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.

In Exodus 28:17, this signifies the celestial love of good. (Arcana Coelestia 9862) 'Lazuli, agate, and amethyst' denote the spiritual love of good. 'Beryl, onyx, and jasper' denote spiritual love of truth and 'sardine' signifies divine truth. 'Ruby, topaz, and carbuncle' signify the celestial love of good because of their red, flaming color. 'A covering of precious stones,' as in Ezekiel 28:13, signifies the truths of intelligence. 'Precious stones,' in application to the Word, symbolize the Divine truth of the Word in its literal sense which the Divine truth in its spiritual sense shines through. 'Chrysoprasus, sapphire, and diamond' denote celestial love of truth. 'Emerald' signifies the sphere of divine love and wisdom.

(References: Apocalypse Revealed 911)