468.“两脚像火柱”表主的属世神性的神性之爱，这爱支撑万物。这一点也可从前面的解释（49节）明显可知，在那里，经上论到人子说“祂的脚好像在炉中锻炼发光的铜”。祂的脚之所以看似“火柱”，是因为主的属世神性（它本身是主在世时所披上的神性人）自永恒就支撑祂的神性，如同身体支撑灵魂，同样如同圣言的属世之义支撑其属灵和属天之义；关于这个主题，可参看《新耶路撒冷教义之圣经篇》（27-49节）。“脚”表示属世层（参看49节）；“柱”表示支撑（191节）。“火”表示爱，因为属灵之火并不是别的什么；因此，在敬拜中惯用的祷告是“祈求天上的火，也就是属天之爱点燃（敬拜者的）内心”。 火与爱之间存在对应关系，这一点从以下事实可以得知：人因爱而逐渐温暖，因爱的缺乏而逐渐冷淡，产生生命之热的，不是别的，唯有这两种意义上的爱。对应的根源来自两轮太阳，一轮在天上，是纯粹的爱；另一轮在世上，是纯粹的火；一切属灵之物和属世之物之间的对应关系也源于此。
正因“火”表示神性之爱，所以摩西在何烈山上看到耶和华在燃烧的荆棘中（出埃及记3:1-3）；祂在火中降临西乃山（申命记4:36）；会幕里的七个灯台的灯每晚都点着，以便在耶和华面前永远燃烧（利未记24:2-4）；祭坛上必有常常烧着的火，不可熄灭（利未记6:13）；他们从坛上取火放在香炉里，并把香放在火上（利未记16:12，13 ；民数记16:46，47）；耶和华夜间在火柱中在以色列人面前行走（出埃及记13:21，22）；夜间有火在居所上（出埃及记40:38 ；诗篇105:39；以赛亚书4:5，6）；有火从天降下烧尽祭坛上的燔祭，作为悦纳的一个迹象（利未记9:24；列王纪上18:38）；燔祭被称为献给耶和华的火祭，是献给耶和华为馨香的火祭（出埃及记29:18；利未记1:9，13，17；2:2，9-11；3:5，16；4:31，35；5:12；6:18；21:6；民数记28:2；申命记18:1）；主的眼睛看似火焰（启示录1:14；2:18；19:12；但以理书10:5，6）；七盏火灯在宝座前燃烧（启示录4:5）。由此明显可知，有油之灯和无油之灯分别表示什么（马太福音25:1-11）；“油”表示火，因而表示爱。
此外还有许多地方。“火”在反面意义上表示地狱之爱，这一点从圣言中的许多地方明显看出来，因数量太多，不便引用。关于这个主题的相关内容，可参看伦敦出版的《天堂与地狱》）（566-575节）一书。
468. And his feet like pillars of fire. This symbolizes the Lord's Divinity on the natural plane in respect to His Divine love, which sustains all things.
This, too, is apparent, from the explanation in no. 49 above, where it is said of the Son of Man that "His feet were like fine brass, as though fired in a furnace."
The angel's feet looked like pillars of fire because the Lord's Divinity on the natural plane - which fundamentally is the Divine humanity that He took on in the world - supports His Divinity from eternity, as the body does the soul, and likewise as the Word's natural meaning supports its spiritual and celestial meanings, on which subject see The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem Regarding the Sacred Scripture, nos. 27-49. To be shown that feet symbolize something natural, see no. 49, and a pillar something that supports, no. 191.
Fire symbolizes love because spiritual fire is nothing else. Therefore it is customary in worship to pray that heavenly fire, that is to say, heavenly love, may kindle the worshipers' hearts. People know that there is a correspondence between fire and love from the fact that a person grows warm with love, and cold with its loss. Nothing else produces vital warmth but love, in both senses. The origin of these correspondences is owing to the existence of two suns, one in the heavens, which is pure love, and the other in the world, which is nothing but fire. This, too, is the reason for the correspondence between all spiritual and natural things.
