277#“宝座中间和宝座周围有四个活物，前后都满了眼睛”表示主的守卫和圣治，防止不通过爱与仁之良善就靠近内层天堂，以便依赖于其上的低层事物可以处于秩序。这从“宝座中间”、“宝座周围”、“四活物”和“眼睛”的含义清楚可知：“宝座中间”是指来自主，因为坐在宝座上的那一位是主(参看AE268节)；“宝座周围”是指内层或高层天堂，因为这些天堂最接近主；“四活物”，也就是基路伯，是指神性守卫和圣治，防止不通过爱与仁之良善就靠近内层或高层天堂，下文会解释这一点；前后都满了的“眼睛”是指主的圣治；因为“眼睛”当论及人时，表示理解力，也就是他的内在视觉，但当论及主时，它们表示圣治(参看AE68, 152节)。由于“眼睛”在此表示主的圣治，防止不通过爱与仁之良善就靠近高层天堂，所以只见这些基路伯“前后都满了眼睛”。低层事物，也就是低层天堂，以及地上的教会，都依赖于主的圣治，以便它们可以处于秩序，因为主的流注既直接来自祂自己，也间接通过高层天堂进入低层天堂和教会；因此，除非高层天堂处于秩序，否则低层天堂无法处于秩序。关于这种流注，可参看《新耶路撒冷及其属天教义》(277, 278节)。
此处“四活物”是指基路伯，这一点明显可见于以西结书，以西结在迦巴鲁河边看到类似事物，他在以西结书第1章和第10章描述了它们，它们在第10章被称为“基路伯”(以西结书10:1, 2, 4–9, 14, 16, 18, 19)。关于它们，经上说：
基路伯升上去了；这些是我在迦巴鲁河边所见的活物。这些是我在迦巴鲁河边所见，以色列神以下的活物，我就知道他们是基路伯。(以西结书10:15, 20)
该先知如此描述这四个活物，就是基路伯：
在迦巴鲁河边显出四个活物的形像。它们的外表是这样，有人的形像，它们各有四张脸，各有四个翅膀。它们脸的形像是这样；它们四个都有人的脸，右面有狮子的脸，它们四个左面都有牛的脸，它们四个都有鹰的脸。它们的形像，就如烧着的火炭，又如灯的形状；火在四活物中间上去下来，这火很明亮，从火中发出闪电。活物的头以上有奇妙水晶形状的穹苍。在它们头以上的穹苍之上有宝座的形像，仿佛蓝宝石的形状；在宝座形像以上有一个形像，仿佛人的形状在它上头。我从他腰以下的形状看见仿佛火的形状，周围也有光辉，如云中弓的形状；周围耶和华光辉的形状也是这样；这形状就是耶和华荣耀的形像。(以西结书1:5, 6, 10, 13, 22, 26–28)
经上以这些代表描述了主在高层天堂的神性，以及祂的圣治，即防止不通过爱与仁之良善就靠近它们；这段描述包含了启示录第四章关于各天堂的安排所提到的一切事物，它们由外表好像碧玉和红宝石的那一位坐着的“宝座”，以及宝座周围的“彩虹”，宝座前点着的“火灯”，和其它事物来表示；因此，无需解释它们，尤其在这个地方解释它们。
只要说明，在圣言中，“基路伯”表示主的守卫和圣治，防止不通过爱与仁之良善就靠近高层天堂，以便低层事物可以处于秩序。这一点从当人被逐出伊甸园时，安置在伊甸园前面的基路伯明显看出来；对此，摩西五经如此描述：
当耶和华神把那人赶出去时，祂又使基路伯在伊甸的东方居住，还有剑的火焰自行转动，要把守生命树的道路。(创世记3:24)
至于在这些章节，那人和他的妻子表示什么，可参看《属天的奥秘》中的相关解释，即：在那里，“人”表示上古教会，该教会是一个属天教会；属天教会不同于属灵教会之处在于：属天教会处于对主之爱的良善，而属灵教会处于对邻之仁的良善(参看《天堂与地狱》，20–28节)。两个高层天堂就从构成地上这两种教会的世人中形成。因此，属天教会，也就是这个地球上最古老和最初的教会，衰落并开始远离爱之良善时，经上就说：“使基路伯在伊甸的东方居住，还有剑的火焰自行转动，要把守生命树的道路。”“伊甸的东方”表示属天之爱的良善进入的地方；自行转动的“剑的火焰”表示来自那良善、进行保护的真理；“生命树”表示来自主、在高层天堂的神性，也就是爱与仁之良善和由此而来的天上喜乐。由此清楚可知，“基路伯”表示守卫，防止不通过爱与仁之良善就靠近这些天堂；因此，经上还说它们“把守生命树的道路”。“东方”表示爱之良善(参看《属天的奥秘》，1250, 3708节)；“伊甸”表示由此而来的智慧(《属天的奥秘》，99, 100节)；“剑”表示与虚假争战并驱散它的真理，因而表示进行保护的真理(AE73, 131a)；“火焰”表示来自属天良善的真理(《属天的奥秘》，3222, 6832, 9570节)；“生命树”表示来自主的爱之良善，和由此而来的天上喜乐(参看AE109, 110节)。
277b.由于“基路伯”的这种含义，两个实金的二基路伯安在柜子的施恩座上，对此，摩西五经如此描述：
要造两个基路伯，要用实金来造，安在施恩座的两头；要从施恩座中造基路伯。基路伯要向上张开翅膀，用它们的翅膀遮掩施恩座；基路伯的脸要朝着施恩座。要将施恩座安在柜上。我要在那里与你相会，又在二基路伯中间与你说话。(出埃及记25:18–22; 37:7–9)
“柜子”和“会幕”代表高层天堂；盛有法版或律法的柜子代表至内层或第三层天堂；幔子之外的居所代表中间或第二层天堂；“施恩座”代表对出于爱与仁之良善的敬拜的一切的垂听和接受；“基路伯”代表守卫；造它们所用的“金子”代表爱之良善。由此也清楚看出，“二基路伯”代表守卫，防止不通过爱与仁之良善就靠近高层天堂。“会幕”代表总体上主所在的天堂(参看《属天的奥秘》，9457, 9481, 10545节)；“柜子”代表至内层或第三层天堂(3478, 9485节)；柜子里的“法版”或律法代表圣言方面的主(3382, 6752, 7463节)；幔子之外的“居所”代表中间或第二层天堂(3478, 9457, 9481, 9485, 9594, 9596, 9632节)；“施恩座”代表对出于来自主的爱与仁之良善的敬拜的一切的垂听和接受(9506节)；“金子”代表爱之良善(113, 1551, 1552, 5658, 6914, 6917, 9510, 9874, 9881节)。
由于“基路伯”表示这些守卫，所以：
居所的帷帐上和幔子上也有基路伯。(出埃及记26:1, 31)
由于同样的原因，所罗门在圣殿的至圣所：
造了橄榄木的基路伯，把它们安在内部房屋的中间，又用金子包裹它们，还在周围所有的墙上都雕刻了基路伯的形像，棕树，和开放的花朵；又以同样的方式装饰了两扇门。(列王纪上6:23–29, 32–35)
“殿”也表示天堂和教会，它的“至圣所”表示天堂和教会的至内层。造基路伯所用的“橄榄木”表示爱之良善；包裹它们的“金子”也表示爱之良善。上面雕刻着基路伯的“墙”表示天堂和教会的终端，其上的“基路伯”表示守卫。也有基路伯在上面的“门”表示进入天堂和教会的入口。由此清楚看出，“基路伯”表示守卫，防止不通过爱与仁之良善就靠近天堂。“基路伯”因表示这些守卫，故也表示主的圣治，因为这些守卫来自主，是祂的圣治。“殿”和“神的家”表示天堂和教会(参看AE220节)；因此，“至圣所”表示它们的至内层。“橄榄木”表示爱之良善(参看《属天的奥秘》，886, 3728, 4582, 9780, 9954, 10261节)；“金子”同样表示爱之良善(参看AE242节)。“门”表示靠近和准许进入(参看AE248节)。
同样，新殿也被描述为装饰着基路伯；对此，以西结书如此记着说：
(墙上)雕刻基路伯和棕树，一个基路伯和一个基路伯之间有一棵棕树；所有房屋周围都是如此，从地至门以上，都造了基路伯和棕树；殿墙就是这样。(以西结书41:18–20)
“棕树”表示属灵良善，也就是仁之良善(参看《属天的奥秘》，8369节)。
由于源于神性良善的神性真理就是那进行保护的，所以推罗王被称为“基路伯”；“王”表示神性真理，“推罗”表示知识或认知；因此，“推罗王”表示聪明；关于推罗王，以西结书如此记着说：
推罗王啊，你曾在伊甸神的园中，各样宝石是你的遮盖。你是基路伯，就是那一位保护者的伸展，我将你安置在神的圣山上；你行走在火石中间。在你受造的那一日，你在路上就都完善。(以西结书28:12–15)
“王”表示神性真理(参看AE31b节)；“推罗”表示知识(《属天的奥秘》，1201节)。“宝石”表示天堂和教会的真理和良善(参看9863, 9865, 9868, 9873, 9905节)，它们被称为“火石”，是因为“火”表示爱之良善(参看934, 4906, 5215, 6314, 6832节)。由于“推罗王”表示来自神性真理的聪明，以及这种守卫或保护，所以推罗王被称为“基路伯，就是那一位保护者的伸展”。
