303. Who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof? signifies, is there anyone there such as to know and to perceive the states of life of all? This is evident from the signification of "Who is worthy?" as being, is there anyone who has merit and righteousness, and who has omniscience, thus whether there is any such? That "worthy," in reference to the Lord, signifies merit and righteousness, which belong to Him alone, see above n. 293. And that omniscience is signified is clear from what follows, where it is said, "the Lamb took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne, and opened it;" for "right hand" signifies omniscience and omnipotence (See above, n. 297); it is evident also from the signification of the "book," as being the states of life of all in general and in particular (of which see just above, n. 299); and also from the signification of "to open the book and to loose the seals thereof," as being to know and perceive; for when the "book" signifies the states of life of all, "to open and to loose the seals" signifies to know and perceive those states; for knowing and perceiving are predicated of the state of life, but opening and loosening seals relate to a book; thus the words in the internal sense conform to the things signified by the words in the sense of the letter, for they correspond; therefore, "to open" signifies to know, and "to loose the seals" signifies to perceive what is altogether hidden from others (as above, n. 300).

306. Verse 4 (Revelation 5:4). And I wept much, that no one was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon, signifies grief of heart on account of the disorder and destruction of all things, if no one could know, recognize and explore all men, and all things pertaining to men. This is evident from the signification of "weeping," as being to grieve; therefore "to weep much" means to grieve from the heart, or grief of heart; that this is on account of the disorder and destruction of all things will be seen presently. Also from the signification of "no one was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon," as being that no one is such as to be able to know the states of life of all in general, and of each in particular (of which see above, n. 303, 304); or, what is the same, that no one is such as to be able to know, recognize, and explore all men, and all things pertaining to men. In regard to grief of heart (which is signified by "I wept much"), on account of the disorder and destruction of all things if no one is such as to be able to know, recognize, and explore all men, and all things pertaining to men, I will briefly explain. That the angelic heaven may exist and subsist all things therein must be in order; for unless heaven were in order it would be dissipated; for the angelic heaven is divided into societies, and the societies are arranged according to the affections of truth and good, and these are manifold and numberless. This arranging depends solely on the infinite wisdom of the One who knows all things, recognizes all things, and explores all things, and thence disposes and arranges all things. This One is the Lord alone; therefore it is said in the Word, that to Him belongeth judgment; and that He has power in the heavens and on the earth; and here that "He took the book and loosed the seals thereof." Moreover, unless heaven were in order, the world, that is, men on the earth, could not exist and subsist, since the world depends upon heaven and its influx into the spiritual and rational things of men; in a word, all things would perish. (But this may be better comprehended from what is set forth in the work on Heaven and Hell, also in the little work on The Last Judgment, and in fact, from everything there if read with attention. ) It is said to know, to recognize, and to explore, because this is signified by "to open the book, to read, and to look thereon;" for the "book" signifies all things with man, spirit, and angel, or all the states of their life in respect to love and faith; therefore "to open the book" signifies to know these things; "to read the book" signifies to recognize them, and "to look upon the book" signifies to explore them.