370. I heard the third animal, saying, signifies out of the inmost heaven from the Lord. This is evident from what has been said above (n. 353, 362), where there are like words. The four animals or four cherubim spoke one after another because the things they said correspond by opposites; for the first cherub "was like a lion," the second "like a calf," the third "had a face like a man," and the fourth "was like a flying eagle;" and a "lion" signifies power (See above, n. 278); a "calf" signifies good n. 279; a "man" wisdom n. 280; and an "eagle" intelligence n. 281; consequently when the first animal, which was like a lion, spoke, the first state of those who are of the church is described, that in that state there then was combat from Divine truth (See above, n. 355-359), for "a lion" signifies the power that belongs to Divine truth.

When the second animal, which was like a calf, spoke, the second state of those who are of the church is described, namely, that good was destroyed (See n. 361-367), for a "calf" signifies the good of the church. When the third animal spoke, which had a face like a man, the third state of those who are of the church is described, which was that there was no longer any truth because there was no good, consequently that there was no longer any wisdom, for all wisdom is of truth from good, and wisdom is signified by "man." And when the fourth animal, which was like a flying eagle, spoke, the fourth state of those who are of the church is described, namely, that they were in evils and in falsities therefrom, thus in no intelligence, for intelligence is signified by "an eagle." From this it is clear that the four animals spoke in order according to correspondences, but from opposites.