335. (5:11) And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, the animals, and the elders. That this signifies acknowledgment, and thence glorification of the Lord by the angels of the lower heavens, is evident from what has been said above (n. 322), namely, that in this order they acknowledged and glorified the Lord; first the angels of the higher heavens, afterwards the angels of the lower heavens, and lastly those who are below the heavens; for by the four animals and the four-and-twenty elders who first glorified, are signified the angels of the higher heavens (see above, n. 322). But by those now mentioned, who were round about the throne and round about the animals and the elders, are meant the angels of the lower heavens; and by everything created that is in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth and in the sea (concerning which see just below, verse 13), are meant those who are below the heavens. That the angels of the lower heavens are meant here, is also clear from this fact, that they are said to be round about the throne, the animals, and the elders, and by round about in the Word is meant what is in the more remote borders, thus what is distant; but where heaven is treated of, what is distant in degree of intelligence and wisdom is meant, thus what is below; for the heavens are higher and lower, distinguished from each other according to the reception of Divine truth and good, thus according to degrees of intelligence and wisdom. (But concerning the degrees by which the heavens are distant from one another, and, consequently, the angels who are in them, see the work concerning Heaven and Hell 33, 34, 38, 39, 208, 209, 211, 425.) What is below according to these degrees, is what is signified by around; the same is also signified elsewhere in the Word by around, circuit, from afar, distant, extremities, and the like.