4. As long as the mind confines itself to the sense of the letter alone one cannot possibly see that its contents are such. Take for instance these first sections of Genesis: From the sense of the letter the only subject matter people recognize is the creation of the world, and the Garden of Eden which is called Paradise, and Adam as the first man to be created. Who thinks anything different? The fact that these things contain arcana however which have never been revealed up to now will be sufficiently clear from what follows - especially clear from the fact that the subject of Genesis 1 is, in the internal sense, the NEW CREATION of man, that is, in general his REGENERATION, and in particular the Most Ancient Church. And the subject is presented in such a way that not the smallest part of any expression fails to have a representation, carry a spiritual meaning, or embody something within itself.

24. And from the seven spirits. That this signifies the Divine in heaven, is evident from the signification of seven, as being what is full, and thence all, and as being spoken of the holy Divine things which go forth from the Lord (concerning this see above, n. 20); and from the signification of spirits, as being those of whom heaven consists. For they are all called spirits of God, because the spirit of God is the proceeding Divine, or the Divine truth united to the Divine good, in heaven and in the church (concerning this see Arcana Coelestia 9818); and the proceeding Divine, or Divine truth united to Divine good, forms and creates an angel, and thus makes him what he is according to the nature and extent of his reception (as may be seen in the work, Heaven and Hell. n. 7-12). From these considerations it is clear, that the seven spirits of whom more will be said in the following pages, do not mean seven spirits, but all those who are in heaven; just as the seven churches do not mean seven churches, but all who are in truths from good, or who belong to the church (concerning this see above, n. 20). These things being understood, the mystery becomes clear as to what is meant by Jehovah God in the Word; for by Jehovah is meant the Divine as Being (Esse), and by God, the Divine Manifestation (Existere) in heaven. The reason why the Divine which is meant by God, is the Divine Manifestation (Existere) in heaven is, because the Divine in heaven is in many; therefore, in the Hebrew language, God is called Elohim, in the plural, and therefore the angels are called gods, not that they are gods, but because the Divine of the Lord, which is in them, is meant by God. (That in the Word the Lord is called Jehovah from Being (Esse) or Essence, and God from Manifestation (Existere) or Existence, may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 300, 3910, 6905. That the Divine, as Being (Esse) also is Divine Good, and that the Divine Manifestation (Existere) is Divine Truth, see n. 3061, 6280, 6880, 6905, 10579; and in general, that good is being (esse), and truth is the manifestation (existere) thence derived, see n. 5002. That angels are called gods from the reception of Divine truth going forth from the Divine good of the Lord, see n. 4295, 4402, 7268, 7873, 8301, 8192. And that Divine truth united to Divine good in heaven, is called in one phrase Divine truth, may be seen in the work, Heaven and Hell 13, 133, 144.)