由于高层天堂若不通过爱与仁之良善就无法靠近，也就是说，无法通过敬拜和祷告来靠近，除非它们从那良善发出，所以当摩西和亚伦进入柜子上的二基路伯之间的居所时，主才和他们说话(出埃及记25:22)。这一点在摩西五经中也是很明显的：
摩西进会幕的时候，听见法柜的施恩座以上，二基路伯之间与他说话的声音。(民数记7:89)
由于进行治理和守卫的是从主发出的神性，所以经上论到主说：
祂坐在基路伯上。(以赛亚书37:16; 诗篇18:9, 10; 80:1; 99:1; 撒母耳记上4:4; 撒母耳记下6:2)
由于本章论述的主题是为审判对一切事物的安排，所以此处也论述基路伯，也就是主的守卫和圣治，防止不通过爱与仁之良善就靠近高层天堂；除非这种安排在审判之前完成，否则真正的天使所在的真正天堂本身就会濒临灭绝，因为那些即将灭亡的天堂(参看启示录21:1)未处于爱与仁之良善，只处于某些真理。事实上，那里有那些来自基督教界、处于唯信教义的人，一些人通过圣言的一些经文确认唯信，从而通过这种方式获得与终端天堂的某种结合；但当被称为先前天(启示录21:1)的天堂过去了时，这种结合就打破了。这时，主规定，从今以后，任何人都不可以与天堂结合，除非他处于对主之爱的良善，并处于对邻之仁。这一点尤其是本章接下来的话所表示的。因此，凡以为那些处于唯信，同时未处于仁之良善的人能通过其敬拜和祷告靠近天堂的人都大错特错了。这些人的敬拜不再被接受，他们的祷告也不再蒙垂听；相反，只有他们的生命之爱得到关注。因此，如果对自我和世界的爱掌权，那么无论他们曾处于什么样的外在敬拜，他们都会与地狱结合，并且死后也会被带到那里，而不是像以前那样首先被带到某个即将灭亡的天堂。
277. (Verse 6) And in the midst of the throne, and roundabout the throne, were four animals full of eyes before and behind. That this signifies the guardianship and providence of the Lord to prevent the interior heavens being approached except by the good of love and of charity, that lower things thence depending may be in order, is evident from the signification of in the midst of the throne, as denoting from the Lord; for He who sat upon the throne was the Lord, as may be seen above (n. 268); and from the signification of roundabout the throne as denoting the interior or higher heavens, these being most nearly round-about the Lord; and from the signification of four animals, which were cherubim, as denoting the Divine guardianship and providence to prevent the interior or higher heavens from being approached except by the good of love and of charity, which will be explained in what follows; and from the signification of eyes, of which they were full, before and behind, as denoting the Divine providence of the Lord; for eyes when said of man signify the understanding, which is his internal sight; but when eyes are said of God, they signify the Divine providence, as may be seen above (n. 68, 152). And because eyes there signify the Divine providence of the Lord to prevent the higher heavens from being approached except by the good of love and of charity, therefore those cherubim were seen full of eyes, before and behind. The reason why lower things, which are the lower heavens, and also the church on earth, depend on that providence of the Lord, that they may be in order, is that the influx of the Lord is immediate from Himself, and also mediate through the higher into the lower heavens, and into the church; therefore unless the higher heavens are in order the lower cannot be in order (concerning which influx see The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 277, 278).
[2] That cherubim are here meant by the four animals is evident in Ezekiel, by whom similar things were seen at the river Chebar, which are described by him in chapters l. and x., and in the latter are called cherubim (verses 1, 2, 4-9, 14, 16, 18, 19). Concerning them it is said,
"The cherubim lifted themselves up; these animals which I saw by the river Chebar. These animals that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; I understood that they were the cherubim" (10:15, 20).
These four animals which were the cherubim, are thus described by the same prophet:
