Bibliorum

 

Ezekiel 2

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1 και-C ειπον-VBI-AAI3S προς-P εγω- P--AS υιος-N2--VSM ανθρωπος-N2--GSM ιστημι-VH--AAD2S επι-P ο- A--APM πους-N3D-APM συ- P--GS και-C λαλεω-VF--FAI1S προς-P συ- P--AS

2 και-C ερχομαι-VBI-AAI3S επι-P εγω- P--AS πνευμα-N3M-NSN και-C αναλαμβανω-VBI-AAI3S εγω- P--AS και-C εκαιρω-VAI-AAI3S εγω- P--AS και-C ιστημι-VAI-AAI3S εγω- P--AS επι-P ο- A--APM πους-N3D-APM εγω- P--GS και-C ακουω-V1I-IAI1S αυτος- D--GSM λαλεω-V2--PAPGSM προς-P εγω- P--AS

3 και-C ειπον-VBI-AAI3S προς-P εγω- P--AS υιος-N2--VSM ανθρωπος-N2--GSM εκ αποστελλω-V1--PAI1S εγω- P--NS συ- P--AS προς-P ο- A--ASM οικος-N2--ASM ο- A--GSM *ισραηλ-N---GSM ο- A--APM παραπικραινω-V1--PAPAPM εγω- P--AS οστις- X--NPM παραπικραινω-VAI-AAI3P εγω- P--AS αυτος- D--NPM και-C ο- A--NPM πατηρ-N3--NPM αυτος- D--GPM εως-P ο- A--GSF σημερον-D ημερα-N1A-GSF

4 και-C ειπον-VF2-FAI2S προς-P αυτος- D--APM οδε- D--APN λεγω-V1--PAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM

5 εαν-C αρα-X ακουω-VA--AAS3P η-C πτοεω-VC--APS3P διοτι-C οικος-N2--NSM παραπικραινω-V1--PAPNSM ειμι-V9--PAI3S και-C γιγνωσκω-VF--FMI3P οτι-C προφητης-N1M-NSM ειμι-V9--PAI2S συ- P--NS εν-P μεσος-A1--DSN αυτος- D--GPM

6 και-C συ- P--NS υιος-N2--VSM ανθρωπος-N2--GSM μη-D φοβεω-VC--APS2S αυτος- D--APM μηδε-C εκιστημι-VH--AAS2S απο-P προσωπον-N2N-GSN αυτος- D--GPM διοτι-C παραοιστραω-VF--FAI3P και-C επι συνιστημι-VF--FMI3P επι-P συ- P--AS κυκλος-N2--DSM και-C εν-P μεσος-A1--DSN σκορπιος-N2--GPM συ- P--NS καταοικεω-V2--PAI2S ο- A--APM λογος-N2--APM αυτος- D--GPM μη-D φοβεω-VC--APS2S και-C απο-P προσωπον-N2N-GSN αυτος- D--GPM μη-D εκιστημι-VH--AAS2S διοτι-C οικος-N2--NSM παραπικραινω-V1--PAPNSM ειμι-V9--PAI3S

7 και-C λαλεω-VF--FAI2S ο- A--APM λογος-N2--APM εγω- P--GS προς-P αυτος- D--APM εαν-C αρα-X ακουω-VA--AAS3P η-C πτοεω-VC--APS3P διοτι-C οικος-N2--NSM παραπικραινω-V1--PAPNSM ειμι-V9--PAI3S

8 και-C συ- P--NS υιος-N2--VSM ανθρωπος-N2--GSM ακουω-V1--PAD2S ο- A--GSM λαλεω-V2--PAPGSM προς-P συ- P--AS μη-D γιγνομαι-V1--PMD2S παραπικραινω-V1--PAPNSM καθως-D ο- A--NSM οικος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM παραπικραινω-V1--PAPNSM χασκω-VB--AAD2S ο- A--ASN στομα-N3M-ASN συ- P--GS και-C εσθιω-VB--AAD2S ος- --APN εγω- P--NS διδωμι-V8--PAI1S συ- P--DS

9 και-C οραω-VBI-AAI1S και-C ιδου-I χειρ-N3--NSF εκτεινω-VM--XMPNSF προς-P εγω- P--AS και-C εν-P αυτος- D--DSF κεφαλις-N3D-NSF βιβλιον-N2N-GSN

