487. 'Days means periods of time and states in general. This has been shown in Chapter 1, where the 'days of creation' have no other meaning. In the Word it is very common for a whole period of time to be called 'a day', as it clearly is in the present verse and in verses 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 27, 31, below; and therefore the states that belong to periods of time in general are meant by 'days' as well. And when 'years' is attached, then periods of years mean the natures of those states, and so the states in particular.

[2] The most ancient people had their own particular numbers which they would use to mean different aspects of the Church - for instance, the numbers three, seven, ten, twelve, and many which they obtained from these and other numbers - and in so doing incorporated states of the Church. These numbers therefore contain arcana that would require considerable effort to unravel. Really a number was an evaluation of the states of the Church. The same feature occurs throughout the Word, especially in the prophetical. And the religious ceremonies of the Jewish Church also entail numbers specifying periods of time as well as quantities; for example, in connection with sacrifices, minchahs, oblations, and other practices, which in every case have special reference to holy things. Consequently eight hundred in this verse, nine hundred and thirty in the next, and the numbers of years mentioned in the verses that follow after that, embody in particular more matters than can possibly be retold; matters, that is to say, which have to do with changes in the state of their Church in relationship to their own general state. Later on, in the Lord's Divine mercy, the meaning of the simple numbers up to twelve will be given, for without knowing these first of all no one can grasp what compound numbers mean.

529. And I beheld, and I heard one angel flying in the midst of heaven.- That this signifies the Lord enlightening all in the heavens concerning the state of the church at its end, is evident from the signification of seeing and hearing, as denoting to open the understanding to perceive, concerning which we shall speak presently; and from the signification of angel, as denoting the Lord; that angels in the Word mean the Divine Truth proceeding from the Lord, thus the Lord Himself, as to Divine Truth, may be seen above (n. 130, 200, 302); here the Lord, as to revealing what the quality of the church would be in the last times as to the reception of the Divine Truth; and from the signification of flying, as denoting to enlighten and impart understanding, concerning which also we shall speak presently; and from the signification of "in the midst of heaven," as denoting in the whole heaven, or all who are in the heavens. That in the midst signifies in the whole, and thus all, may be seen above (n. 213). It is evident therefore, that, "I beheld, and I heard an angel flying in the midst of heaven," signifies the enlightenment of all in the heavens concerning the state of the church at its end. Illustration concerning the state of the church is signified, because this is the subject treated of in what follows. The reason why seeing and hearing signify the opening of the understanding to perceive, is, that to see signifies to understand, and to hear signifies to perceive. That to see signifies to understand, may be seen above (n. 260); and that to hear signifies to perceive, may also be seen above (n. 14, 108).

[2] To fly, when stated of the Lord, signifies to enlighten, because "to fly" is used in reference to the understanding, and to the extension of the sight thereof round about; when therefore it is stated of the Lord, it signifies the enlightenment of the understanding. That to fly when stated of the Lord signifies omnipresence, may be seen above (n. 282); it therefore also signifies enlightenment, for where the Lord is present, there is illustration. The same is signified by flying, in David:

God "rode upon a cherub, and did fly; yea, he was carried upon the wings of the wind" (Psalm 18:10; 2 Sam. 22:11).

A cherub signifies the inmost heaven; riding signifies to give understanding, and to enlighten, flying, and being carried upon the wings of the wind, have a similar signification. But by riding is signified to give understanding and to enlighten, here the inmost heaven, signified by a cherub. Flying also signifies to give understanding to and to enlighten the middle heaven; but by being carried upon the wings of the wind, signifies to give understanding and to enlighten the ultimate heaven. That to ride signifies to give understanding, may be seen above (n. 355, 364); and that cherub signifies the inmost heaven, may be seen above (n. 313, 322, 362, 462). To fly signifies to enlighten the middle heaven, because this heaven is the spiritual heaven, and spiritual things in the Word are signified by various birds, and by their wings and flights. The reason why to be carried upon the wings of the wind signifies to enlighten the ultimate heaven is, that wings pertain to flying, and here signify illustration; and wind signifies the Spiritual of this heaven. By all these things is therefore described the omnipresence of the Lord in the heavens, and hence also the enlightening of the understanding; for as was said above, where the Lord is present, there is enlightenment.