Spiritual Meaning of REVELATION 4:5
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AR 236. Verse 5. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings, and thunders, and voices, signifies enlightenment, perception, and instruction from the Lord. "Lightnings," by reason of the flash which strikes the eyes, signify enlightenment, and "thunders," by reason of the noise which strikes the ears, signify perception, and when these two signify enlightenment and perception, then "voices" signify instruction. These were seen to proceed "from the throne," because they proceed from the Son of man, or from the Lord as to the Word, and from the Lord through the Word come all enlightenment, perception, and instruction. "Lightnings, thunders, and voices," have a similar signification in other parts of the Word, as in these passages:--

Thou hast with Thine arm redeemed Thy people: the skies gave forth a voice; the voice of thunder went into the world; the lightnings enlightened the world (Ps. 77:15, 17, 18).

The lightnings of Jehovah shall enlighten the world (Ps. 97:4).

Thou didst call upon Me in straitness, and I rescued thee: I answered thee in the secret place of the thunder (Ps. 81:7).

I heard the sound of a great multitude, as the sound of mighty thunders, saying, Hallelujah, because the Lord, our God, the Almighty, hath taken the kingdom (Apoc. 19:6).

Because enlightenment, perception, and instruction are signified by "lightnings, thunders, and voices," therefore:--

When Jehovah descended upon Mount Sinai, and promulgated the Law, there were thunders and voices (Exod. 19:16).

And when

A voice was sent down from heaven to the Lord, it was heard as thunder (John 12:28, 29).

And as James and John represented charity and its works, and all perception of truth and good is from these:--

They were called by the Lord, Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder (Mark 3:17).

From these things it is manifest that similar things are signified by "lightnings, thunders, and voices," in the following passages in the Apocalypse:--

I heard a voice from the four animals, as it were a voice of thunder (Apoc. 6:1).

I heard a voice out of heaven as a voice of great thunder (Apoc. 14:2).

When the angel cast the censer unto the earth, there were thunders, voices, and lightnings (Apoc. 8:5).

When the angel cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices (Apoc. 10:3, 4).

When the temple of God was opened in heaven, there were lightnings, and voices, and thunders (Apoc. 11:19).

AR 237. And there where seven lamps of fire before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God, signifies the New Church in heaven and on earth from the Lord through the Divine truth proceeding from Him. Here by "seven lamps" the same is signified as by "the seven lampstands"; and also by "the seven stars" above. That by "the seven lampstands" is meant the New Church upon earth, which will be in enlightenment from the Lord, may be seen in (n. 43), and by "the seven stars," the New Church in the heavens (n. 65); and because the church is a church from the Divine which proceeds from the Lord, which is the Divine truth, and is called the Holy Spirit, therefore it is said, which are "the seven spirits of God." That by "the seven spirits of God" is signified that proceeding Divine, may be seen in (n. 14, 155).

REVELATION 4:5    previous  -  next  -  text  -  summary  -  Revelation  -  Full Page

Author:  E. Swedenborg (1688-1772). Design:  I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002. www.BibleMeanings.info