);
"Lapis quem rejecerunt factus est in caput Anguli," (Psalm 118:22; 6Matthaeus 21:42; Marcus 12:10; 7Luca 20:17-18).
Footnotes:
1. CONTENTA pro "CONTENTUM"
2. hoc pro "haec"
3. 1, 2 pro "1"
4. xxviii. pro "xxxviii."
5. 26 pro "16"
6. 22 pro "21"
7. xii. pro "xiii."