Near the river of Chebar "appeared the likeness of four animals of which this was the aspect: They had the likeness of a man, and they had each four faces, and they had each of them four wings: This was the likeness of their faces: the four had the face of a man and the face of a lion on the right side, and the four had the face of an ox on the left side, the four also had the face of an eagle. The appearance of them was as burning coals of fire, like the appearance of lamps; it went up and down among the animals, so that the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. Over the heads of the animals was an expanse according to the form of a wonderful crystal: over the expanse which was over their head, was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and upon the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it; from the appearance of his loins and downwards I saw as it were the appearance of a fire, and it had brightness round about, as the aspect of a rainbow that is in the cloud; this was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Jehovah" (1:1, 5, 6, 10, 13, 22, 26-28).
By these representatives is described the Divine of the Lord in the higher heavens, and His providence to prevent them from being approached except by the good of love and of charity; and in that description are contained all the things mentioned in this chapter of the Apocalypse concerning the arrangement of the heavens, and they are signified by the throne upon which sat one in appearance like a jasper stone and a sardine; also by the rainbow about the throne, by the lamps of fire burning before the throne, and other things, which it would therefore be needless to explain, particularly in this place.
[3] It shall now only be shown that by cherubim in the Word are signified the guardianship and providence of the Lord, to prevent the higher heavens from being approached except by the good of love and of charity, that lower things may be in order. This is clearly manifest from the account of the cherubim placed before the garden of Eden, when man was driven out; concerning which it is thus written in Moses:
"When" Jehovah God "had driven out the man, he made cherubim to dwell on the east of Eden, and a flame of a sword turning itself every way, to keep the way of the tree of life" (Heaven and Hell 20-28).
From the men who constitute those two churches on earth the two higher heavens are formed; when, therefore, the celestial church, which was the most ancient and primary church on this earth, declined and began to recede from the good of love, then it is said that cherubim were made to dwell on the east of the garden of Eden, and a flame of a sword which turned itself every way, to guard the way of the tree of life. By the east of Eden is signified where the good of celestial love enters; and by the flame of a sword which turned itself every way is signified truth from that good defending; and by the tree of life is signified the Divine which is from the Lord in the higher heavens, which is the good of love and charity, and heavenly joy therefrom. Hence it is evident that by cherubim are signified guards to prevent those heavens being approached except by the good of love and of charity; and on this account it is also said, "to guard the way of the tree of life." (That the east signifies the good of love, may be seen in Arcana Coelestia 1250, 3708; that Eden signifies wisdom therefrom, n. 99, 100; that sword signifies truth fighting against falsity and dispersing it, thus truth defending [see above], n. 73, 131; that flame signifies truth from celestial good, n. 3222, 6832, 9570; that the tree of life signifies the good of love from the Lord and heavenly joy therefrom, may be seen above, n. 109, 110).
