402. Verse 13. And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth. That this signifies that the knowledges of good and truth have perished, is plain from the signification of stars, as denoting the knowledges of good and truth (concerning which see above, n. 72); and from the signification of falling unto the earth, as denoting to perish; for when the stars fall to the earth, they perish. The same is signified by, the stars shall fall from heaven, in Matthew 24:29 and in Mark 13:25. Any one may see that by the stars are not meant stars, for these cannot fall from heaven, as they are fixed or stand in their place; neither could they fall to the earth, because they are larger than the earth; therefore such things as pertain to the light of heaven, and give light, which are the knowledges of good and truth, are signified by them. Stars appear also in the angelic heaven, but they are appearances from the knowledges of good and truth, therefore they appear around those who are in those knowledges, especially when they turn them over in the mind, and are in the desire of knowing them.

24. And from the seven spirits. That this signifies the Divine in heaven, is evident from the signification of seven, as being what is full, and thence all, and as being spoken of the holy Divine things which go forth from the Lord (concerning this see above, n. 20); and from the signification of spirits, as being those of whom heaven consists. For they are all called spirits of God, because the spirit of God is the proceeding Divine, or the Divine truth united to the Divine good, in heaven and in the church (concerning this see Arcana Coelestia 9818); and the proceeding Divine, or Divine truth united to Divine good, forms and creates an angel, and thus makes him what he is according to the nature and extent of his reception (as may be seen in the work, Heaven and Hell. n. 7-12). From these considerations it is clear, that the seven spirits of whom more will be said in the following pages, do not mean seven spirits, but all those who are in heaven; just as the seven churches do not mean seven churches, but all who are in truths from good, or who belong to the church (concerning this see above, n. 20). These things being understood, the mystery becomes clear as to what is meant by Jehovah God in the Word; for by Jehovah is meant the Divine as Being (Esse), and by God, the Divine Manifestation (Existere) in heaven. The reason why the Divine which is meant by God, is the Divine Manifestation (Existere) in heaven is, because the Divine in heaven is in many; therefore, in the Hebrew language, God is called Elohim, in the plural, and therefore the angels are called gods, not that they are gods, but because the Divine of the Lord, which is in them, is meant by God. (That in the Word the Lord is called Jehovah from Being (Esse) or Essence, and God from Manifestation (Existere) or Existence, may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 300, 3910, 6905. That the Divine, as Being (Esse) also is Divine Good, and that the Divine Manifestation (Existere) is Divine Truth, see n. 3061, 6280, 6880, 6905, 10579; and in general, that good is being (esse), and truth is the manifestation (existere) thence derived, see n. 5002. That angels are called gods from the reception of Divine truth going forth from the Divine good of the Lord, see n. 4295, 4402, 7268, 7873, 8301, 8192. And that Divine truth united to Divine good in heaven, is called in one phrase Divine truth, may be seen in the work, Heaven and Hell 13, 133, 144.)