73. IEDERE ENGEL HEEFT DAAROM EEN VOLLEDIG MENSELIJKEVORM

Inde twee voorafgaande hoofdstukken is getoond dat de hemel in zijn volledigheid een mens weergeeft, en dat iedere gemeenschap in de hemel dit ook doet. Uit de opeenvolging van redenen die daar gegeven zijn volgt dat iedere engel er ook als een mens uitziet. Aangezien de hemel de mens in de grootste vorm is en een gemeenschap van de hemel dit in een kleinere vorm is, is een engel dit in de kleinste vorm. Want in de meest volmaakte vorm, zoals die van de hemel dat is, bestaat er een gelijkenis van het geheel in het onderdeel en van het onderdeel in het geheel. Dat dit het geval is, komt omdat de hemel een gemeenschap is, want het deelt alles wat het bezit met iedereen en iedereen ontvangt alles wat hij heeft uit die gemeenschap. Een engel is een ontvangbekken en zodoende een hemel in de kleinste vorm, zoals hierboven eveneens in het betreffende gedeelte werd uitgelegd. Voor zover iemand de hemel in zich opneemt, is hij ook een ontvangbekken, een hemel en een engel (zie nr. 57). it wordt in de Apocalyps als volgt beschreven: En hij mat de muur op van het heilige Jeruzalem, honderdvierenveertig el, mensen maat, die engelenmaat is. (Apocalyps 21:17) Jeruzalem is hier de kerk van de Heer, en in hogere betekenis de hemel; de muur is het ware, dat een bescherming is tegen de onjuistheden en zonden; de honderdvierenveertig zijn alle waarheden en al het goede bij elkaar genomen; de maat is de hoedanigheid; mensen maat is iemand in wie al het goede en ware in het algemeen en in het bijzonder aanwezig is, dat is, in wie de hemel is; en omdat een engel door deze dingen ook een mens is, wordt er gezegd mensenmaat, wat ook de maat van een engel is. Dit is de geestelijke betekenis van die woorden. Wie zou zonder die betekenis kunnen begrijpen dat de muur van het heilige Jeruzalem de maat van een mens is, dat is, van een engel?

489. Verse 2. And I saw the seven angels who stood before God, signifies the heavens more interiorly and more closely conjoined to the Lord. This is evident from the signification of "seven angels," as meaning all the heavens; "seven" signifying all persons and all things (See above, n. 257, 299), and "angels" signifying the heavens (See also above, n. 90, 302, 307); also from the signification of "standing before God," as being to be conjoined to the Lord (of which see above, n. 462, 477). Why "the seven angels who stood before God" signify that now all the heavens were more interiorly and more closely conjoined to the Lord, will be explained in the following article.

[2] And there were given unto them seven trumpets, signifies influx from them, and consequent changes of state and separations. This is evident from the signification of "trumpet" or "horn," as meaning Divine truth that is to be revealed, and is revealed clearly and plainly (of which see above, n. 55, 262), here the influx of Divine good and truth through the heavens from the Lord, for through that influx all changes and separations are effected, which are treated of in what follows; for each time an angel sounded a trumpet, a change is described and a separation was effected; therefore "sounding a trumpet" in what follows, signifies influx.

[3] That all changes of state and separations of the evil from the good, and of the good from the evil, that occurred before the judgment and during the judgment, were effected by an interior influx, more intense or more moderate, of divine good and truth from the Lord out of heaven, has been said and shown above (n. 413, 418, 419, 426); also how it was done, and the kind of effect that followed; this is signified by "the angel filled the censer with the fire of the altar, and cast it unto the earth" (verse 5), and afterwards that "the angels sounded." As this was done by the Lord through the heavens, therefore the Lord first conjoined the heavens to Himself more interiorly and closely, for otherwise the heavens also would have been endangered; therefore this is signified by "the seven angels stood before God," "to stand before God" meaning to be conjoined to Him; and when they are conjoined to Him more interiorly and closely, those in whom there is no spiritual good are separated; for it is spiritual good only that conjoins, and not any external or natural good that does not derive its essence, and its existence, from spiritual good.

[4] This separation of the evil from the good when the Lord conjoins the angels to Himself more interiorly and closely by a strong influx into their spiritual good, and through this into the interiors of the evil, may be comprehended by those who are in some measure of intelligence; for through such influx the interiors in the evil also who have only feigned goodness in externals are opened, and when their interiors are opened the evils and falsities that lie inwardly concealed are manifested; this is done because they have no spiritual good; and external good without spiritual good is only apparent good, in itself feigned and hypocritical. That it is such is not evident until the interiors are uncovered and laid open. Spiritual good is formed with man by the Lord by means of truths and a life according to them; but external good, separate from internal spiritual good, is formed by a moral life having for its end self and the world, or honors, gain, and the enjoyments of the flesh; and if these alone are considered, Divine truths are regarded as of no account except as means of acquiring reputation; and this has as its sole end the external things above mentioned. (Of internal and external good with the good, and of these with the evil, see in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 36-53.) These things have been mentioned in advance in order that what follows may be understood. (See also what has been said and shown on this subject in the places cited above, n. 413, 418, 419, 426.)

485. APOCALYPSE. CHAPTER 8.

1. And when he opened the seventh seal there was silence in heaven as it were for half an hour.

2. And I saw the seven angels who stood before God; and there were given unto them seven trumpets.

3. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there were given unto him much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which is before the throne.

4. And the smoke of the incense with the prayers of the saints ascended out of the angel's hand before God.

5. And the angel took the censer, and filled it from the fire of the altar, and cast it unto the earth; and there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

6. And the seven angels having the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

7. And the first angel sounded, and there was hail and fire mingled with blood; and they were cast unto the earth; and the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

8. And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea; and the third part of the sea became blood.

9. And there died the third part of the creatures in the sea having souls; and the third part of the ships was destroyed.

10. And the third angel sounded, and there fell from heaven a great star, burning as a lamp; and it fell upon a third part of the rivers and upon the fountains of the waters.

11. And the name of the star is called Wormwood; and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were bitter.

12. And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, that the day shone not for the third part of it, and the night likewise.

13. And I saw, and I heard one angel flying in midheaven, saying with a great voice, Woe, woe, woe, to those that dwell on the earth, from the remaining voices of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound.

EXPOSITION.

Verses 1-4. And when he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven as it were for half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stood before God; and there were given unto them seven trumpets. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which is before the throne. And the smoke of the incense with the prayers of the saints ascended out of the angel's hand before God.

1. "And when he opened the seventh seal," signifies prediction respecting the last state of the church n. 486; "there was silence in heaven," signifies astonishment that the church is such and that its end is at hand (n. 487); "as it were for half an hour," signifies a time corresponding to, or the delay before, the preparation of all things for undergoing the changes that follow (n. 488).

2. "And I saw the seven angels who stood before God," signifies all the heavens more interiorly and more closely conjoined to the Lord. n. 489); "and there were given unto them seven trumpets," signifies influx from them, and consequent changes of state and separations (n. 459, 489).

3. "And another angel came and stood at the altar," signifies the conjunction of heaven with the Lord through celestial good n. 490; "having a golden censer," signifies the conjunction of that good with spiritual good, and thus the conjunction of the higher heavens n. 491; "and there was given unto him much incense," signifies truths in abundance (n. 492); "that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which is before the throne," signifies the conjunction [of the heavens] with those who must be separated from the evil and saved n. 493.

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. n. 494).