[4] On account of this signification of cherubim there were two made of solid gold placed upon the propitiatory upon the ark, concerning which it is thus written in Moses:
"Thou shalt make cherubim, of solid gold shalt thou make them, from the two extremities of the propitiatory; from the propitiatory thou shalt make the cherubs, and let the cherubim be expanding their wings upward, covering with their wings the propitiatory; towards the propitiatory shall be the faces of the cherubim, and thou shalt put the propitiatory upon the ark. I will meet thee there, and I will speak with thee between the two cherubim" (Arcana Coelestia 9457, 9481, 10545; by the ark, the inmost or third heaven, n. 3478, 9485; by the testimony or the law in the ark, the Lord as to the Word, n. 3382, 6752, 7463; by the habitation which was without the veil, the middle or second heaven, n. 3478, 9457, 9481, 9485, 9594, 9596, 9632; by the propitiatory, the hearing and reception of all things of worship which are from the good of love and of charity from the , n. 9506, and by gold, the good of love, n. 113, 1551, 1552, 5658, 6914, 6917, 9510, 9874, 9881).
[5] And because by the cherubim were signified guards, therefore also, there were cherubim upon the curtains of the habitation, and upon the veil (220; hence the oracle signifies their inmost. That olive wood signifies the good of love, may be seen in Arcana Coelestia 886, 3728, 4582, 9780, 9954, 10261, and likewise the gold, see above, n. 242. That doors signify approach and admission may be seen also above, n. 248).
[6] Similarly, the new temple is described as ornamented with cherubim; concerning which it is thus written in Ezekiel:
"Cherubim and palm trees were made, so that a palm tree was between a cherub and a cherub; thus was it done to all the house round about; from the ground unto above the door were cherubim and palm trees made, and the wall of the temple" (41:18-20).
The palm signifies spiritual good, which is the good of charity (as may be seen, Arcana Coelestia. n. 8369).
[7] Because the Divine truth from the Divine good is that which protects, therefore the king of Tyre is called a cherub; for by king is signified Divine truth, and by Tyre are meant knowledges (cognitiones); and hence by the king of Tyre is signified intelligence, concerning which it is thus written in Ezekiel:
King of Tyre, "thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering. Thou cherub, the spreading out of one that protects; I have placed thee in the mount of holiness of God; thou hast walked in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways in the day that thou wast created" (31, and by Tyre knowledges, in Arcana Coelestia 1201. That by precious stones are signified the truths and goods of heaven and of the church, see n. 9863, 9865, 9868, 9873, 9905, which are called stones of fire, because fire signifies the good of love, as may be seen, n. 934, 4906, 5215, 6314, 6832). Because the king of Tyre signifies intelligence from Divine truth, and this guards or protects, therefore the king of Tyre is called the cherub, the spreading out of one that protects.
[8] Because the higher heavens cannot be approached except by means of the good of love and of charity, that is, cannot be approached by worship and by prayers unless they proceed from that good, therefore the Lord communed with Moses and Aaron, when they entered the habitation, between the two cherubim that were upon the ark (Exodus 25:22); as also is evident in Moses:
"When Moses entered into the tent of assembly he heard a voice speaking unto him from over the propitiatory that was upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim " (Num. 7:89).
Because it is the Divine proceeding from the Lord which provides and guards, therefore it is said of the Lord,
That He sitteth upon the cherubim, as in Isaiah 37:16; Psa. 18:10; 80:1; 99:1; 1 Sam. 4:4; 2 Sam. 6:2.
[9] Because the subject treated of in this chapter is the arrangement of all things for judgment therefore also the cherubim are here treated of, that the guardianship and providence of the Lord that the higher heavens may not be approached except by means of the good of love and of charity; for unless this had been done before the Judgment, the very heavens themselves, in which were the true angels, would have been endangered, because those heavens which were about to perish (concerning which see Apoc. 21:1) were not in the good of love and charity, but only in some truths. For there were there those from the Christian world who were in the doctrine of faith alone, which some had confirmed from a few passages of the Word, and by that means had obtained some kind of conjunction with the ultimate heaven; but this conjunction was broken when that heaven, which is called the former heaven, had passed away. It was then ordained by the Lord, that hereafter no one should be conjoined with the heavens unless he be in the good of love to the Lord and in charity towards the neighbour; this is what is specifically meant by the things that now follow in this chapter. Whoever, therefore, believes that the heavens can hereafter be approached by the worship and by the prayers of those who are in faith alone and not also in the good of charity, is much deceived. The worship of these is no longer received, nor are their prayers heard, but the love of their life alone is regarded. Wherefore if the love of self and of the world reign, in whatever external worship they may have been, they are conjoined to the hells, and are also borne thither after death, and not in the first place to some heaven that is about to perish, as was previously the case.
277. And in the midst of the throne and around the throne were four animals, full of eyes before and behind, signifies the Lord's guard and providence that the interior heavens be not approached except by the good of love and charity, that lower things depending thereon may be in the order. This is evident from the signification of "out of the midst of the throne," as being from the Lord, for the "One sitting upon the throne" was the Lord (See above, n. 268); also from the signification of "around the throne," as being the interior or higher heavens, for these are most nearly around the Lord; also from the signification of "four animals," which were cherubim, as being the Divine guard and providence that the interior or higher heavens be not approached except from the good of love and charity (of which in what follows); also from the signification of "eyes," of which they were full before and behind, as being the Lord's Divine Providence; for "eyes," in reference to man, signify the understanding, which is his internal sight; but when "eyes" are predicated of God, they signify the Divine Providence (See above, n. 68, 152). And since "eyes" here signify the Lord's Divine Providence that the higher heavens be not approached except from the good of love and of charity, therefore these cherubim were seen "full of eyes before and behind."
On this providence of the Lord, lower things, which are the lower heavens and also the church on earth, depend, that they may be in order, because the influx of the Lord is both immediate from Himself, and also mediate through the higher heavens into the lower heavens and into the church; consequently unless the higher heavens were in order the lower could not be in order. (On this influx see The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 277-278.)
