37. And I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet. This symbolizes a manifest perception of Divine truth revealed from heaven.

A loud voice, when heard from heaven, symbolizes Divine truth, as we will show next. It sounded like the voice of a trumpet for the reason that when Divine truth descends from heaven, it is sometimes heard as such by angels of the lowest heaven, and they then manifestly perceive it. That is why "a voice, as of a trumpet" symbolizes a manifest perception. More on the symbolism of a trumpet will be seen in nos. 397 and 519 below.

That a loud voice, when heard from heaven, symbolizes Divine truth, is apparent from the following passages:

The voice of Jehovah is over the waters... The voice of Jehovah is powerful; the voice of Jehovah is accompanied with honor. The voice of Jehovah breaks the cedars... The voice of Jehovah falls like a flame of fire. The voice of Jehovah shakes the wilderness... The voice of Jehovah makes the deer give birth... (Psalms 29:3-9)

You kingdoms of the earth..., sing praises to the Lord... Behold, He will send out His voice, a mighty voice. (Psalms 68:32-33)

Jehovah has given voice before His army...; for numerous is he who obeys His word. (Joel 2:2)

Jehovah... will utter His voice from Jerusalem. (Joel 3:16)

Moreover, because a voice symbolizes Divine truth from the Lord, therefore the Lord said that "the sheep hear His voice," that "they know His voice" (John 10:3-4). Also,

Other sheep I have...; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice... My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (John 10:16, 27)

And elsewhere:

The hour is coming... when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of Man, ¹ and those who hear will live. (John 5:25)

The voice here is the Lord's Divine truth emanating from His Word.

Notas a pie de página:

3343. The communication of angels who belong to the interior heaven is even more beautifully and delightfully representative, but the ideas which take shape in representatives cannot be put into words. If they were to be put into any words at all they would go not only beyond what anyone is able to grasp but also beyond what anyone is able to believe. Spiritual representatives, which are those of truth, are effected by means of modifications of heavenly light which have affections within them that are wonderfully varied in unlimited ways; while celestial representatives, which are those of good, are effected by variations of heavenly flame or warmth. In this way they stir all the affections. Into this interior ability to communicate also man enters following his separation from the body, but this happens only to one in whom spiritual good, that is, the good of faith, is present, or what amounts to the same, to one in whom, while living in the world, charity towards the neighbour is present. For he has that charity within him even though he himself is not aware of it.