322. The four animals and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, signifies the acknowledgment and consequent glorification of the Lord by the angels of the higher heavens. This is evident from the signification of "the four animals and the four and twenty elders," as being, in general, the whole heaven, but especially the inmost heaven, consequently the angels of the higher heavens (of which see above, n. 313; here especially the angels of those heavens, because in what follows there is glorification by the angels of the lower heavens. Also from the signification of "fell down before the Lamb," as being acknowledgment from a humble heart. That "to fall down" signifies humiliation, and in that state acknowledgment of heart, see above n. 290. Acknowledgment of the Lord's Divine Human is clearly meant, for that is signified by "the Lamb" (See above, n. 314). What the higher heavens are, and what the lower heavens are, shall be told in a few words. There are three heavens: the third or inmost heaven is where the angels are who are in celestial love; the second or middle heaven is where the angels are who are in spiritual love; the first or ultimate heaven is where the angels are who are in spiritual-natural love. The third or inmost heaven is conjoined with the second or middle by intermediate angels, who are called celestial-spiritual and spiritual-celestial angels; these intermediate angels, together with the angels of the third or inmost heaven, constitute the higher heavens; while the remainder of those in the second or middle heaven, together with those who are in the first or outmost heaven, constitute the lower heavens. The "four animals" signify specifically the third or inmost heaven, and the "four and twenty elders" the second or middle heaven that is in conjunction with the third or inmost; thus together they signify the higher heavens. Respecting the intermediate angels, called celestial-spiritual and spiritual-celestial, and the conjunction of the third heaven with the second by these, see Arcana Coelestia 1577, 1824, 2184, 4047, 4286, 4585, 4592, 4594, 6435, 6526, 8787, 8802, 9671).

276. Each having a lyre. This symbolizes a confession of the Lord's Divine humanity springing from spiritual truths.

We know that in the Temple in Jerusalem, confessions of Jehovah were made with songs and musical instruments, and these had a correspondence. The instruments were principally horns and timbrels, harps and lyres. Horns and timbrels corresponded to celestial goods and truths, while harps and lyres corresponded to spiritual goods and truths. The correpondences were with their sounds.

The difference between celestial good and truth and spiritual good and truth may be seen in the book Heaven and Hell, 13-19nos. and .

That lyres symbolize confessions of the Lord springing from spiritual truths can be seen from the following passages:

Confess Jehovah with the lyre; make music to Him with a harp of ten strings. (Psalms 33:2)

...on the lyre I will confess You, O God, my God. (Psalms 43:4)

...I will confess you with the instrument of a harp... I will sing to You with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. (Psalms 71:22)

Awake (me), harp and lyre... I will confess You among the nations, O Lord. (Psalms 57:8-9; 108:2, 3)

Answer Jehovah by confession, make music to our God with the lyre. (Psalms 147:7)

It is good to confess to Jehovah... on the harp, and on the melodious sound of the lyre. (Psalms 92:1-3)

Make a noise to Jehovah, all the earth... Sing to Jehovah with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of singing. (Psalms 98:4, 5)

And so on in many other places, as in Psalms 49:3-4; 137:1-2, Revelation 14:2; 18:22.

Since lyres corresponded to a confession of the Lord, and evil spirits cannot endure it, therefore David used a lyre to drive away the evil spirit from Saul (1 Samuel 16:14-16, 23).

To learn that it was not lyres that John heard, but confessions of the Lord that sounded like lyres, see no. 661 below.