[2] Since fire symbolizes Divine love, therefore on Mount Horeb Jehovah appeared to Moses in a bush on fire (Exodus 3:1-3). Moreover He descended upon Mount Sinai in fire (Deuteronomy 4:36). For this reason, too, the seven lamps of the lampstand in the Tabernacle were lit every evening, so as to burn before Jehovah (Leviticus 24:2-4). For the same reason fire burned continually on the altar and was not extinguished (Leviticus 6:13), and the priests took fire from the altar in their censers and burned incense (Leviticus 16:12-13).
Therefore Jehovah went before the children of Israel by night in a pillar of fire (Exodus 13:21-22). Fire from heaven consumed the burnt offerings on the altar, as a sign of His being well pleased (Leviticus 9:24, 1 Kings 18:38). The burnt offerings were called offerings by fire to Jehovah, and offerings by fire for a restful aroma to Jehovah (Exodus 29:18; Leviticus 1:9, 13, 17; 2:2, 9-11; 3:5, 16; 4:35; 5:12; 7:30; 21:6; Numbers 28:2; Deuteronomy 18:1).
Therefore in the book of Revelation the Lord's eyes looked like a flame of fire (Revelation 1:14; 2:18; 19:12, cf. Daniel 10:5-6). And seven lamps of fire burned before the throne (Revelation 4:5).
It is apparent from this what lamps containing oil and lamps without oil symbolize (Matthew 25:1-11). The oil means fire, and thus love.
And so on in many other places.
In an opposite sense fire symbolizes hellish love, and this is plain from so many passages in the Word that it would be impossible to cite them all because of their number. See something on the subject in the book Heaven and Hell, published in London, nos. 566-575.
468. 'And. His feet as pillars of fire' signifies the Lord's Natural Divine as to Divine Love, which supports all things. This also is plain from the things expounded above (49) where it is said of the Son of Man that 'His feet were like burnished bronze as if burned in a furnace.' The reason that His feet were seen as pillars of fire is because the Lord's Natural Divine, which in itself is the Divine Human that He took on in the world, supports His Divine from eternity as the body supports the soul, and in like manner as the natural sense of the Word supports the spiritual and celestial senses thereof, concerning which THE DOCTRINE OF THE NEW JERUSALEM CONCERNING THE SACRED SCRIPTURE 27-49) may be seen. That 'feet' signify the natural may be seen (49), and a 'pillar' [signifies] a support (191). 'Fire' signifies love, because spiritual fire is nothing else; and therefore it is customary in worship to pray that heavenly fire, that is, heavenly love may kindle the hearts [of the worshippers]. That there is a correspondence between fire and love may be recognised from the fact that a man grows warm as the result of love, and becomes cold as the result of the deprivation of it, there being nothing else that produces vital heat but love in either [a good or bad] sense. The origin of correspondences is derived from the two suns, the one in the which is pure love, and the other in the world, which is pure fire. Consequently there is also a correspondence of all spiritual and natural things.
[2] Since 'fire' signifies Divine Love, therefore:
Jehovah was seen by Moses upon Mount Horeb in a bush in fire, Exodus 3:1-3.
And He came down upon Mount Sinai in fire. Deuteronomy 4:36.
And therefore:
The seven lamps of the lampstand in the tabernacle used to be kindled every evening, that they might burn before Jehovah. Leviticus 24:2-4.
Also that the fire used to burn continually upon the altar, and was not extinguished. Leviticus 6:13.
And that they used to take fire from off the altar in censers, and offer incense. Leviticus 16:12-13; Numbers 16:46-47 [H.B. Numbers 17:11-12].
That Jehovah went before the sons of Israel by night in a pillar of fire. Exodus 13:21-22.
That over the dwelling there would be fire by night. Exodus 40:38; Psalms 105:39; Isaiah 4:5-6.