[2] That by "the four animals" here cherubim are meant is evident in Ezekiel, by whom like things were seen at the river Chebar, which are described by him in chap. 1 and in chap. 10, and in the latter called "cherubim" (Ezekiel 10:1-2, 4-9, 14, 16, 18-19), and it is said of them:
The cherubim mounted up; these are the animals that I saw by the river Chebar. These are the animals that I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubim (Ezekiel 10:16, 20).
These "four animals, that were cherubim," are thus described by that prophet:
Near the river Chebar appeared the likeness of four animals. This was their aspect: they had the likeness of a man, and each one had four faces, and each one of them had four wings. This was the likeness of their faces: the four of them had the face of a man and the face of a lion on the right side, and the four of them had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four of them had the face of an eagle. Their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of lamps; the same went up and down among the animals, so that the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. Over the heads of the animals was an expanse of the appearance of a wonderful crystal. Above the expanse which was over their head was as it were the appearance of a sapphire stone, the likeness of a throne; and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man upon it. From the appearance of his loins and downwards I saw as it were an appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about, as the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud; so was the appearance of the brightness of Jehovah round about; this appearance was the likeness of the glory of Jehovah (Ezekiel 1:5-6, 10, 13, 22, 26-28).
By these representatives the Divine of the Lord in the higher heavens, and His Providence that they be not approached except from the good of love and charity, are described; and in this description are contained all the things that are mentioned in this chapter of Revelation respecting the arrangement of the heavens, and signified by "the throne on which was One sitting in aspect like a jasper stone and a sardius;" also by the "rainbow round about the throne," by the "lamps of fire burning before the throne," and the other things which it is not necessary therefore to explain here singly.
[3] It shall now be shown merely that "cherubim" in the Word signify the guard and providence of the Lord that the higher heavens be not approached except from the good of love and charity, that lower things may be in order. This is plainly seen by the cherubim placed before the garden of Eden, when man was driven from it, which are thus described in Moses:
When Jehovah God had driven out the man, He made to dwell on the east of Eden the cherubim, and the flame of a sword turning hither and thither, to guard the way of the tree of life (Heaven and Hell 20-28). Of the men who constitute these two churches on the earth the two higher heavens are formed. When, therefore, the celestial church, which was the most ancient and primary church on this earth, declined and began to recede from the good of love, it is said that "cherubim were made to dwell on the east of Eden, and the flame of a sword turning hither and thither, to guard the way of the tree of life." The "east of Eden" signifies where the good of celestial love enters; "the flame of a sword turning hither and thither" signifies truth from that good, protecting; and "the tree of life" signifies the Divine that is from the Lord in the higher heavens, which is the good of love and charity and heavenly joy therefrom. From this it is clear that "cherubim" signify guards that these heavens be not approached except through the good of love and charity; for this reason they are also said "to guard the way of the tree of life." (That the "east" signifies the good of love, see Arcana Coelestia 1250, 3708; that "Eden" signifies wisdom therefrom, n. 99, 100; that "sword" signifies truth combating against falsity and dispersing it, thus truth protecting, above, n. 73, 131; that "flame" signifies truth from celestial good, Arcana Coelestia 3222, 6832, 9570; that "the tree of life" signifies the good of love from the Lord and the heavenly joy therefrom, see above, n. 109, 110.)
[4] Because of this signification of "cherubim," two cherubim of solid gold were placed upon the mercy-seat which was upon the ark, thus described in Moses:
Thou shalt make cherubim, of solid gold thou shalt make them, from the two ends of the mercy-seat; out of the mercy-seat thou shalt make the cherubim. And the cherubim shall spread out their wings upwards, covering the mercy-seat with their wings; towards the mercy-seat shall be the faces of the cherubim. And thou shalt put the mercy-seat upon the ark. And there I will meet with thee, and I will speak with thee between the two cherubim (Arcana Coelestia 9457, 9481, 10545; the "ark" the inmost or third heaven, n. 3478, 9485; the "testimony or law in the ark," the Lord in respect to the Word, n. 3382, 6752, 7463; the "habitation," that was without the veil, the middle or second heaven, n. 3478, 9457, 9481, 9485, 9594, 9596, 9632; the "mercy-seat," the hearing and reception of all things of worship that are from the good of love and charity from the Lord, n. 9506; and "gold" the good of love, n. 113, 1551, 1552, 5658, 6914, 6917, 9510, 9874, 9881)
[5] Because "cherubim" signified those guards:
There were cherubim also upon the curtains of the tabernacle and upon the veil (220; the "oracle" therefore signifies the inmost of these. That "olive wood" signifies the good of love, see Arcana Coelestia 886[1-2], 3728, 4582, 9780, 9954, 10261; likewise "gold," see above, n. 242. That "doors" signify approach and admission, see also above, n. 248)
[6] The new temple is likewise described as ornamented with cherubim, of which in Ezekiel:
There were made cherubim and palm-trees, so that a palm-tree was between a cherub and a cherub; thus it was made for all the house round about, from the ground unto above the door were cherubim and palm-trees made; and the wall of the temple (Arcana Coelestia 8369).
