303. Who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof? signifies, is there anyone there such as to know and to perceive the states of life of all? This is evident from the signification of "Who is worthy?" as being, is there anyone who has merit and righteousness, and who has omniscience, thus whether there is any such? That "worthy," in reference to the Lord, signifies merit and righteousness, which belong to Him alone, see above n. 293. And that omniscience is signified is clear from what follows, where it is said, "the Lamb took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne, and opened it;" for "right hand" signifies omniscience and omnipotence (See above, n. 297); it is evident also from the signification of the "book," as being the states of life of all in general and in particular (of which see just above, n. 299); and also from the signification of "to open the book and to loose the seals thereof," as being to know and perceive; for when the "book" signifies the states of life of all, "to open and to loose the seals" signifies to know and perceive those states; for knowing and perceiving are predicated of the state of life, but opening and loosening seals relate to a book; thus the words in the internal sense conform to the things signified by the words in the sense of the letter, for they correspond; therefore, "to open" signifies to know, and "to loose the seals" signifies to perceive what is altogether hidden from others (as above, n. 300).

221. DIVINE WORSHIP IN HEAVEN

Divine worship in the heavens is not unlike, in externals, Divine worship on the earth, but in internals it is different. In the heavens, as on earth, there are doctrines, preachings and temples. The Doctrines agree as to essentials, but they are doctrines of more interior wisdom in the higher heavens than in the lower. The Preachings are in accordance with the doctrines, and as they have houses and palaces, (183-190), so they have Temples in which the preaching takes place. Such things exist in the heavens, because the angels are being continually perfected in wisdom and love. For they have, as men have, understanding and will, and both their understanding and their will are capable of being continually perfected, the understanding by means of the truths of intelligence, and the will by means of the goods of love. ¹

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