House
A "house" is essentially a container -- for a person, a family, several families or even a large group with shared interests (think of the term "houses of worship.") In the Bible, a "house" is also a container, but for spiritual things rather than natural things. In various uses a "house" can represent part of the mind, the whole mind, a whole person or even a church. The other nuance to the word "house" is that it is generally used in regards to our affections and desires rather than our thoughts and principles. This makes sense; we tend to engage our thoughts and rationality when we are out in the world doing our work, but when we are inside our houses we are driven most by love for our families and the desire to be good to those we love. So "house" tends to represent the things we want and care about -- which are ultimately the things that define us.
Apocalypse Revealed # 225
225. CHAPTER 4
1. After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice that I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this."
2. Immediately I was in the spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.
3. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.
4. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
5. And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.
6. Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.
7. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a human being, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.
8. The four living creatures, each individually having six wings about it, were full of eyes within. And they did not rest day or night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!"
9. And when the living creatures gave glory and honor and thanks to Him who sat on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
10. the twenty-four elders fell down before Him who sat on the throne and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11. "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created."
THE SPIRITUAL MEANING
The Contents of the Whole Chapter
This chapter describes the organization and preparation of everything in heaven for the judgment that would be based on the Word and take place in accordance with it. Also, an acknowledgment that the Lord is the sole judge.
The Contents of the Individual Verses:
| Verse Contents | Spiritual Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1. After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. | A manifestation of the organization of the heavens for a last judgment by the Lord, to take place in accordance with His Divine truths in the Word. |
| And the first voice that I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, | A Divine influx, resulting in an elevation of the mind and consequent clear perception. |
| "and I will show you things which must take place after this." | Revelations regarding events to come before the Last Judgment, during it, and after it. |
| 2. Immediately I was in the spirit; | John's conveyance into a spiritual state, in which the things that occur in heaven clearly appear. |
| and behold, a throne set in heaven, | The Judgment in a representative image. |
| and One sitting on the throne. | The Lord. |
| 3. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; | An appearance of the Lord's Divine wisdom and love in outmost expressions. |
| and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. | An appearance of them also around the Lord. |
| 4. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, | The organization of everything in heaven for judgment, |
| clothed in white robes; | a judgment based on the Divine truths of the Word, |
| and they had crowns of gold on their heads. | which are truths of wisdom springing from love. |
| 5. And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. | Enlightenment, perception, and instruction from the Lord. |
| And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. | A resulting new church in heaven and on earth, established by the Lord through the Divine truth emanating from Him. |
| 6. Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. | A new heaven formed of Christians. |
| And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures | The Word of the Lord from the firsts of it in its lasts, and its protections. |
| full of eyes in front and in back. | The Divine wisdom in it. |
| 7. The first living creature was like a lion, | The Divine truth of the Word in respect to its power. |
| the second living creature like a calf, | The Divine truth of the Word in respect to its affection. |
| the third living creature had a face like a human being, | The Divine truth of the Word in respect to its wisdom. |
| and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. | The Divine truth of the Word in respect to its concepts and the understanding they afford. |
| 8. The four living creatures, each individually having six wings about it, | The Word in respect to its powers and protections. |
| were full of eyes within. | The Divine wisdom in the Word in its natural sense, springing from its spiritual and celestial meanings. |
| And they did not rest day or night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, | The Word teaches the Lord continually, that He alone is God, and that therefore He alone is to be worshiped. |
| "who was and is and is to come!" | The Lord. |
| 9. And when the living creatures gave glory and honor and thanks to Him who sat on the throne, | The Word ascribes all truth and good and all worship to the Lord, who is about to judge. |
| who lives forever and ever, | The Lord alone is life, and from Him alone springs eternal life. |
| 10. the twenty-four elders fell down before Him who sat on the throne and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever, | The humility of all in heaven before the Lord. |
| and cast their crowns before the throne, | Their acknowledgment that their wisdom comes from Him alone. |
| saying, 11. "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; | Their confession that, being Divine truth and good, the Lord possesses the kingdom by His merit and righteousness; |
| "for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created." | that everything in heaven and the church has been created and formed out of the Lord's Divine love by His Divine wisdom, or out of Divine good by Divine truth, which is also the Word, and that so likewise are people reformed and reborn. |
THE EXPOSITION
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. This symbolizes a manifestation of the organization of the heavens for a last judgment by the Lord, to take place in accordance with His Divine truths in the Word. (4:1)
When said of heaven, an open door symbolizes an entryway, as in no. 176 above. Here it symbolizes also a manifestation, because John says, "I looked, and behold...." And because he saw then the things related in this chapter, which have to do with the organization of the heavens for a last judgment by the Lord, to take place in accordance with His Divine truths in the Word, therefore the statement, "I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven," symbolizes a manifestation of those things.