10 και-C αναειλεω-VA--AAI3S αυτος- D--ASF ενωπιον-P εγω- P--GS και-C εν-P αυτος- D--DSF γραφω-VP--XPPNPN ειμι-V9--IAI3S ο- A--NPN οπισθεν-D και-C ο- A--NPN εμπροσθεν-D και-C γραφω-VPI-YPI3S εις-P αυτος- D--ASF θρηνος-N2--NSM και-C μελος-N3E-NSN και-C ουαι-I

   

from the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

 

Apocalypse Revealed #245

Studere hoc loco

  
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245. The four living creatures, each individually having six wings about it. (4:8) This symbolizes the Word in respect to its powers and protections.

We have already shown above that the four living creatures symbolize the Word. We will see below that wings symbolize powers and also protections.

The number six symbolizes completeness in respect to truth and goodness, as six is formed of three and two multiplied together, and three symbolizes completeness in respect to truth (no. 505), while two symbolizes completeness in respect to goodness (no. 762).

Wings symbolize powers because they are means of rising upward. Moreover, in the case of birds they take the place of the arms in the human being, and arms symbolize powers.

Since wings symbolize powers, and each living creature had six wings, it is apparent from what we said above what power is symbolized by each one's wings, namely, that the wings of the lion symbolize the power of combating the evils and falsities arising from hell, this being the power of the Word's Divine truth from the Lord; that the wings of the calf symbolize the power to affect hearts, for the Divine truth of the Word affects people who read it reverently; that the six wings of the human being symbolize the power to perceive the nature of God and what pertains to God, as this is peculiarly the mark of a human being in reading the Word; and that the wings of the eagle symbolize the power to recognize truth and good, and so to acquire for oneself intelligence.

[2] As regards the wings of cherubim, we read in Ezekiel that their wings kissed each other, that they had wings also covering their bodies, and that they had the likeness of hands under their wings (Ezekiel 1:23-24; 3:13; 10:5, 21). Kissing each other symbolizes conjoint and unanimous action. Covering their bodies symbolizes protection against violation of the interior truths which constitute the spiritual sense of the Word. And having the likeness of hands under their wings symbolizes powers.

Regarding seraphim, too, we are told that they had six wings, and that with two of them they covered their face, and with two their feet, and with two they flew (Isaiah 6:2). Seraphim likewise symbolize the Word, or more accurately doctrine drawn from the Word. The wings with which they covered their faces and feet likewise symbolize protections. And the wings with which they flew symbolize powers, as before.

That flying symbolizes to perceive and teach, and in the highest sense to foresee and provide, is clear as well from the following:

(God) rode upon a cherub, He flew, and He traveled on the wings of the wind. (Psalms 18:10, cf. 2 Samuel 22:11)

I saw (an) angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel... (Revelation 14:6)

[3] That wings symbolize protections is apparent from the following:

(Jehovah) covers you under His wing. (Psalms 91:4)

(To be hidden) under the shadow of (God's) wings... (Psalms 17:8)

(To trust) in the shadow of (His) wings. (Psalms 36:7; 57:1, cf. 63:7)

I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. (Ezekiel 16:8)

To you (shall be) healing in His wings. (Malachi 4:2)

As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings..., carrying them on its wings, so Jehovah... leads him... (Deuteronomy 32:11-12)

(Jesus said,) "O Jerusalem...! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings... (Matthew 23:37, Luke 13:34)

  
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Many thanks to the General Church of the New Jerusalem, and to Rev. N.B. Rogers, translator, for the permission to use this translation.

Bibliorum

 

Revelation 4

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1 After these things I looked and saw a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, like a trumpet speaking with me, was one saying, "Come up here, and I will show you the things which must happen after this."

2 Immediately I was in the Spirit. Behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne

3 that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at.

4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones. On the thrones were twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white garments, with crowns of gold on their heads.

5 Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

6 Before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. In the midst of the throne, and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind.

7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle.

8 The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within. They have no rest day and night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!"

9 When the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne, to him who lives forever and ever,

10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created!"