494. And the smoke of the incenses with the prayers of the saints ascended out of the angel's hand before God.- That this signifies the conjunction of all with the Lord, is plain from the signification of the smoke of the incenses, as denoting the truths of spiritual good, of which we shall speak presently; and from the signification of the prayers of the saints, as denoting truths from good with those who are to be separated from the evil, and saved (see above, n. 493); and from the signification of this angel, as denoting heaven, as explained above (n. 490); therefore, out of the angel's hand denotes through the medium of heaven; and from the signification of "before God," as denoting to be conjoined with the Lord (see above, n. 462, 477, 488). By the smoke of the incenses with the prayers of the saints, which ascended out of the angel's hand before God, is therefore signified the conjunction of all with the Lord, effected through the medium of heaven. The smoke of the incenses signifies truths from spiritual good, because the frankincense from which the smoke proceeded signified spiritual good, and the fire with which the frankincense was kindled signified celestial good; therefore the smoke ascending from the incenses signifies truth from good, for all truth proceeds from good. On this account, smoke became representative, and the smoke of incense, which was agreeable from its fragrance and sweet smell, was representative of truth from good; for fragrance and a sweet smell signified that which was agreeable and acceptable, as may be seen above (n. 324). The signification of smoke in Moses is similar:

The sons of Levi "shall put smoke to thy nose, and a burnt-offering upon thine altar" (Deuteronomy 33:10).

The sons of Levi mean those who are in the truths of spiritual good, and those truths are signified by smoke [of incense], and celestial good is signified by the burnt sacrifice. The smoke of the incenses is also called a cloud of incense (Ezekiel 8:11). Hence also smoke, in the opposite sense, signifies falsity from evil; as in Isaiah (chap. 34:10; Joel 2:30; Nahum 2:13; Psalm 18:8, 37:20); because the fire which gives rise to that smoke signifies the evil of love.

462.And all the angels stood round about the throne, and the elders and the four animals.- That this signifies the conjunction of the Lord with the whole heaven, is plain from the signification of standing round about the throne, as denoting conjunction with the Lord, for by Him Who sitteth on the throne and the Lamb, is meant the Lord alone, as stated just above (n. 460:1). And by standing round about is signified conjunction; for in the spiritual world those with whom there is conjunction appear as present, and with whom there is not conjunction as absent: and from the signification of the angels, the elders, and the four animals, as denoting those who are in the three heavens, thus those who are in the whole heaven. By the angels are meant those who are in the first or ultimate heaven; by the elders, those who are in the second or middle heaven; and by the four animals, those who are in the third or inmost heaven. That the four-and-twenty elders, and the four animals, mean in a general sense the higher heavens, and that in a specific sense the elders mean those who are in the second or middle heaven, and the four animals those who are in the third or inmost heaven, may be seen above (n. 313, 322, 362). It therefore follows, that the angels here mean the lower heavens. Indeed all who are in the heavens are called angels, but because those who are in the higher heavens, possess intelligence and wisdom above the rest, they are here called elders, and are meant by the four animals, wherefore also they stood immediately round the throne, as seen by John. It is to be observed, that John saw a multitude of angels, and, at the same time, four-and-twenty elders, and the cherubim or four animals, and that he did not see all who are in the heavens, that is, the whole heaven. For it was a prophetic vision, which is of such a kind, that the things seen are significative. Thus the few here seen, signified the whole heaven, just as the four-and-twenty elders signified the second or middle heaven, and the four animals, the third or inmost heaven.