278#启7:7. “第一个活物像狮子”表示就能力和结果而言，从主发出的神性真理的终端的表象。这从“狮子”的含义清楚可知，“狮子”是指就能力和结果而言，从主发出的神性真理，下文将解释这一点。它是指表象，是因为基路伯看上去像动物，这第一个动物像一只狮子。说它在终端，是因为当约翰在灵里时，这表象在他面前；这时，他看见终端的一切事物；在终端，神性属天事物和神性属灵事物以各种方式被代表，有时由花园和公园或乐园来代表，有时由宫殿和圣殿来代表，有时由河和水来代表，有时由各种活物或动物来代表，如狮子、骆驼、马、公牛、小母牛、绵羊、羊羔、鸽子、飞鹰，以及其它许多动物。写圣言的先知就看到类似事物，以便终端的圣言，也就是包含在字义中的事物可以由诸如存在于世上的那类事物构成，这些事物是属天和属灵事物的代表和对应，因而作为一个基础和根基服务于灵义。也正因如此，约翰和以西结看见基路伯有像活物或动物的脸；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。
278b.由于正是主守卫和治理，并且通过神性真理和神性良善，因而通过祂的神性智慧和聪明如此行，所以看到的动物是四个，它们就像狮子、牛犊、人和飞鹰。“狮子”代表神性真理的能力；“牛犊”代表保护方面的神性真理；“人”代表神性智慧；“飞鹰”代表神性聪明。这四者就包括在主在守卫高层天堂的圣治中，好叫它们若不通过爱与仁之良善就无法被靠近。
“狮子”表示就能力而言，从主发出的神性真理，这一点从圣言中提到“狮子”的经文明显看出来；如摩西五经：
犹大是狮子的幼崽；我儿啊，你捕了猎就上去；他蹲伏，卧如老狮；谁敢惹他？(创世记49:9)
此处“犹大”表示主的属天国度，在那里，所有人都通过神性真理处于来自主的能力；这种能力由“狮子的幼崽”和“老狮”来表示；他捕了猎就上去，其中“捕猎”表示对虚假和邪恶的驱散；“蹲伏”表示将自己置于能力；“卧”表示处于免受一切虚假和邪恶伤害的安全状态；故经上说：“谁敢惹他？”在圣言中，“犹大”表示主的属天国度(参看《属天的奥秘》，3654, 3881, 5603, 5782, 6363节)；“捕猎”当论及属天国度和主时，表示对虚假和邪恶的驱散，并从地狱中抢夺和解救出来(6368, 6442节)；“蹲伏”当论及狮子时，表示将自己置于能力(6369节)；“卧”表示一种安全和宁静的状态(3696节)。
民数记：
这时必对雅各和以色列说，神做了什么？看哪，这百姓兴起如老狮，挺身好像少壮狮子；他决不躺卧，直到他吃了被撕裂之物。(民数记23:23, 24)
又：
他蹲伏，卧如老狮，谁敢惹他？凡祝福你的，必受祝福；凡咒诅你的，必受咒诅。(民数记24:9)
此处论述的主题是表示主的属灵国度的雅各和以色列；老狮和少壮狮子兴起、挺身和蹲伏描述了它们的能力；“吃被撕裂之物”表示对虚假和邪恶的驱散，“他躺卧，谁敢惹他”表示一种安全和宁静的状态。在圣言中，“雅各”和“以色列”表示主的属灵国度(参看《属天的奥秘》，4286, 4570, 5973, 6426, 8805, 9340节)；至于什么是主的属天国度，什么是祂的属灵国度，可参看《天堂与地狱》(20–28节)。“蹲伏”是指将自己置于能力；捕猎和毁掉表示对虚假和邪恶的驱散；“躺卧”当论及狮子时，表示一种安全和宁静的状态，可参看前文。
那鸿书：
狮子的居所和少壮狮子喂养之处在哪里呢？公狮、老狮、狮子的幼崽行走、无人惊吓它们之地在哪里呢？(那鸿书2:11)
此处“狮子”也表示那些通过真理处于能力的人；“它们的居所”表示教会里有这些人的地方；它们的“喂养之处”表示真理和良善的知识；它们“行走、无人惊吓它们”表示他们免受邪恶和虚假伤害的安全状态。
弥迦书：
雅各余剩的人必在多民中间，如从耶和华那里降下的露水，又如降在草上的甘霖。如森林百兽中的狮子，又如少壮狮子在羊群中；他若经过，就必践踏撕碎，无人搭救。你的手必举起，高过你的敌人，你的一切对手都必被剪除。(弥迦书5:7–9)
“雅各余剩的人”表示教会的真理和良善；“从耶和华那里降下的露水”表示属灵真理；“降在草上的甘霖”表示属世真理；“森林百兽中的狮子”、“羊群中的少壮狮子”、“践踏撕碎，无人搭救”表示胜过邪恶和虚假的能力。由于这种含义，经上说：“你的手必举起，高过你的敌人，你的一切对手都必被剪除。”因为“敌人”表示邪恶，“对手”表示虚假(参看《属天的奥秘》，2851, 8289, 9314, 10481节)。
以赛亚书：
主说，你去设立守望者，叫他看见和报告。他看见一辆战车，一对马兵，一辆驴车，一辆骆驼车，就仔细地听；瞭望塔上的狮子大喊，主啊！我白日常常站着，整夜立在我的守望所；巴比伦倾倒了，倾倒了。(以赛亚书21:6–9)
此处论述的主题是主的降临和那时的一个新教会。“瞭望塔上的狮子”表示主的守卫和圣治；故经上说：“我白日常常站着，整夜立在我的守望所。”“一辆战车”和“一对马兵”表示来自圣言的真理的教义；“仔细地听”表示照该教义所过的生活。“战车”表示真理的教义(参看《属天的奥秘》，2761, 2762, 5321, 8029, 8215节)；“马兵”表示理解方面的圣言(参看2761, 6401, 6534, 7024, 8146, 8148节)。
同一先知书：
许多牧人出来攻击他时，就好像狮子和少壮狮子为抓猎而咆哮，如此万军之耶和华必降临在锡安山和它的冈陵上争战。(以赛亚书31:4)
