900. And over the gates twelve angels, with names written on them, which are those of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. This symbolizes the Divine truths and goods of heaven in those concepts, which are also the Divine truths and goods of the church, and at the same time safeguards to keep someone from entering into them unless he does so from the Lord.

The twelve angels symbolize here all the truths and goods of heaven, since in the highest sense angels symbolize the Lord, in a more general sense heaven, which is composed of angels, and in a more particular sense the truths and goods of heaven from the Lord. See nos. 5, 170, 258, 344, 415, 465, 647, 648, 657, 718. Here they symbolize the truths and goods of heaven, because the statement follows, "with names written on them, which are those of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel," and these symbolize all the truths and goods of the church (no. 349).

Being over the gates means, symbolically, in those concepts, inasmuch as "over" in the Word symbolically means "within." The reason is that the highest component in sequential order becomes the inmost in concurrent order. Consequently the third heaven is called both the highest heaven and the inmost heaven. That is why "over the gates" symbolically means in the concepts of truth. The names written on the angels symbolize their whole character, thus also the character within them, for every quality in outward expressions originates from inner attributes.

It is apparent that the same words symbolize safeguards to keep someone from entering the church without having those concepts from the Lord, because the angels were seen standing over the gates, and the names of the tribes of Israel were also written on them.

We say that the truths and goods of heaven and the church are present in the concepts coming from the Word that serve to introduce into the church, because when concepts of truth and good from the Word have in them a spiritual quality from heaven from the Lord, they are called not concepts, but truths. But if those concepts do not have in them a spiritual quality from heaven from the Lord, they are nothing more than articles of knowledge.

344. Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun. (7:2) This symbolizes the Lord providing and moderating.

The angel here means the Lord in respect to Divine love, because he ascended from the rising of the sun, and from the rising of the sun or from the east means from Divine love. For in the spiritual world the Lord is the sun and the east, and He is called that in respect to that love. His providing and moderating is apparent from His commandment to the four angels not to harm the earth and sea till the servants of God had been sealed on their foreheads.

That in the highest sense an angel means the Lord's Divine humanity is apparent from the following verses:

...the Angel of (Jehovah's) presence delivered them because of His love and His clemency. He redeemed them, and took them up, and carried them all the days of eternity. (Isaiah 63:9)

The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless (them). (Genesis 48:16)

The Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Angel of the covenant, whom you are desiring. (Malachi 3:1)

...I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way... Beware of his presence...; for My name is in the midst of him. (Exodus 23:20-23)

"Angel" and "one sent" are, in Hebrew, the same word. That is why the Lord so often calls Himself one sent by the Father, meaning by it His Divine humanity.

In a relative sense, on the other hand, an angel is anyone who accepts the Lord, whether in heaven or in the world.