505. And they were cast upon the earth.- That this signifies progression towards the lower parts, where also the evil were, is evident from the signification of being cast upon the earth, said in reference to the hail and fire mingled with blood, for this took place when the first angel sounded, as denoting to proceed towards the lower parts, where the evil were gathered together, with whom also were some of the good. That progression towards the lower parts is signified, is because the changes and desolations, signified by the third part of the trees and all the green grass being burnt up, took place progressively towards the lower parts where the evil were, as stated above. The reason why these lower parts are here meant by the earth is, that those things were seen by John when he was in the spirit, that is, when he was in the spiritual world. For a man's spirit when its sight is opened to him, sees those things which are in the spiritual world, where there are mountains, hills, and valleys; there upon the mountains and hills are the angelic heavens, but those who have not yet been taken up into heaven are in the valleys below, where therefore the evil mingled with the good were at this time; therefore those valleys, which were below the mountains and hills, are here meant by the earth. Consequently by being cast upon the earth, signifies out of the heavens towards the lower parts. But when mountains, hills, and valleys, taken together, are called earths, then "earth" signifies the church there.

462.And all the angels stood round about the throne, and the elders and the four animals.- That this signifies the conjunction of the Lord with the whole heaven, is plain from the signification of standing round about the throne, as denoting conjunction with the Lord, for by Him Who sitteth on the throne and the Lamb, is meant the Lord alone, as stated just above (n. 460:1). And by standing round about is signified conjunction; for in the spiritual world those with whom there is conjunction appear as present, and with whom there is not conjunction as absent: and from the signification of the angels, the elders, and the four animals, as denoting those who are in the three heavens, thus those who are in the whole heaven. By the angels are meant those who are in the first or ultimate heaven; by the elders, those who are in the second or middle heaven; and by the four animals, those who are in the third or inmost heaven. That the four-and-twenty elders, and the four animals, mean in a general sense the higher heavens, and that in a specific sense the elders mean those who are in the second or middle heaven, and the four animals those who are in the third or inmost heaven, may be seen above (n. 313, 322, 362). It therefore follows, that the angels here mean the lower heavens. Indeed all who are in the heavens are called angels, but because those who are in the higher heavens, possess intelligence and wisdom above the rest, they are here called elders, and are meant by the four animals, wherefore also they stood immediately round the throne, as seen by John. It is to be observed, that John saw a multitude of angels, and, at the same time, four-and-twenty elders, and the cherubim or four animals, and that he did not see all who are in the heavens, that is, the whole heaven. For it was a prophetic vision, which is of such a kind, that the things seen are significative. Thus the few here seen, signified the whole heaven, just as the four-and-twenty elders signified the second or middle heaven, and the four animals, the third or inmost heaven.