225. THE FOURTH CHAPTER
1. After these things I saw, and behold an open door in heaven; and the first voice that I heard, like a trumpet speaking with me, was saying, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must come to pass hereafter. 2. And immediately I came to be in the spirit, and behold a throne set in heaven, and upon the throne One sitting. 3. And the One sitting looked like a stone of jasper and sardius, and the rainbow round about the throne looked like an emerald. 4. And around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting wrapped around with white garments, and on their heads they had golden crowns. 5. And out of the throne were going forth lightnings and thunderings and voices; and seven lamps of fire blazing before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. 6. And in full view of the throne a sea of glass like unto crystal. And in the midst of the throne and around the throne, four animals full of eyes before and behind. 7. And the first animal was like a lion, and the second animal like a calf, and the third animal having a face as a man, and the fourth animal was like a flying eagle. 8. And the four animals, each separately, had six wings round about, and within they were full of eyes, and had no rest day and night, saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and Who is and Who is to come. 9. And when the animals gave glory, and honour, and thanks to the One sitting upon the throne, to Him living for ages of ages, 10. The twenty-four elders were falling prostrate before the One sitting upon the throne, and adoring the One living for ages of ages, and were casting their crowns away before the throne saying, 11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to take to Thyself glory and honour and power, for Thou hast created all things, and by Thy will they exist and have been created.
THE SPIRITUAL SENSE
THE CONTENT OF THE WHOLE CHAPTER
It treats of the setting in order and preparation of all in heaven for the judgment that is going to be out of the Word and in accordance therewith; then of the recognition that the Lord is the only Judge.
THE CONTENTS OF EACH OF THE VERSES
1. After these things I saw, and behold an open door in heaven signifies manifestation concerning the setting of the heavens in order by the Lord for the last judgment, about to come to pass in accordance with His Divine truths in the Word. And the first voice that I heard, like a trumpet speaking with me, was saying, Come up hither signifies Divine influx, and the resulting elevation of mind, and a manifest perception then. And I will show thee things which must come to pass hereafter signifies revelations of things to come before the last judgment, also of the last judgment itself, and after it. 2. And immediately I came to be in the spirit signifies that he was admitted into a spiritual state, in which the things that come into existence in heaven are clearly visible. And behold a throne set [in heaven] signifies judgment in a representative form. And upon the throne One sitting signifies the Lord. 3. And the One sitting looked like a stone of jasper and sardius signifies the appearing of the Lord's Divine Wisdom and Divine Love in ultimates. And the rainbow round about the throne looked like an emerald signifies the appearing of these also around the Lord. 4. And around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting signifies the setting of all in heaven in order for judgment. Wrapped around with white garments signifies out of the Divine truths of the Word. And on their heads they had golden crowns signifies which are of wisdom derived from love. 5. And out of the throne were going forth lightnings and thunderings and voices signifies enlightenment, perception, and instruction from the Lord. And seven lamps of fire [blazing] before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God [signifies the New Church resulting therefrom in heaven and on earth from the Lord by means of the Divine Truth proceeding from Himself. 6. And in full view of the throne a sea of glass like unto crystal] signifies the New Heaven [formed] out of Christians who were in general truths out of the sense of the letter of the Word. And in the midst of the throne and around the throne four animals signifies the Lord's Word from firsts in ultimates, and its guards. Full of eyes before and behind signifies Divine Wisdom therein. 7. And the first animal was like a lion signifies the Divine Truth of the Word as to power. And the second animal like a calf signifies the Divine Truth of the Word as to affection. And the third animal having a face as a man signifies the Divine Truth of the Word as to wisdom. And the fourth animal was like a flying eagle signifies the Divine Truth of the Word as to cognitions, and the resulting understanding. 8. And the four animals, each separately, had six wings round about signifies the Word as to power and as to its guards. And within they were full of eyes signifies the Divine Wisdom in the Word in the natural sense out of its spiritual and celestial sense. And had no rest day and night, saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty signifies that the Word is continually teaching [the doctrine of] the Lord, and that He Only is God, and consequently that He Only is to be worshipped. Who was and Who is and Who is to come signifies the Lord. 9. And when the animals gave glory and honour and thanks to the One sitting upon the throne signifies that the Word awards all truth and good and all worship to the Lord about to judge. To Him living for ages of ages signifies that the Lord Only has life, and eternal life is from Him Only. 10. The twenty-four elders were falling prostrate before the One sitting upon the throne, and adoring the One living for ages of ages signifies the humbling of all in heaven before the Lord. And were casting their crowns away before the throne signifies the recognition that their wisdom is from Him Only. 11. Saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to take to Thyself glory and honour and power signifies the confession that the Lord, because He is Divine Truth and Divine Good, has the kingdom by virtue of merit and justice. For Thou hast created all things, and by Thy will they exist and have been created signifies that all things of heaven and the Church have been made and formed, and that men are reformed and regenerated, out of Divine Good by means of the Divine Truth that is also the Word.
THE EXPOSITION
[verse 1] 'After these things I saw, and behold an open door in heaven' signifies manifestation concerning the setting of the heavens in order by the Lord for the last judgment, about to come to pass in accordance with His Divine truths in the Word. By 'an open door', when [said] of heaven, is signified entry, as above (n. 176); here also manifestation, because he says, 'I saw, and behold'. And because the things that are mentioned in this chapter were seen then, and these are concerned with the setting of the heavens in order by the Lord for the last judgment about to come to pass in accordance with His Divine truths in the Word, therefore by 'I saw, [and] behold an open door in heaven' is signified manifestation concerning these things.