Spiritual Meaning of REVELATION 5:6
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AR 268. Verse 6.And I saw, and behold, in the midst of the throne, and of the four animals, and in the midst of the elders, signifies from inmosts, and thence in all things of heaven, the Word, and the church. "In the midst" signifies in the inmosts, and thence in all things (n. 44); "a throne" signifies heaven (n. 14); "the four animals" or cherubs signify the Word (n. 239) and the "twenty-four elders" signify the church as to all things belonging thereto (n. 233, 251). From these things it follows, that, "in the midst of the throne, and of the four animals, and in the midst of the elders," signifies from inmosts in all things of heaven, the Word, and the church.

AR 269. A Lamb standing as if slain, signifies the Lord as to His Human, not acknowledged in the church as Divine. By "Lamb," in the Apocalypse, is meant the Lord as to the Divine Human, and by "a Lamb slain," that His Human is not acknowledged in the church as Divine; in like manner as in chapter 1, where it is said:--

I was made dead, and behold I am alive for ages of ages (Apoc 1:18).

By which is meant that the Lord is neglected in the church, and His Human not acknowledged as Divine (n. 59); that this is the case may be seen below (n. 294). Since, therefore, the Lord as to the Divine Human is meant by "the Lamb," and it is said of Him, that "He took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne," and afterwards that "He opened it, and loosed the seven seals thereof," and since no mortal could do this, but God alone, it follows, that by "the Lamb" is meant the Lord as to the Divine Human, and by "slain," that He is not acknowledged as God as to His Human.

AR 270. Having seven horns, signifies His omnipotence. "A horn" is frequently mentioned in the Word, and by it is everywhere signified power; therefore when "a horn" is predicated of the Lord, it signifies omnipotence. The reason why "seven horns" are mentioned, is, because "seven" signifies all (n. 10), thus omnipotence. That "a horn" signifies power, and when applied to the Lord, omnipotence, may appear from the following passages:--

They who rejoice at a thing of naught, who say, have we not taken us horns by our own strength? (Amos 6:13).

I said unto the wicked, Lift not up the horn, lift not up your horn on high; All the horns of the wicked I will cut off; but the horns of the just shall be exalted (Ps. 75:4, 5, 10).

Jehovah hath exalted the horn of thine enemies (Lam. 2:17).

The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken (Jer. 48:25).

Ye thrust with side and shoulder, and strike all the feeble sheep with your horns (Ezek. 34:21).

Jehovah hath exalted the horn of his people (Ps. 148:14).

Jehovah God of hosts the glory of our strength, hath exalted our horn (Ps. 89:17).

The brightness of Jehovah God shall be as the light, He had horns out of His hand, and there was the hiding of His power (Hab. 3:4).

My arm shall strengthen David, and in My name shall his horn be exalted (Ps. 89:21, 24).

Jehovah is my strength, my rock, my horn (Ps. 18:2, 3; 2 Sam. 22:3).

Arise, O daughter of Zion, for I will make thy horn iron, and thou shalt beat in pieces many people (Micah 4:13).

Jehovah hath destroyed in His wrath the stronghold of the daughter of Judah, and hath cut off all the horn of Israel (Lam. 2:2, 3).

Powers are also signified by:--

The horns of the dragon (Apoc. 12:3).

By the horns of the beast which came up out of the sea (Apoc. 13:1).

By the horns of the scarlet beast upon which the woman sat (Apoc. 17:3, 7, 12).

By the horns of the ram and the he-goat (Dan. 8:3, 4, 5, 7-12, 21, 25).

By the horns of the beast which came up out of the sea (Dan. 7:3, 7, 8, 20, 21, 23, 24).

By the four horns which scattered Judah and Israel (Zech. 1:18-21).

By the horns of the altar of burnt-offerings, and the altar of incense (Exod. 27:2; 30:2, 3, 10).

By these last was signified the power of Divine truth in the church; and, on the other hand, that power would perish is signified by "the horns of the altars in Bethel," in Amos:--

I will visit upon the transgressions of Israel, I will visit upon the altars of Bethel, that the horns of the altar may be cut off, and fall to the earth (Amos 3:14).

AR 271. And seven eyes, signifies His omniscience and Divine wisdom. That "eyes," when spoken of the Lord, signify His Divine wisdom, may be seen in (n. 48, 125), thus also omniscience; and that "seven" signifies all, and is predicated of anything holy (n. 10); hence by "the seven eyes of the Lamb," is signified the Divine wisdom of the Lord, which is also omniscience.

AR 272. Which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth, signifies that from the Divine wisdom is derived Divine truth into the whole world, where there is religion. "The seven spirits of God" are the Divine truth proceeding from the Lord as in (n. 14, 155). "To be sent forth into all the earth," is into the whole world where there is religion, is evident; for where there is religion, it is taught that there is a God, and that there is a devil, and that God is good itself, and that all good is from Him, and that the devil is evil itself, and that all evil is from him; and, as they are opposites, so evil, because it is from the devil, is to be shunned, and good, because it is from God, is to be done; consequently, in proportion as anyone does evil, so far he loves the devil, and acts against God. Such Divine truth is in the whole world where there is any religion; so that it is only necessary to know what evil is, and this also is known by all who have any religion; for the precepts of all religions are similar to those contained in the Decalogue, that one must not kill, nor commit whoredom, nor steal, nor bear false witness. These are in general Divine truths from the Lord "sent forth into all the earth," see The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem concerning the Sacred Scripture (Sacred n. 101-118). Therefore he who lives according to them because they are Divine truths, or the commandments of God, and thence of religion, is saved. But he who only lives according to them because they are civil and moral truths, is not saved, for he that denies God may also so live, but not he that confesses God.

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