[7] Since Divine truth from Divine good is what protects, therefore the king of Tyre is called a "cherub;" for "king" signifies Divine truth, and "Tyre" knowledges; and therefore the "king of Tyre" signifies intelligence, of whom it is thus written in Ezekiel:
Thou, King of Tyre, hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering. Thou cherub, the spreading out of one that protects, I have set thee, on God's mountain of holiness wast thou; thou hast walked in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways in 1the day that thou wast created (31; and "Tyre" knowledges, Arcana Coelestia 1201. That "precious stones" signify the truths and goods of heaven and the church, see n. 9863, 9865, 9868, 9873, 9905, which are called "stones of fire" because "fire" signifies the good of love, see n. 934, 4906, 5215, 6314, 6832.) Because the "king of Tyre" signifies intelligence from Divine truth, and this guards or protects, therefore the king of Tyre is called "a cherub, the spreading out of one that protects."
[8] Since the higher heavens cannot be approached except through the good of love and charity, that is, cannot be approached through worship and through prayers, except such as proceed from that good, therefore the Lord spoke with Moses and Aaron when they entered the habitation between the two cherubim that were upon the ark (Exodus 25:22). This also is made evident in Moses:
When Moses went into the tent of meeting, he heard the Voice speaking unto him from above the mercy-seat that was upon the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim (Numbers 7:89).
Because it is the Divine proceeding from the Lord that provides and guards, therefore it is said of the Lord that:
He sitteth upon the cherubim (Isaiah 37:16; Psalms 18:9-10; 80:1; 99:1; 1 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 6:2).
[9] Since the arrangement of all things for judgment is treated of in this chapter, the cherubim also are here treated of, that is, the Lord's guard and providence that the higher heavens be not approached except through the good of love and charity; for unless this had been done before the judgment, the veriest heavens, in which the true angels are, would have been endangered, because those heavens that were about to perish (See Revelation 21:1) were not in the good of love and charity, but only in some truths. For there were there from the Christian world those who were in the doctrine of faith alone, which some had confirmed by a number of passages from the Word, and thus obtained some conjunction with the ultimate heaven; but this conjunction was broken when the heaven called the former heaven (Revelation 21:1) was dissipated; and it was then ordered by the Lord that hereafter no one shall be conjoined with the heavens unless he be in the good of love to the Lord and in charity towards the neighbor. This is what is specifically meant by the things that now follow in this chapter. Whoever, therefore, believes that the heavens can hereafter be approached through the worship and prayers of those who are in faith alone, and not at the same time in the good of charity, is much mistaken. The worship of such is no longer received, nor are their prayers heard, but attention is directed only to their life's love. Those, therefore, in whom the love of self and the world rules, no matter in what external worship they may have been, are conjoined to the hells, and are also taken there after death, and not previously to any heaven that is to perish, as was the case hitherto.
Footnotes:
1. For "in the day" the Hebrew has "from the day," as also found in Arcana Coelestia 114.
277. "Et in medio throni et circum thronum quatuor Animalia plena oculis ante et retro." - Quod significet custodiam et providentiam Domini ne interiores caeli adeantur nisi a bono amoris et charitatis, ut inferiora, quae inde pendent, in ordine sint, constat ex significatione "e medio throni", quod sit a Domino ("Sedens" enim "super throno" erat Dominus, videatur supra, n. 268); et ex significatione "circum thronum", quod sint caeli interiores seu superiores, illi enim sunt circum Dominum proxime; ex significatione "quatuor Animalium", quae erant cherubi, quod sint Divina custodia et providentia ne caeli interiores seu superiores adeantur nisi a bono amoris et charitatis (de qua sequitur); et ex significatione "oculorum" quibus erant "plena ante et retro", quod sint Divina providentia Domini; "oculi" enim, cum de homine, significant intellectum, qui est visus ejus internus; cum autem "oculi" dicuntur de Deo, significant Divinam providentiam (videatur supra, n. 68 et 152): et quia per "oculos" ibi significatur Divina providentia Domini, ne caeli superiores adeantur nisi a bono amoris et charitatis, ideo visi sunt cherubi illi "pleni oculis ante et retro": quod ex illa providentia Domini pendeant inferiora, quae sunt caeli inferiores et quoque ecclesia in terris, ut in ordine sint, est quia influxus Domini est immediatus a Se et quoque mediatus per caelos superiores in caelos inferiores et in ecclesiam; quare nisi caeli superiores in ordine sint, inferiores nec possent in ordine esse. (De quo Influxu videatur in Doctrina Novae Hierosolymae, n. 277, 278.)
[2] Quod cherubi sint qui hic intelliguntur per "quatuor Animalia", constat apud Ezechielem, cui similia visa sunt ad fluvium Kebar, quae describuntur ab illo in capite 1 et capite 10, et in hoc ultimo vocantur "cherubi" (vers. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 16, 18, 19), et de illis dicitur,
"Sustulerunt se cherubi; haec Animalia quae vidi ad fluvium Kebar. ... Haec Animalia quae vidi sub Deo Israelis ad fluvium Kebar, intellexi quod cherubi illi" (cap. 10:15, 20).
