1054. And I will see it. That this signifies that he is such that he can be regenerated, is evident from the fact that to “see” anyone, when predicated of the Lord, means to know his quality. For the Lord knows all from eternity, and has no need to see what anyone is. When anyone is such that he can be regenerated, then it is said of the Lord that He “sees” him, as also that He “lifts up His countenance” upon him. But when he cannot be regenerated, it is not said that the Lord sees him, or lifts up His countenance upon him, but that He “turns away His eyes” or “His face” from him, although it is not the Lord who turns them away, but the man. Hence in the fourteenth verse (Genesis 9:14), where the whole human race was treated of, in which there are many who cannot be regenerated, it is not said, when “I” see the bow in the cloud, but when the bow “shall be seen” in the cloud. As regards the Lord, the case is the same with “seeing” as it is with “remembering” which in the internal sense signifies to have mercy. (Concerning this see above, n. 840,1049 and also n. 626.)

1048. That the bow shall be seen in the cloud. That this signifies when man is still such that he can be regenerated, is evident from the signification of the “bow in the cloud” which is a sign or indication of regeneration, as said above. With regard to the bow in the cloud, the case further is this. The quality of a man, or of a soul after the death of the body, is known at once; by the Lord it is known from eternity, and what it will be to eternity. By the angels his quality is perceived the moment he comes near. There is a certain sphere which exhales—so to speak—from his nature, or from everything in him; and this sphere, wonderful to say, is such that from it is perceived in what faith and in what charity the man is. It is this sphere that becomes visible as a bow when it so pleases the Lord. (Concerning this sphere, of the Lord’s Divine mercy hereafter.) Hence it is evident what is here signified by the bow when seen in the cloud, namely, when man is such that he can be regenerated.