That fire out of heaven consumed the burnt offerings upon the altar, as a token of good pleasure. Leviticus 9:24; 1 Kings 18:38.
That the burnt offerings were called offerings mode by fire unto Jehovah, and offerings made by fire of an odour of rest unto Jehovah, Exodus 29:18; Leviticus 1:9, 13, 17; 2:2, 9-11; 3:5, 16; 4:31, 35; 5:12; 7:30; 21:6; Numbers 28:2; Deuteronomy 18:1.
That the Lord's eyes were seen as aflame of fire. Revelation 1:14; 2:18; 19:12; Daniel 10:5-6.
That seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne. Revelation 4:5.
Consequently it is plain what is signified by 'the lamps with oil and without oil.' (Matthew 25:1-11). By 'oil' is understood fire, and thus love; besides in many other places. That 'fire' in the opposite sense signifies infernal love is plain from so many places in the Word that it is needless to quote them on account of their abundance. Something may be seen about this in the work concerning HEAVEN AND HELL published at London (566-575).
468. And his feet as pillars of fire, signifies the Lord's Divine natural as to the Divine love, which sustains all things. This also appears from the explanation above, (49[1-8]) where it is said of the Son of man, that "His feet were like fine brass, as if glowing in a furnace." The reason why His feet seemed like "pillars of fire" is, because the Lord's Divine natural, which in itself is the Divine Human which He assumed in the world, sustains His Divine from eternity, as the body does the soul, and in like manner as the natural sense of the Word sustains its spiritual and celestial sense; on which subject see The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem concerning the Sacred Scripture, (27-49). That "the feet" signify the natural, may be seen, (49[1-8]) and that "a pillar" signifies support, (191). "Fire" signifies love, because spiritual fire is nothing else; therefore it is customary in worship to pray, that "heavenly fire may kindle the heart;" that is, celestial love. That there is a correspondence between fire and love, may be known from this: that man grows warm from love, and grows cold from the privation thereof, there being nothing else that produces vital heat, but love in both senses. The origin of correspondences is from two suns, one in the heavens which is pure love, and the other in the world which is pure fire; hence, also, is derived the correspondence between all spiritual and natural things.
[2] Since "fire" signifies the Divine love, therefore:
Jehovah was seen by Moses upon Mount Horeb in a bush on fire, (Exodus 3:1-3).
And He came down on Mount Sinai in fire, (Deuteronomy 4:36).
And therefore:
The seven lamps of the lampstand in the tabernacle were kindled every evening, that they might burn before Jehovah, (Leviticus 24:2-4).
Also that the fire burned perpetually upon the altar, and was not extinguished, (Leviticus 6:13).
And that they took fire from the altar in the censers, and offered incense, (Leviticus 16:12-13; Numbers 16:46-47).
That Jehovah went before the sons of Israel by night in a pillar of fire, (Exodus 13:21-22).
That there was fire by night upon the habitation, (Exodus 40:38; Psalms 105:39; Isaiah 4:5-6).
That fire from heaven consumed the burnt-offerings upon the altar, as a sign of good pleasure, (Leviticus 9:24; 1 Kings 18:38).
That the burnt-offerings were called offerings by fire to Jehovah, and the offerings by fire for an odor of rest to Jehovah, (Exodus 29:18; Leviticus 1:9, 11, 13, 17; 2:2, 9-11; 3:5, 16; 4:31, 35; 5:12; 6:18; 21:6; Numbers 28:2; Deuteronomy 18:1).
That the eyes of the Lord were seen as a flame of fire, (Revelation 1:14; 2:18; 19:12; Daniel 10:5-6).
That the seven lamps of fire burned before the throne, (Revelation 4:5).
Hence it is manifest what is signified by:
The lamps with oil and without oil, (Matthew 25:1-11).
By "the oil" is meant fire, and thus love. Besides many other places. That "fire" in the opposite sense signifies infernal love, is manifest from so many places in the Word, that it is needless to adduce them on account of their abundance: see something on this subject in the work on "Heaven and Hell," published at London, (566-575).
