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Jezekilj 1

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1 Godine tridesete, meseca četvrtog, petog dana, kad bejah među robljem na reci Hevaru, otvoriše se nebesa, i videh utvare Božje.

2 Petog dana tog meseca, pete godine od kako se zarobi car Joahin,

3 Dođe reč Gospodnja Jezekilju sinu Vuzijevom, svešteniku, u zemlji haldejskoj na reci Hevaru, i onde dođe ruka Gospodnja nada nj.

4 I videh, i gle, silan vetar dolažaše od severa, i velik oblak i oganj koji se razgorevaše, i oko njega svetlost, a isred ognja kao jaka svetlost;

5 Isred njega još kao četiri životinje, koje na oči behu nalik na čoveka;

6 I u svake behu četiri lica, i četiri krila u svake;

7 I noge im behu prave, a u stopalu behu im noge kao u teleta; i sevahu kao uglađena bronza.

8 I ruke im behu čovečje pod krilima nad četiri strane, i lica im i krila behu na četiri strane.

9 Sastavljena im behu krila jedno s drugim; i ne okretahu se idući, nego svaka iđaše na prema se.

10 I lice beše u sve četiri lice čovečje i lice lavovo s desne strane, a s leve strane lice volujsko i lice orlovo u sve četiri.

11 I lica im i krila behu razdeljena ozgo; u svake se dva krila sastavljahu jedno s drugim, a dva pokrivahu im telo.

12 I svaka iđaše pravo na prema se; iđahu kuda duh iđaše, i ne okretahu se idući.

13 I na oči behu te životinje kao živo ugljevlje, gorahu na oči kao sveće; taj oganj prolažaše između životinja i svetljaše se, i iz ognja izlažaše munja.

14 I životinje trčahu i vraćahu se kao munja.

15 I kad gledah životinje, gle, točak jedan beše na zemlji uza svaku životinju prema četiri lica njihova.

16 Obličjem i napravom behu točkovi kao boje hrisolitove, i sva četiri behu jednaka, i obličjem i napravom behu kao da je jedan točak u drugom.

17 Kad iđahu, iđahu sva četiri svaki na svoju stranu, i idući ne skretahu.

18 I naplaci im behu visoki strahota; i behu naplaci puni očiju unaokolo u sva četiri.

19 I kad iđahu životinje, iđahu i točkovi uz njih; i kad se životinje podizahu od zemlje, podizahu se i točkovi.

20 Kuda duh iđaše, onamo iđahu, i podizahu se točkovi prema njima, jer duh životinjski beše u točkovima.

21 Kad one iđahu, iđahu i oni; i kad one stajahu, stajahu i oni; i kad se one podizahu od zemlje, podizahu se i točkovi prema njima, jer duh životinjski beše u točkovima.

22 A nad glavama životinjama beše kao nebo, po viđenju kao kristal, strašno, razastrto ozgo, nad glavama njihovim.

23 A pod tim nebom behu im krila pružena, jedno prema drugom, a dva krila svakoj pokrivahu telo.

24 I čuh huku krila njihovih kad iđahu kao da beše huka velike vode, kao glas Svemogućeg i kao graja u logoru; i kad stajahu, spuštahu krila.

25 I kad stavši spuštahu krila, čujaše se glas ozgo iz neba, koje beše nad glavama njihovim.

26 I ozgo na onom nebu što im beše nad glavama, beše kao presto, po viđenju kao kamen safir, i na prestolu beše po obličju kao čovek.

27 I videh kao jaku svetlost, i u njoj unutra kao oganj naokolo, od bedara gore, a od bedara dole videh kao oganj i svetlost oko njega.

28 Kao duga u oblaku kad je kiša, takva na oči beše svetlost unaokolo. To beše viđenje slave Božje na očima; i kad videh, padoh na lice svoje, i čuh glas Nekoga koji govoraše.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Revealed #245

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245. The four living creatures, each individually having six wings about it. (4:8) This symbolizes the Word in respect to its powers and protections.

We have already shown above that the four living creatures symbolize the Word. We will see below that wings symbolize powers and also protections.

The number six symbolizes completeness in respect to truth and goodness, as six is formed of three and two multiplied together, and three symbolizes completeness in respect to truth (no. 505), while two symbolizes completeness in respect to goodness (no. 762).

Wings symbolize powers because they are means of rising upward. Moreover, in the case of birds they take the place of the arms in the human being, and arms symbolize powers.

Since wings symbolize powers, and each living creature had six wings, it is apparent from what we said above what power is symbolized by each one's wings, namely, that the wings of the lion symbolize the power of combating the evils and falsities arising from hell, this being the power of the Word's Divine truth from the Lord; that the wings of the calf symbolize the power to affect hearts, for the Divine truth of the Word affects people who read it reverently; that the six wings of the human being symbolize the power to perceive the nature of God and what pertains to God, as this is peculiarly the mark of a human being in reading the Word; and that the wings of the eagle symbolize the power to recognize truth and good, and so to acquire for oneself intelligence.

[2] As regards the wings of cherubim, we read in Ezekiel that their wings kissed each other, that they had wings also covering their bodies, and that they had the likeness of hands under their wings (Ezekiel 1:23-24; 3:13; 10:5, 21). Kissing each other symbolizes conjoint and unanimous action. Covering their bodies symbolizes protection against violation of the interior truths which constitute the spiritual sense of the Word. And having the likeness of hands under their wings symbolizes powers.

Regarding seraphim, too, we are told that they had six wings, and that with two of them they covered their face, and with two their feet, and with two they flew (Isaiah 6:2). Seraphim likewise symbolize the Word, or more accurately doctrine drawn from the Word. The wings with which they covered their faces and feet likewise symbolize protections. And the wings with which they flew symbolize powers, as before.

That flying symbolizes to perceive and teach, and in the highest sense to foresee and provide, is clear as well from the following:

(God) rode upon a cherub, He flew, and He traveled on the wings of the wind. (Psalms 18:10, cf. 2 Samuel 22:11)

I saw (an) angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel... (Revelation 14:6)

[3] That wings symbolize protections is apparent from the following:

(Jehovah) covers you under His wing. (Psalms 91:4)

(To be hidden) under the shadow of (God's) wings... (Psalms 17:8)

(To trust) in the shadow of (His) wings. (Psalms 36:7; 57:1, cf. 63:7)

I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. (Ezekiel 16:8)

To you (shall be) healing in His wings. (Malachi 4:2)

As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings..., carrying them on its wings, so Jehovah... leads him... (Deuteronomy 32:11-12)

(Jesus said,) "O Jerusalem...! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings... (Matthew 23:37, Luke 13:34)

  
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Many thanks to the General Church of the New Jerusalem, and to Rev. N.B. Rogers, translator, for the permission to use this translation.