259. Verse 1. After these things I saw, and, behold, a door opened in heaven; and the first voice which I heard, as it were of a trumpet speaking with me, saying, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must come to pass hereafter.

"After these things I saw," signifies the understanding enlightened; "and, behold, a door opened in heaven," signifies the arcana of heaven revealed; "and the first voice which I heard" signifies revelation now of things to come; "as it were of a trumpet speaking with me," signifies what is clear and manifest; "saying, Come up hither," signifies elevation of mind, and attention: "and I will show thee things which must come to pass hereafter," signifies instruction concerning those things that will exist in the last time of the church.

In Genesis 1:24, beasts signify the things of man's will or loves. (Arcana Coelestia 44, 46)

In Genesis 9:10, beasts signify all that was living in the man of the Ancient Church, and also what belonged to his new will; likewise the lower things of his understanding and the will therefrom. (Arcana Coelestia 1026-1029)

In Psalm 104:20, beasts signify affections longing to be instructed, or spiritually nourished. (Apocalypse Explained 650[10])

In Luke 10:35, since the beast was a donkey, this signifies to instruct another according to his capability. (Apocalypse Explained 1154)

The beast of the south (Isaiah 30:6) signifies people who are principled in the knowledges of good and of truth, but do not apply them to life and instead to science.

Every beast and creeping thing (Genesis 8:19) signifies the goodnesses of the internal and external man.

"Beasts" represent the affection for doing good things, a true desire to do them from the heart. In the negative sense, "beasts" stand for the lust to do evil.

The beast ascending out of the sea (Revelation 13:1) signifies reasonings from the natural man confirming the separation of faith from life.

(Reference: Apocalypse Explained 13, 773; Revelation 13:11)