620. And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up.- That this signifies exploration, is evident from what precedes, namely, that by the little book is meant the Word, by the angel, the Lord as to the Word, and by devouring or eating it up, the reception, perception, and appropriation of it to oneself, consequently also exploration, in this case as to the quality of the understanding of the Word still remaining in the church. Exploration takes place by means of that which is perceived and according to perception; exploration therefore took place with the prophet John, because a prophet signifies the doctrine of the church, and in a universal sense the Word.

6857. 'Flowing with milk and honey' means which are a source of pleasure and delight. This is clear from the meaning of 'milk' as the celestial-spiritual or the truth of good, dealt with in 2184, and being the truth of good it is also the pleasure that goes with it, for the two are joined together; and from the meaning of 'honey' as delight, dealt with in 5620. From what was shown above in 6854 one may see what 'causing to go up out of that land to a land good and broad, flowing with milk and honey' is used to mean - that those who were held back on the lower earth, in pits there, until the Lord's Coming would be raised up to heaven, where the good of charity and the truth of faith are, which are a source of pleasure and delight. These things are what are meant in particular by those words; but in general they mean that all belonging to the spiritual Church undergo temptation and are delivered from it.