909. Verse 15. And another angel went out from the temple, signifies exploration by the Lord of the state of the church in general. This is evident from what follows, namely, that the angel "cried out with a great voice, Send Thy sickle and reap, for the hour for Thee to reap is come, for the harvest of the earth is dried up," which signifies announcement after exploration that it is the time for gathering up the good and separating them from the evil, because this is the end of the church. Also from the signification of "the temple," as being heaven and the church, and the Divine proceeding from the Lord (See above, n. 220, 630, 700). The state of the church in general is here meant, because it is added that "two other angels went forth, one from the temple that is in heaven, and the other from the altar;" and these signify manifestations by the Lord respecting separation. Exploration by the Lord is signified, because an "angel" means in the Word something from the Lord (See above, n. 869, 878, 883); since angels can make no exploration of the state of the church from themselves, but only from the Lord.

139. ¹ It should be known that the Divine Good and the Divine Truth that are from the Lord as a Sun in the heavens, are not in the Lord but from the Lord. In the Lord there is only Divine Love, which is the Being (Esse) from which that Divine good and truth come into existence. Existing (existere) from being (esse) is meant by going forth (procedens). This, too, can be made clear by comparison with the sun of the world. The heat and light that are in the world are not in the sun but from it. In the sun, there is fire only, and it is from this that heat and light come into existence and go forth.

Bilješke: