469. He had in his hand a little book open. (10:2) This symbolizes the Word in respect to this point of doctrine there, that the Lord is God of heaven and earth, and that His humanity is Divine.

It may be seen in nos. 256, 259, and 295ff. above that the book which the Lamb took from Him who sat on the throne, the seals of which the Lamb loosed (Revelation 5:1, 7; 6:1ff.), means the Word. Consequently the little book in the hand of the angel, who also is the Lord (no. 465), means nothing else here than the Word in respect to some essential in it; and it is apparent from the particulars in this and the following chapter in the spiritual sense, and also from the natural sense in chapter 11, verses 15-17, that the essential is this point of doctrine in the Word, that the Lord is God of heaven and earth, and that His humanity is Divine.

[2] The little book is said to be open because this point of doctrine is plainly evident in the Word and is apparent to anyone who reads it, if he pays attention.

This is the subject now because it is the essential doctrine of the New Church. That is because everyone's salvation depends on a conception and acknowledgment of God. For the case is as stated in the Preface, that "heaven in its entirety is founded on a right idea of God, and so, too, the entire church on earth, and all religion in general," inasmuch as "that idea leads to conjunction, and through conjunction to light, wisdom, and eternal happiness."

[3] Now because the Lord is the one God of heaven and earth, therefore no one is admitted into heaven if he does not acknowledge Him, for heaven is the Lord's body. Instead the person remains below and is bitten by serpents, that is, by hellish spirits, from whose bite there is no cure but the one the children of Israel obtained by their looking at the bronze serpent (Numbers 21:1-9). That the bronze serpent means the Lord in respect to His Divine humanity is apparent from the following verses in John,

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:14-15)

259. "Who is worthy to open the book and to loose its seals?" This symbolically means, Who has the power to know the states of life of all in heaven and on earth and to judge each one according to his state?

"Who is worthy?" symbolically means, "Who can, or who has the power?" To open the book and to loose its seals means here, symbolically, to know the states of life of all in heaven and on earth and also to judge each one according to his state; for when the book is opened, an inquiry takes place into the people's character, followed by a verdict or judgment, comparatively as a judge judges with the book of the law and in accordance with it.

That opening the book symbolizes an inquiry into the character of each and every person's state of life is apparent from the following chapter, which describes what John saw when the Lamb opened its seven seals one by one.