20. Verse 3 And God said, Let there be light; and there was light. This is at the outset when a person starts to realize that good and truth are something superior. Thoroughly external people do not even know what good is and what truth is, for they imagine that everything which comprises self-love and love of the world is good, and that everything that panders to those loves is truth. Thus they do not know that the things which they imagine to be good are in fact evil, and that those which they imagine to be true are in fact false. But when a person is conceived anew, first he starts to recognize that the good in him is not really good, and then, when he enters more into light, to recognize the existence of the Lord and that the Lord is good and truth themselves. The Lord Himself says in John that men ought to know He exists,

Unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins. John 8:24.

The point that the Lord is good itself, which is life, and truth itself, which is light, together with the consequent point that no good or truth exist except from the Lord, is made once more in John,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men, and the light shines in the darkness. He was the true light that enlightens every man coming into the world John 1:1, 3-5, 9.

602. And when he cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.- That this signifies instruction out of heaven and perception concerning the last state of the church, is evident from the signification of uttering voices, as denoting to instruct, in the present case, to instruct out of heaven, because it is said that the seven thunders uttered; and from the signification of the seven thunders, as denoting the Divine Truth as to understanding and perception (see above, n. 273). The thunders are said to be seven, because seven signifies all things, and what is full, and is used when things holy are treated of (see above, n. 20, 24, 257, 300). The reason why it relates to the last state of the church, concerning which John was instructed out of heaven by voices like thunder, is, that that state is treated of in the present chapter, as is evident from these words (in verse 7): "In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God shall also be consummated; as he hath declared in good tidings to his servants the prophets." And that [Divine Truth] shall still be taught in the church, before that state, which is the end, shall come, is meant by the last words of this chapter, "Thou must prophesy again over peoples, and nations, and tongues, and many kings" (verse 11). It is evident from these things, that by the seven thunders uttered their voices is signified instruction out of heaven, and perception, concerning the last state of the church.