Quatuor Animalia, quae cherubi, ita describuntur apud illum prophetam:
Juxta fluvium Kebar apparuit similitudo quatuor Animalium, quorum hic erat aspectus: similitudo hominis illis, et quatuor facies cuique, et quatuor alae cuique illorum:... similitudo facierum eorum; facies hominis et facies leonis ad dextram quatuor illis, et facies bovis ad sinistram quatuor illis, ac facies aquilae quatuor illis:.... aspectus eorum sicut prunae ignis ardentes juxta aspectum lampadum: idem incedens inter Animalia, ita ut splendor igni, et ex igne exiens fulgur.... Super capitibus Animalis expansum, juxta speciem crystalli mirabilis:.... super expanso, quod super capite eorum, quasi aspectus lapidis sapphiri, similitudo throni; et super similitudine throni, similitudo ut aspectus Hominis super illo:.... ab aspectu lumborum Ejus et deorsum vidi quasi aspectum ignis, cui splendor circumcirca, sicut aspectus iridis quae est in nube; sic aspectus splendoris" Jehovae "circumcirca; hic aspectus similitudo gloriae Jehovae" (Ezechiel 1:5, 6, 10, 13, 22, 26-28);
per haec repraesentativa describitur Divinum Domini in caelis superioribus, ac providentia Ipsius ne adeantur nisi a bono amoris et charitatis; et in descriptione illa continentur omnia quae in hoc capite Apocalypseos de ordinatione caelorum dicta sunt, et significata per "thronum super quo Sedens similis aspectu lapidi jaspidi et per "iridem circum thronum", per "lampades ignis ardentes coram throno", et per reliqua, quae ideo singillatim explicare supersedeo:
[3] nunc solum ostendetur, quod per "cherubos" in Verbo significentur custodiae et providentia Domini ne caeli superiores adeantur nisi a bono amoris et charitatis, ut inferiora in ordine sint. Hoc patet evidenter ex cherubis positis ante hortum Edenis, quando homo inde expulsus est; de quibus ita apud Mosen:
"Cum" Jehovah Deus "expulisset hominem, habitare fecit ab oriente Edenis cherubos, et flammam gladii hinc inde vertentis se, ad custodiendum viam arboris vitae" (Genesis 3:24);
quid per "hominem" et ejus "uxorem" in iis capitibus intelligitur, videatur explicatum in Arcanis Caelestibus; quod nempe per "hominem" ibi intelligatur Ecclesia Antiquissima, quae erat ecclesia caelestis; et ecclesia caelestis distinguitur ab ecclesia spirituali in eo, quod illa sit in bono amoris in Dominum, haec autem in bono charitatis erga proximum (videatur in opere De Caelo et Inferno 20-28). Ex hominibus qui faciunt binas illas ecclesias in terris formantur bini caeli superiores. Quando itaque ecclesia caelestis, quae fuit Antiquissima et primaria in hac tellure, declinavit et incepit recedere a bono amoris, tunc dicitur quod "cherubi habitare facti sint ab oriente Edenis, et flamma gladii vertentis se hinc inde, ad custodiendum viam ad arborem vitae"; et per "orientem Edenis" significatur ubi intrat bonum amoris caelestis; per "flammam gladii vertentis se hinc inde", significatur verum ex illo bono tutans; et per "arborem vitae" significatur Divinum quod a Domino in caelis superioribus, quod est bonum amoris et charitatis et inde gaudium caeleste. Inde patet quod per "cherubos" significentur custodiae ne adeantur illi caeli nisi per bonum amoris et charitatis; quare etiam de illis dicitur, "ad custodiendum viam arboris vitae."
(Quod "oriens" significet bonum amoris, videatur n. 1250, 3708; quod "Eden" sapientiam inde, n. 99, 100; quod "gladius" significet verum pugnans contra falsum et id dispergens, ita verum tutans, (supra, ) n. 73, 131(a); quod "flamma" verum ex bono caelesti, n. 3222, 6832, 9570; quod "arbor vitae" sit bonum amoris a Domino, et inde gaudium caeleste, supra, n. 109, 110.)
[4] Quia hoc significatur per "cherubos", ideo bini cherubi ex auro solido positi fuerunt super propitiatorio quod super arcam, de quibus ita apud Mosen:
"Facies cherubos, ex auro solido facies illos, a duabus extremitatibus propitiatorii..., ex propitiatorio facies cherubos:... et sint cherubi expandentes alas sursum, obtegentes alis suis propitiatorium.... versus propitiatorium erunt facies cheruborum; et dabis propitiatorium super arcam .... conveniam te ibi, et loquar tecum... Inter duos cherubos" (Exodus 25:18-22; 37:7-9);
per arcam et tentorium repraesentabantur caeli superiores; per arcam, in qua Testimonium seu Lex, repraesentabatur caelum intimum seu tertium per habitaculum, quod extra velum, caelum medium seu secundum; per propitiatorium auditio et receptio omnium cultus quae ex bono amoris et charitatis; per cherubos custodiae, ac per aurum ex quo illi, bonum amoris: inde etiam patet quod bini cherubi repraesentaverint custodias ne adeantur caeli superiores nisi per bonum amoris et charitatis. (Quod per Tabernaculum in genere repraesentatum sit caelum ubi Dominus, videatur n. 9457, 9481, 10545; per arcam, intimum seu tertium caelum, n. 3478, 9485; per Testimonium seu Legem in arca, Dominus quoad Verbum, n. 3382, 6752, 1
7463; quod per habitaculum, quod extra velum, caelum medium seu, secundum, n. 3478, 9457, 9481, 9485, 9594, 9596, 9632; quod per propitiatorium, auditio et receptio omnium cultus quae ex bono amoris et charitatis a Domino, n. 9506; et quod per aurum, bonum amoris, n. 113, 1551, 1552, 5658, 6914, 6917, 9510, 9874, 9881.)
