607. And lifted up his hand to heaven, signifies bearing witness before the angels respecting the state of the church. This is evident from the signification of "to lift up the hand to heaven," as being bearing witness before the angels; that it means respecting the state of the church is evident from what follows. That bearing witness before the angels is what is here signified by "lifting up the hand to heaven" may be concluded from this, that bearing witness is expressed by raising the hands to heaven; also from this, that "he sware by Him that liveth unto the ages of the ages that time shall be no more," as immediately follows, and "to swear" is an expression of bearing witness, and the "time that shall be no more" means the state of the church.