468. "Et Pedes Ejus sicut columnae ignis," significat Divinum Naturale Domini quoad Divinum Amorem, quod sustentat omnia. Hoc etiam patet ex explicatis supra (49), ubi de Filio Hominis dicitur, quod "Pedes Ipsius essent similes chalcolibano tanquam in camino igniti." Causa, quod Pedes Ipsius visi Sint sicut "columnae igni," est quia Divinum Naturale Domini, quod in se est Divinum Humanum quod in mundo Suscepit, sustentat Divinum Ipsius ab aeterno. Sicut corpus animam, et similiter sicut Sensus naturalis Verbi Sustentat Sensum spiritualem et caelestem ejus, de quo videatur Doctrina Novae Hierosolymae de Scriptura Sacra (27-49). Quod "pedes" significent naturale, videatur (49), et "columna" sustentaculum (191); quod "Ignis" significet amorem, est quia ignis spiritualis non aliud est; quare in solenni cultu oratur, ut "Ignis caelestis accendat corda," hoc est, amor caelestis. Quod sit correspondentia inter ignem et amorem, noscitur ex eo, quod homo incalescat ex amore, ac frigescat ex deprivatione ejus; non aliud est quod facit calorem vitalem, quam amor in utroque sensu. Origo correspondentiarum est ex duobus Solibus, uno in Caelis qui est purus Amor, et alter in Mundo qui est purus Ignis; inde quoque est correspondentia omnium spiritualium et naturalium. Quoniam "Ignis" significat Amorem Divinum, ideo "Jehovah visus est Mosi super Monte Chorebo in rubo in Igne, (Exodus 3:1-3);
Et descendit super montem Sinai in Igne, (Deuteronomius 4:36).
Et ideo Septem lucernae Candelabri in Tabernaculo quavis vespera accendebantur, ut arderent coram Jehovah, (Leviticus 24:2-4).
Tum, quod Ignis jugiter arderet super Altari, et non exstingueretur, (Leviticus 6:6 (B.A. 13));
Quodque ex Altari acciperent Ignem in thuribulis et suffirent, (Leviticus [NCBSP: 16:]12-13; Numeri 17:11-12 (B.A. 16:46-47));
Quod Jehovah iverit coram filiis Israelis noctu in Columna Ignis, (Exodus 13:21-22);
Quod super Habitaculo esset Ignis noctu, (Exodus 40:38; Psalm 105:39; Esaias 4:5-6); 1
Quod Ignis e Caelo consumpserit holocausta super Altari, in signum beneplaciti, (Leviticus 9:24; 1 Regnum 18:38);
Quod holocausta vocata sint Ignita Jehovae, et Ignita odoris quietis Jehovae, (Exodus 29:18; Leviticus 1:9, 13, 17; 2:2, 9-11; 3:5, 16; 4:31, 35; 25:12; 6:11 (B.A. 18); 321:6; Numeri 28:2; Deuteronomius 18:1); 4
Quod oculi Domini visi sint sicut Flamma ignis, (Apocalypsis 1:14; 52:18; 19:12; 6Daniel 10:5-6);
Quod septem Lampades ignis arderent coram Throno, (Apocalypsis 4:5).
Inde patet, quid significatur per Lampades cum oleo et absque oleo, (Matthaeus 25:1-11);
per "oleum" intelligitur ignis, et sic amor; praeter multis aliis in locis. Quod "ignis" in opposito sensu significet amorem infernalem, patet a tam multis locis illi Verbo, ut vanum sit illa adducere propter copiam; videatur aliquid de eo in Opere de Caelo et Inferno Londini edito (566-575).
Footnotes:
1. 39 pro "37, 39"
2. 31, 35 pro "15"
3. 11 pro "30"
4. xviii. pro "xvii."
5. 14 pro "13"
6. xix. pro "xv."