494. Verse 4. And the smoke of the incense with the prayers of the saints ascended out of the angel's hand before God, signifies the conjunction of all with the Lord. This is evident from the signification of "the smoke of the incense" as being the truths of spiritual good (of which presently); also from the signification of "the prayers of the saints," as being truths from good with those who were to be separated from the evil and saved (of which above, n. 493; also from the signification of this "angel" as being heaven (as above, n. 490; therefore "out of the hand of the angel" means by means of heaven; also from the signification of "before God," as being to be conjoined with the Lord (See above, n. 462, 477, 488); therefore "the smoke of the incense with the prayers of the saints ascended out of the angel's hand before God" signifies the conjunction of all with the Lord effected by means of heaven. "The smoke of the incense" signifies truths from spiritual good, because "frankincense," from which the smoke came, signified spiritual good, and the "fire" with which the frankincense was kindled signified celestial good; thence the "smoke" ascending therefrom signifies truth from good, for all truth proceeds from good. This is why "smoke" became representative; "the smoke of the incense," which was agreeable from its fragrance and sweet odor, was a representative of truth from good; for "fragrance and sweet odor" signify what is agreeable and acceptable (See above, n. 324). "Smoke" has a similar signification in Moses:

The sons of Levi put smoke in Thy nostrils, and a whole burnt-offering upon Thine altar (Deuteronomy 33:10).

"The sons of Levi" mean those who are in truths of spiritual good; these truths are signified by "smoke," and celestial good is signified by "the whole burnt-offering." The smoke of incense is also called "a cloud of incense" (Ezekiel 8:11). Thence also "smoke" in the contrary sense signifies falsity from evil (in Isaiah 34:10; Joel 2:30; Nahum 2:13; Psalms 18:8; 37:20), because the fire that makes such smoke signifies the evil of love.

9572. 'And its tongs and its trowels' means things in the natural that serve to purify and clean out. This is clear from the meaning of 'tongs' and 'trowels' as things that serve to remove waste products, and so to purify and clean out. They exist in the natural because the natural serves to remove waste and so to purify and clean out. For everything that belongs to the internal or spiritual man comes right down into the natural and is purified there; for in the natural that which is filthy and that which is superfluous are discharged, and that which is suitable is set in order for useful service. The fact that this takes place in the natural may be recognized from the consideration that since the internal or spiritual man, while in the body, thinks within the natural, revealing and declaring its thoughts through the body, and also wills within the natural, carrying out the desires of the will through the body, therefore the natural is what serves to clean out and remove waste products. This is meant by 'feet-washing', which the Lord speaks of as follows in John,

He who has been washed has no need except to wash his feet, and the whole person is clean. John 13:10.

'Washing' meant the purification of the internal man, 3147, 5954 (end), 9088; and 'feet' meant the natural, 2162, 3147, 3761, 3986, 4280, 4938-4952.