269. And there was a rainbow round about the throne in aspect like unto an emerald. That this signifies the appearance of Divine truth in the heavens surrounding the Lord is evident from the signification of a rainbow in aspect like unto an emerald, as denoting the appearance of Divine truth in its circumference; for a rainbow round about the throne signifies Divine truth around it, and in aspect signifies appearance. The reason why the appearance of the rainbow was like that of an emerald, is that it indicated the Last Judgment, for the colour of this stone is green, and green signifies truth obscured. Divine truth in its splendour appears either of a sky-colour, or of various colours disposed in beautiful order, as those of the rainbow; but when it is obscured it appears of the colour of an emerald. The heaven which is called the former heaven was that on which judgment was to be executed, and which was about to perish (see Apoc. 21:1) which caused the obscurity. This is why mention is made of a rainbow, and its aspect like that of an emerald. The reason why the rainbow signifies Divine truth in the heavens in its order, and thence in its beauty, is that there are infinite varieties of truth from good in the heavens; and when they are represented by colours, they present the appearance of a beautiful rainbow. This is why the rainbow was made a sign of the covenant after the flood (Genesis 9:12-17). (That there are infinite varieties in the heavens may be seen in the work, Heaven and Hell 56, 405, 418, 486, and in the small work, The Last Judgment 13; and in Arcana Coelestia 684, 690, 3744, 5598, 7236, 7833, 7836, 9002. That colours in heaven appear from the light there, and that they are its modifications and variegations, n. 1042, 1043, 1053, 1624, 3993, 4530, 4742, 4922; and that the colours appear various according to the varieties of the states of truth from good, and thence of intelligence and wisdom, n. 4530, 4677, 4922, 9466. That rainbows appear in heaven, and whence and what they are, n. 1042, 1043, 1623, 1624, 1625.)

4742. 'The tunic of various colours that was on him' means the nature of the appearances which is determined by that of the truths derived from good. This is clear from the meaning of 'the tunic of various colours' as appearances of truth by which the spiritual of the natural is recognized and distinguished, dealt with in 4677, here therefore the nature of those appearances; and for this reason the word 'tunic' is used twice - 'they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of various colours'. The fact that the nature of these appearances is determined by that of the truths derived from good may be known from appearances of truth when these are manifested visually in the light of heaven, that is, in the next life. There no other light exists than that which comes from the Lord by way of heaven and which emanates from His Divine Truth; for this appears before the eyes of the angels as light, 2776, 3190, 3195, 3222, 3339, 3340, 3636, 3643, 3993, 4302, 4413, 4415. This light varies with each angel, depending on his reception of it. Angels' entire thought is formed by the variegation of that light, as also is man's thought, though he is not conscious of this because in man's case that light falls onto material images or ideas present in his natural or external man which are formed from the light of the world.

Consequently in his case the light of heaven is dimmed to such an extent that he scarcely knows that the light and sight in his understanding are a product of the light of heaven. But in the next life when the sight of the eye is no longer reliant on the light of the world but on that of heaven it is then obvious that his thought is formed from the latter.

[2] When this light passes from heaven into the world of spirits it manifests itself there in the form of various colours, the beauty, variation, and loveliness of these colours being immensely superior to the colours produced by the light of the world; see what has already been presented from experience regarding colours, in 1053, 1624, 3993, 4530, 4677. Because colours in the next life are formed from the light of heaven they are in origin nothing else than appearances of truth derived from good. The source from which truth shines is not truth itself because by itself alone it does not possess any flame; rather, good is the source of it since this is like the flame from which light shines. The nature of good therefore determines the nature of the truth that appears from it, and the nature of the truth is the same as that of the good from which it shines. From this one may see what is meant in the internal sense by 'the tunic of various colours' - that the nature of the appearances is determined by that of the truths derived from good; for as shown already, 'Joseph', to whom the tunic belonged, represents Divine Truth.