Apocalypse Revealed # 437
437. And the sound of their wings was like the sound of many horse-drawn chariots rushing into battle. This symbolizes their reasonings, as though founded on doctrinal truths from the Word fully understood, which they had to ardently defend.
The sound of wings symbolizes reasonings, because to fly means, symbolically, to perceive and teach (nos. 245, 415). Chariots symbolize doctrinal teachings, as we are about to show. Horses symbolize an understanding of the Word (no. 298), and many horses a full understanding. Plainly to rush into battle symbolizes an ardor to fight.
That a chariot symbolizes doctrine is clear from the following passages:
The chariots of God are twenty thousand, thousands of peaceful ones, the Lord among them... (Psalms 68:17)
(Jehovah) makes the clouds His chariots, He walks on the wings of the wind. (Psalms 104:3)
O Jehovah..., ...You ride on Your horses, Your chariots are salvation. (Habakkuk 3:8)
...behold, Jehovah will come with fire, and like a whirlwind His chariots... (Isaiah 66:15)
You shall be filled at My table with horses and chariots... (Thus) I will set My glory among the nations. (Ezekiel 39:20-21)
I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem. (Zechariah 9:10)
I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms... I will overthrow the chariots and those who ride in them. (Haggai 2:22)
...set a watchman, let him declare what he sees. He saw therefore a chariot, a pair of horsemen..., a chariot of camels..., and... the chariot of a man... And he... said, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen!" (Isaiah 21:6-7, 9)
Since Elijah and Elisha represented the Lord in respect to the Word and thus symbolized doctrine drawn from the Word, as did all the prophets (no. 8), therefore they were called "the chariots of Israel and its horsemen;" and for the same reason Elisha saw Elijah taken up into heaven in a chariot of fire, and Elisha's servant saw chariots and horses of fire around Elisha (2 Kings 2:11-12; 6:17; 13:14).
See also elsewhere where chariots are mentioned, as in Isaiah 31:1; 37:24; 66:20; Jeremiah 17:25; 22:4; 46:2-3, 8-9; 50:37-38; 51:20-21.
Proverbs 22
1
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.
2
The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
3
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4
By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honor, and life.
5
Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
7
The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8
He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
9
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10
Cast out the scorner, and contention shall end; yes, strife and reproach shall cease.
11
He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
12
The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
13
The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
14
The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred by the LORD shall fall therein.
15
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17
Bow down thy ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart to my knowledge.
18
For it is a pleasant thing if thou keepest them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
19
That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
20
Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
21
That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send to thee?
22
Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23
For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
24
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
25
Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26
Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
27
If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28
Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
29
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
