The Bible

 

Jezekilj 10

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1 Potom videh, i gle, na nebu koje beše nad glavama heruvimima pokaza se nad njima kao kamen safir na oči kao presto.

2 I progovori čoveku obučenom u platno, i reče: Uđi među točkove pod heruvimima, i uzmi pune pregršti žeravice između heruvima i razaspi na grad. I uđe na moje oči.

3 A heruvimi stajahu s desne strane doma kad uđe čovek, i oblak napuni unutrašnji trem.

4 I slava Gospodnja podiže se s heruvima na prag od doma, i napuni se dom oblaka, a trem se napuni svetlosti slave Gospodnje.

5 I lupa krila u heruvima čujaše se do spoljašnjeg trema kao glas Boga Svemogućeg kad govori.

6 I kad zapovedi čoveku obučenom u platno govoreći: Uzmi ognja između točkova između heruvima; on uđe i stade kod točkova.

7 I jedan heruvim pruži ruku svoju između heruvima k ognju koji beše među heruvimima, i uze i metnu u pregršti obučenom u platno i on primi i iziđe.

8 A viđaše se u heruvima kao ruka čovečija pod krilima.

9 I videh, i gle, četiri točka kod heruvima, po jedan točak kod jednog heruvima, i točkovi behu na oči kao kamen hrisolit.

10 I na oči behu sva četiri točka jednaka, i kao da je točak u točku.

11 Kad iđahu, iđahu sva četiri, svaki na svoju stranu, i idući ne skretahu, nego kuda gledaše glava onamo iđahu i idući ne skretahu.

12 A sve im telo i leđa i ruke i krila i točkovi, sva četiri točka njihova, behu puna očiju svuda unaokolo.

13 A točkovi se zvahu kako čuh: kola.

14 A četiri lica imaše svaka životinja: jedno lice heruvimsko, drugo lice čovečije i treće lice lavovo i četvrto lice orlovo.

15 I podigoše se heruvimi u vis; to behu iste životinje koje videh na reci Hevaru.

16 A kad iđahu heruvimi, iđahu i točkovi uz njih, i kad heruvimi mahahu krilima svojim da se podignu od zemlje, točkovi se ne odmicahu od njih.

17 Kad se oni ustavljahu, ustavljahu se i točkovi; a kad se oni podizahu, podizahu se i točkovi; jer beše duh životinjski u njima.

18 I slava Gospodnja otide iznad praga od doma, i stade nad heruvime.

19 I heruvimi mahnuvši krilima podigoše se od zemlje preda mnom polazeći, i točkovi prema njima; i stadoše na istočnim vratima doma Gospodnjeg, i slava Boga Izrailjevog beše ozgo nad njima.

20 To behu iste životinje koje videh pod Bogom Izrailjevim na reci Hevaru, i poznah da su heruvimi.

21 Svaka imaše četiri lica i četiri krila, i kao ruka čovečija beše im pod krilima.

22 I lica im behu ista koja videh na reci Hevaru; obličja behu ista, isti behu; svaki iđaše pravo na prema se.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Spiritual Experiences #255

  
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255. About the very inward Realm, and about Cherubs

When I was brought into thoughts about how the very inward and innermost angels influence human minds, and was reflecting that they do so in an imperceptible manner, being in the realm of the very beginning points of human thought, consequently in a like realm of mental imagery or depiction, which is imperceptible (such an imperceptibility must be the plane proper to thoughts) - while I was pondering on these matters, then I was given from the mercy of God the Messiah to sense a gentle kind of turning motion overhead, into which I later even seemed to be raised up, or which enfolded my thoughts. At the first sensation, when I was not yet in it, it was like the turning motion of a soft cloud settling down, and it was said that this can be called "the Cherubs," to whom "wheels" are ascribed [Ezekiel 1:9, 10] on account of that turning motion. After this, that field encompassed me, and I experienced a great calmness. The last heaven, in which I had been previously, was below me, and in fact, at my feet and below the feet. There I heard someone speaking, but as if out of the lowest place, complaining that I had been raised up away from them, and that therefore he did not want to live.

When I was later thinking about the very inward realm, which must as yet be called strictly "cherubic" and in which realm I am while writing these things, I am able to understand not only why wheels, but also why four faces, were ascribed to them [Ezekiel 1:10], i.e. "of a lion, of a man, of an eagle" - namely: "that of a lion," because of its strength [extending] into the lower realm, or last heaven, for it holds that in proper order, otherwise it would fall to pieces; "the face of a human," because the very inward person, to which this realm properly relates, is "human" - the kind of thought we have pertains merely to the inward person, which in turn is governed by the very inward realm [see 241:4]); "the face of an eagle," because it rises up high above the realm in which our perception or sense-based understanding lies. "The face of an ox" is omitted, and afterwards by Ezekiel "the face of a cherub" is named in the first place [10:14], because then he understood that it was the cherub to whom three faces were being ascribed. 1747, the 20th day of November (old calendar).

  
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Thanks to the Academy of the New Church, and Bryn Athyn College, for the permission to use this translation.