[5] Quia illae custodiae per "cherubos" significatae sunt,
Ideo etiam cherubi erant super aulaeis habitaculi, et super velo (Exodus 26:1, 31);
Ac ideo Salomo fecit in adyto Templi cherubos ex ligno olei, et posuit eos in medio Domus interioris, et obduxit illos auro: et quoque sculpsit omnes parietes Domus sculpturis cheruborum, et quoque super fores (1 Reg. 6:23, 29, 32, 35 2
);
per "Templum" etiam significabatur caelum et ecclesia; et per "adytum" ejus, intimum caeli et ecclesiae; per "lignum olei" ex quo cherubi significatur bonum amoris, similiter per "aurum" quo obducti erant; per "parietes" super quibus sculpti erant cherubi, significantur ultima caeli et ecclesiae, ac per "cherubos" ibi custodiae: per "fores" super quibus etiam erant cherubi, significatur aditus in caelum et ecclesiam: inde patet quod "cherubi" significaverint custodias ne adeatur caelum nisi per bonum amoris et charitatis; et quia "cherubi" significaverunt custodias illas, etiam significant Divinam providentiam Domini, nam custodiae illae sunt a Domino, et sunt Divina Ipsius providentia.
(Quod "Templum" et "Domus Dei" significent caelum et ecclesiam, videatur supra, n. 220; inde "adytum" significat intimum eorum.
Quod "lignum olei" significet bonum amoris, in Arcanis Caelestibus, n. 886, 3728, 3
4582, 9780, 9954, 10261; similiter "aurum", supra, n. 242.
Quod "fores" significent aditum et intromissionem, etiam supra, n. 248.)
[6] Similiter cherubis ornatum describitur Templum novum, de quo apud Ezechielem:
"Facti cherubi et palmae, ita ut palma inter cherubum et cherubum:.... ita factum ad omnem Domum circumcirca a terra usque ad supra ostium, cherubi et palmae facti; et paries Templi" (41:18-20);
"palma" significat bonum spirituale, quod est bonum charitatis (videatur n. 8369 4
).
[7] Quoniam Divinum Verum ex Divino Bono protegit, ideo Rex Tyri vocatur "cherubus"; per "regem" enim significatur Divinum Verum, et per "Tyrum" cognitiones, et inde per "Regem Tyri" intelligentia; de quo ita apud Ezechielem:
Rex Tyri, "in Eden horto Dei fuisti; omnis lapis pretiosus tegumentum tuum;.... tu cherubus expansio protegentis, posui te in monte sanctitatis Dei, in medio lapidum ignis ambulaveras, perfectus in viis tuis 5
in die quo creatus es" (28:12, [13,] 14, 15).
(Quod per "regem" significetur Divinum Verum, videatur supra, n. 31(d): et quod per "Tyrum" cognitiones, in Arcanis Caelestibus, n. 1201; quod per "lapides pretiosos" vera et bona caeli et ecclesiae, n. 9863, 9865, 9868, 9873, 9905; qui vocantur "lapides ignis", quia "ignis" significat bonum amoris, n. 934, 4906, 6314, 5215, 6832.) Quia per "Regem Tyri" significatur intelligentia ex Divino Vero, et hoc custodit seu protegit, ideo Rex Tyri vocatur "cherubus expansio protegentis."
[8] Quoniam non adiri possunt caeli superiores nisi per bonum amoris et charitatis, hoc est, per cultum et per preces nisi quae procedunt ex illo bono, ideo
Dominus locutus est cum Mose et Aharone, cum intraverunt habitaculum, inter binos cherubos qui super arca (Exodus 25:22);
ut quoque constat apud Mosen:
"Quando ingressus est Moses in Tentorium conventus, ... audivit vocem loquentem ad illum desuper propitiatorio quod super arca testimonii ab inter duos cherubos" (Numeri 7:89).
Quia est Divinum procedens a Domino quod providet et custodit, ideo de Domino dicitur,
Quod sedeat super cherubis (Esaias 37:16: Psalms 18:10, 11 [B.A. 9, 10); Psalms 80:2 [B.A. 1); Psalms 99:1; 1 Samuelis 4:4; 2 Samuelis 6:2).
[9] Quoniam in hoc capite agitur de ordinatione omnium ad judicium, ideo etiam agitur hic de cherubis, hoc est, de custodia et providentia Domini ne caeli superiores adeantur nisi per bonum amoris et charitatis; nam nisi hoc factum fuisset ante judicium, periclitati fuissent ipsissimi caeli in quibus veri angeli, ex causa quia illi caeli qui perituri (de quibus Apoc. cap. 21:1) non in bono amoris et charitatis fuerunt, sed modo in aliquibus veris. Fuerunt enim ibi ex Christiano orbe illi qui in doctrina de sola fide, quam aliqui confirmarunt ex nonnullis locis e Verbo, et per id aliquam conjunctionem nacti sunt cum ultimo caelo: sed conjunctio illa disrupta est, quando id caelum, quod (Apocalypsis 21:1) vocatur "prius caelum", dissipatum est; et tunc ordinatum est a Domino ne posthac aliquis conjungatur caelis nisi qui in bono amoris in Dominum et in charitate erga proximum est. Hoc in specie est quod intelligitur per illa quae nunc sequuntur in hoc capite. Qui itaque credit quod caeli posthac adiri possint per cultum et per preces ab iis qui in sola fide sunt et non simul in bono charitatis, multum fallitur: cultus eorum non amplius recipitur nec preces audiuntur, sed attenditur modo ad amorem vitae eorum; quare si amor sui et mundi regnat, qualitercunque in cultu externo sunt, conjuncti sunt infernis, et quoque illuc post mortem feruntur, et non prius ad aliquod caelum quod periturum, ut hactenus factum est.
Footnotes:
1. The editors made a correction or note here.
2. The editors made a correction or note here.
3. The editors made a correction or note here.
4. The editors made a correction or note here.
5. The editors made a correction or note here.