155. These words, 'a rib was built into a woman', conceal, inmostly, more than anyone can possibly know from the letter. For the Word of the Lord is such that inmostly it focuses on the Lord Himself and His kingdom. This is the source of all the life of the Word. Here likewise it is the heavenly marriage that is focused inmostly. Such is the nature of the heavenly marriage that it exists within the proprium, and such is its nature that a proprium given life by the Lord is called the Lord's Bride, and also Wife. The proprium given life in this way by the Lord is enabled to perceive every good that stems from love, and every truth of faith. It therefore possesses all wisdom and intelligence coupled with an indescribable happiness.

[2] But the nature of this proprium - the Lord's Bride and Wife - that has been given life cannot be described in a few words. Let just this be said, that angels perceive that they live from the Lord, and yet when not reflecting on the matter they have no other idea than that they live from themselves. But there is a universal affection by which they sense that a change has taken place when they retreat only slightly from the good that stems from love, or from the truth of faith. Consequently they experience a peace and happiness that is indescribable when the general perception exists with them that they live from the Lord. It is this proprium too that is meant in Jeremiah, where it is said,

Jehovah has created a new thing on the earth, a woman will surround a man. Jeremiah 31:12.

It is the heavenly marriage that is meant in this quotation too, the 'woman' meaning the proprium given life by the Lord. The woman is said 'to surround', because the proprium by nature surrounds, just as a rib made flesh surrounds the heart.

5268. 'And the seven thin and bad cows coming up after them are seven years' means a state when falsity attacking the interior natural is multiplied. This is clear from the meaning of 'cows' in the genuine sense as truths within the interior natural, dealt with in 5198, 5265, but in the contrary sense as falsities there, dealt with in 5202, so that the former are called 'good cows', but the latter 'thin and bad'; from the meaning of 'coming up' as an advance made towards things that are interior, dealt with in 5202; and from the meaning of 'years' as states, dealt with just above in 5265. Even as 'seven' means that which is holy, so in the contrary sense it means that which is unholy. For most things in the Word have a contrary meaning as well, the reason for this being that when the selfsame things as come into being in heaven pass downwards in the direction of hell, they are converted into things of an opposite nature and become in actual fact their opposites. Consequently things that are holy, meant by 'seven', are made in that place into those that are unholy.

[2] Let references to the number seven found solely in the Book of Revelation serve to prove that 'seven' is used to mean both holy things and unholy ones. The following are places where holy things are meant,

John to the seven Churches: Grace and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne. Revelation 1:4.

These things says He who has the seven spirits and the seven stars. Revelation 3:1.

From the throne there were coming seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. Revelation 4:5.

I saw on the right hand of Him sitting on the throne a book written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Revelation 5:1.

I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne, a Lamb standing as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Revelation 5:6.

To the seven angels were given seven trumpets. Revelation 8:1.

In the days of the voice of the seventh angel the mystery of God was to be fulfilled. Revelation 10:7.

Out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in linen, white and splendid, and girded around their breasts with golden girdles. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls. Revelation 15:6-7.

[3] The fact that 'seven' in the contrary sense means things that are unholy is evident from the following places, also in the Book of Revelation,

Behold, a great fiery-red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven jewels. Revelation 12:3.

I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, which had seven heads and ten horns, and on its horns ten jewels, but on its heads a blasphemous name. Revelation 13:1.

I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names; and it had seven heads and ten horns. Here is the understanding of this - if anyone has the wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; and they are seven kings. The beast which was, and is not, he is the eighth king, and is of the seven, and is going away into perdition. Revelation 17:3, 7, 9-11.