The Bible

 

Psalms 143:10

Study

       

10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

Commentary

 

Smoke

  

In Genesis 15:17, this signifies the thickest falsity. (Arcana Coelestia 1861)

In Genesis 19:28, this signifies the state of falsity from the state of evil within the church. (Arcana Coelestia 2456)

In Exodus 19:18, this signifies the appearance of heavenly good in the greatest obscurity. (Arcana Coelestia 8819)

'Smoke,' as in Exodus 20, signifies divine truth, or the Word in its external form.

'Smoke of a great furnace,' as in Revelation 9:2, signifies the falsities of lust streaming out from evil loves.

In Revelation 9:17, 'smoke' signifies the pride of self-ascribed intelligence.

'Smoke of her burning,' as in Revelation 18:18, signifies damnation as a result of adulterating and profaning the Word.

In general, 'smoke' signifies divine truth in extremes, because 'fire' which gives off smoke, signifies love. 'Smoke' also signifies the same thing as 'cloud' in many places.

(References: Apocalypse Explained 9 [2]; Apocalypse Revealed 674-1; Revelation 2, 4, 8, 8:4)


The Bible

 

Revelation 4

Study

   

1 After these things I looked and saw a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, like a trumpet speaking with me, was one saying, "Come up here, and I will show you the things which must happen after this."

2 Immediately I was in the Spirit. Behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne

3 that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at.

4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones. On the thrones were twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white garments, with crowns of gold on their heads.

5 Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

6 Before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. In the midst of the throne, and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind.

7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle.

8 The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within. They have no rest day and night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!"

9 When the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne, to him who lives forever and ever,

10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created!"