322. The four animals and the four-and-twenty elders fell down before the Lamb. That this signifies the acknowledgment and hence the glorification of the Lord by the angels of the higher heavens, is evident from the signification of the four animals and the four-and-twenty elders, as denoting, in general, the whole heaven, but specifically the inmost heavens, consequently, the angels of the higher heavens (concerning which see above, n. 313); here specifically the angels of those heavens, because in what follows glorification is made by the angels of the lower heavens; and from the signification of their falling down before the Lamb, as denoting acknowledgment from a humble heart. (That to fall down signifies humiliation, and then reception and acknowledgment of heart, may be seen above, n. 290.) That the acknowledgment of the Lord's Divine Human is meant is evident, for this is signified by the Lamb (see above, n. [314] ¹ ). What the higher heavens are, and what the lower heavens are, shall here be explained in a few words. There are three heavens; the third or inmost heaven is where the angels are who are in celestial love; the second or middle heaven is where the angels are who are in spiritual love; the first or ultimate heaven is where the angels who are in spiritual-natural love. The third or inmost heaven is conjoined with the second or middle by intermediate angels, who are called celestial-spiritual and spiritual-celestial angels; these, together with the angels of the third or inmost heaven, constitute the higher heavens; but the rest in the second or middle heaven, together with those who are in the first or ultimate heaven, constitute the lower heavens. The four animals signify specifically the third or inmost heaven, and the four-and-twenty elders the second or middle heaven, which is conjoined to the third or inmost; thus together they signify the higher heavens. (Concerning the intermediate angels, who are called celestial-spiritual, and spiritual-celestial, and concerning the conjunction of the third heaven with the second by them, see the Arcana Coelestia 1577, 1824, 2184, 4047, 4286, 4585, 4592, 4594, 6435, 6526, 8787, 8801, 9671.)

Fotnoter:

4628. To continue what has been said about the odours into which spheres associated with perceptions are converted, one smells them as plainly as odours on earth. But they do not enter the sensory awareness of anyone whose interiors are closed, because they come in by an internal route, not by an external one. These odours have two different origins, namely the perception of good and the perception of evil. Those originating in the perception of good are most pleasing, being like the perfume from fragrant flowers in a garden, and from other fragrancies, and are indescribably lovely as well as various. Among odorous spheres such as these live the inhabitants of heaven.

[2] But the odours which originate in the perception of evil are most displeasing. They are foul and stinking, like the reek of stinking waters, excrement, dead bodies, or people with the disgusting smell like that of mice or lice coming from them. Among malodorous spheres such as these live the inhabitants of hell. And what is astonishing, those living among them do not find them offensive. Indeed those foul smells are delightful to them, and when such exist the inhabitants of hell are within the sphere of things that give them joy and delight. But when hell is opened and the exhalation from it reaches good spirits, these are seized with horror and also distress, like those in the world who encounter the sphere of such stenches.