Spiritual Summary of REVELATION 4    previous  -  next  -  text  -  details  -  Revelation  -  BM Home  -  Full Page

It treats of the arrangement and preparation of all things in heaven for the judgment, to be executed from the Word, and according to it; likewise concerning the acknowledgment that the Lord is the only judge.

Ver. 1. "After these things, I saw and behold a door opened in heaven," signifies a manifestation concerning the arrangement of the heavens preparatory to the Last Judgment from the Lord, about to be performed according to His Divine truths in the Word (n. 225). "And the first voice which I heard, as of a trumpet, speaking with me, said, Come up hither," signifies Divine influx, and thence an elevation of the mind, followed by manifest perception (n. 226). "And I will show thee the things which must be hereafter," signifies revelations of things to come before the Last Judgment, and concerning it, and after it (n. 227).

Ver. 2. "And immediately I was in the spirit," signifies that he was let into a spiritual state, in which the things which exist in heaven manifestly appear (n. 228). "And, behold, a throne was set in heaven," signifies the Judgment in a representative form. "And One sitting on the throne," signifies the Lord (n. 230).

Ver. 3. "And He that sat was in appearance like a jasper and a sardine stone," signifies the appearance of the Lord’s Divine wisdom and Divine love in ultimates (n. 231). "And there was a rainbow round about the throne in appearance like an emerald," signifies the appearance of the same also round about the Lord (n. 232).

Ver. 4. "And round about the throne were four-and-twenty thrones, and upon the thrones I saw four-and-twenty elders sitting," signifies the arrangement of all things in heaven preparatory to the Judgment (n. 233). "Clothed in white garments," signifies from the Divine truths of the Word (n. 234). "And they had on their heads golden crowns," signifies the things which are of wisdom from love (n. 235).

Ver. 5. "And out of the throne proceeded lightnings, and thunders, and voices," signifies enlightenment, perception, and instruction from the Lord (n. 236). "And there were seven lamps of fire before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God," signifies the New Heaven from among Christians (n. 237, 238).

Ver. 6. "And in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, there were four animals," signifies the Word of the Lord from first to ultimates, and its guards (n. 239). "Full of eyes before and behind," signifies the Divine wisdom therein (n. 240).

Ver. 7. "And the first animal was like a lion," signifies the Divine truth of the Word as to power (n. 241). "And the second animal like a calf," signifies the Divine truth of the Word as to affection (n. 242). "And the third animal having a face like a man," signifies the Divine truth of the Word as to wisdom (n. 243). "And the fourth animal was like a flying eagle," signifies the Divine truth of the Word as to knowledges and thence understanding (n. 244). Ver. 8. "And the four animals each by himself had six wings about him," signifies the Word as to its powers and as to its guards (n. 245). "And they were full of eyes within," signifies the Divine Wisdom in the Word in its natural sense from its spiritual and celestial sense (n. 246). "And they had no rest day and night, saying, `Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty," signifies that the Word continually teaches the Lord, and that He alone is God, and thence that He alone is to be worshiped (n. 247). "Who was, and who is, and who is to come," signifies the Lord (n. 248).

Ver. 9. "And when the animals gave glory, and honor, and thanks to Him that sat upon the throne," signifies that the Word ascribes all truth, and all good, and all worship to the Lord Who is to judge (n. 249). "Who liveth for ages of ages," signifies that the Lord alone is life, and that life eternal is from Him alone (n. 250).

Ver. 10. "The four-and-twenty elders fell down before Him that sat on the throne, and adored Him that liveth for ages of ages," signifies the humiliation of all in heaven before the Lord (n. 251). "And cast their crowns before the throne," signifies the acknowledgment that their wisdom is from Him alone (n. 252).

Ver. 11. " Saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power," signifies that the kingdom is the Lord‘s by merit and justice, because He is the Divine truth and the Divine good (n. 253). "For Thou hast created all things, and by Thy will they are, and were created," signifies that all things of heaven and the church were made and formed, and men reformed and regenerated from the Lord’s Divine love by His Divine wisdom, or from His Divine good by His Divine truth, which also is the Word.