Apocalypse Explained #276
276. Verses 6b, 7, 8. And in the midst of the throne and around the throne were four animals, full of eyes before and behind. And the first animal was like a lion, and the second animal like a calf, and the third animal had a face like a man, and the fourth animal was like a flying eagle. And the four animals, each by itself had six wings round about, and they were full of eyes within, and they had no rest day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come. "And in the midst of the throne and around the throne were four animals, full of eyes before and behind," signifies the Lord's guard and providence that the interior heavens be not approached except by the good of love and charity, that lower things depending thereon may be in order n. 277.
7. "And the first animal was like a lion," signifies the appearance, in ultimates of Divine truth proceeding from the Lord in respect to power and efficiency (n. 278; "and the second animal like a calf," signifies the appearance, in ultimates, of Divine good in respect to protection n. 279; "and the third animal had a face like a man," signifies the appearance, in ultimates, of the Divine guard and providence in respect to wisdom n. 280; "and the fourth animal was like a flying eagle," signifies the appearance, in ultimates, of the Divine guard and providence in respect to intelligence and as to circumspection on every side (n. 281-282.)
8. "And the four animals, each by itself, had six wings round about," signifies the appearance of the spiritual Divine on all sides about the celestial Divine n. 283; "and full of eyes within," signifies the Divine Providence and guard (n. 284); "and they had no rest day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy," signifies that which is most holy proceeding from the Lord. n. 285); "Lord God Almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come," signifies the infinite and eternal (n. 286).
Heaven and Hell #20
20. IV. HEAVEN IS DIVIDED INTO TWO KINGDOMS.
As there are infinite varieties in heaven, and no one society nor any one angel is exactly like any other, 1 there are in heaven general, specific, and particular divisions. The general division is into two kingdoms, the specific into three heavens, and the particular into innumerable societies. Each of these will be treated of in what follows. The general division is said to be into kingdoms, because heaven is called "the kingdom of God."
Примітки:
1. [Swedenborg's footnote] There is infinite variety, and nowhere any thing the same as another (Arcana Coelestia 7236, 9002).
Also in the heavens there is infinite variety (684, 690, 3744, 5598, 7236).
Varieties in heaven are varieties of good (3744, 4005, 7236, 7833, 7836, 9002).
All societies in the heavens, and all angels in a society, are thereby distinguished from each other (690, 3241, 3519, 3804, 3986, 4067, 4149, 4263, 7236, 7833, 7836).
Nevertheless they are all made one by love from the Lord (457, 3986).
