As with most common verbs, the spiritual meaning of “crying” or “crying out” (meaning a shout or wail, not weeping) is highly dependent on context. Who is crying out? To whom? Why? In most cases, though, crying has to do with speaking falsely, and of the emotions arising from the conflict between truth and falsity. When people cry out in distress it is most often an indication that they are being overwhelmed by false ideas. In other cases – especially regarding more joyful cries – it is a celebration of the triumph of truth.

390. Verse 9. And when he had opened the fifth seal, signifies still further prediction, as is evident from the signification of "opening a seal of a book" as being to reveal things hidden and to predict things future (of which see above, n. 352, 361, 369, 378).