在这段经文中，耶和华被比作“咆哮的狮子”，是因为“狮子”表示从地狱或邪恶中领出来的能力，“咆哮”表示防御邪恶和虚假；故经上说：“如此万军之耶和华必降临在锡安山和它的冈陵上争战。”“锡安山和它的冈陵”表示属天教会和属灵教会；狮子和少壮狮子为之咆哮的“抓猎”表示从邪恶，也就是地狱中的解救。
在何西阿书，“咆哮”当论及狮子时，具有同样的含义：
我必不回头毁灭以法莲。他们必跟随如狮子吼叫的耶和华。(何西阿书11:9, 10)
阿摩司书：
狮子吼叫，谁不惧怕呢？主耶和华说话，谁不会说预言呢？(阿摩司书3:8)
启示录：
天使大声呼喊，好像狮子吼叫。(启示录10:3)
诗篇：
少壮狮子猎食之后吼叫，向神寻求食物。日头升起，它们就聚集，躺卧在它们的居所。(诗篇104:21, 22)
诗篇中的这些话描述了当天堂天使未处于强烈的爱和由此而来的智慧的状态时，他们的状态；当他们回到这种状态时，之前的状态就被描述为“狮子猎食之后吼叫，向神寻求食物”；后一种状态被描述为“日头升起，它们就聚集，躺卧在它们的居所”。“狮子”表示天堂的天使；它们的“咆哮”表示渴望；“猎食”和“食物”表示爱之良善和智慧之真理；“升起的日头”表示爱和由此而来的智慧方面的主；“聚集”表示他们回到一种属天状态；“躺卧在它们的居所”表示一种宁静和平安的状态。关于天堂天使的这两种状态，可参看《天堂与地狱》(154–161节)。
278c.由于耶和华因能力方面的神性真理而被比作狮子，所以在启示录，主被称为“狮子”：
看哪，来自犹大支派的狮子，大卫的根，已经得胜。(启示录5:5)
由于一切能力都通过神性真理来自主，所以这神性真理也由“狮子”来表示，如在摩西五经：
论到迦得，他说，那使迦得宽阔的，是受祝福的；迦得住如狮子，他撕裂膀臂，连头顶也撕裂。(申命记33:20)
“迦得”在至高意义上表示全能，因而在代表意义上表示真理的能力(参看《属天的奥秘》，3934, 3935节)；故经上说：“那使迦得宽阔的，是受祝福的。”因为“宽”表示真理(《属天的奥秘》，1613, 3433, 3434, 4482, 9487, 10179节)；一切真理都来自神性真理(参看《天堂与地狱》228–233节，就是关于天堂天使的能力那一章)。
由于“狮子”表示能力，所以在大卫吊扫罗和约拿单的哀歌中，经上说：
扫罗和约拿单是可爱的，他们比鹰更快，比狮子还强。(撒母耳记下l:23)
此处“扫罗”作为君王，“约拿单”作为君王的儿子，表示保护教会的真理，因为此处论述的主题是真理和良善的教义；事实上，这首哀歌是为将这弓教导犹大人而写的(撒母耳记下l:18)；“弓”表示这教义(参看《属天的奥秘》，2686, 2709, 6422节)。
由于“犹大和以色列的王”代表神性真理方面的主，“宝座”代表审判，审判是通过神性真理实现的，还由于“狮子”代表能力、守卫，以及免受虚假和邪恶伤害的保护或防御，所以所罗门建造的宝座的两层台阶旁边有两个狮子，六层台阶的这一边和那一边有十二个狮子(列王纪上10:18–20)。由此可见，在圣言中，当论述的主题是主，天堂和教会时，“狮子”表示什么。在圣言中，“狮子”在反面意义上也表示源于邪恶的虚假的能力，教会被这种能力摧毁和荒废。如耶利米书：
少壮狮子向她咆哮，发出大声，使地荒废。(耶利米书2:15)
以赛亚书：
一个箭锐利，所有弓都张开的民族，他的马蹄算如岩石，他吼叫像狮子，咆哮像少壮狮子，他咆哮抓猎。(以赛亚书5:28, 29)
除此之外还有其它许多地方(如以赛亚书11:6; 35:9; 耶利米书4:7; 5:6; 12:8; 50:17; 51:38; 以西结书19:3, 5, 6; 何西阿书13:7, 8; 约珥书1:6, 7; 诗篇17:12; 22:13; 57:4; 58:6; 91:13)。
278. (5:7) And the first animal was like a lion. That this signifies the appearance in ultimates of the Divine truth proceeding from the Lord as to power and effect, is evident from the signification of a lion, as being Divine truth proceeding from the Lord as to power and effect, which will be explained in what follows. The reason why it denotes appearance in ultimates is because the cherubim were seen as animals, and the first was like a lion. It is said in ultimates because that appearance was before John when he was in the spirit, and he then saw all things in ultimates, in which celestial and spiritual Divine things are variously represented, sometimes by gardens and parks, sometimes by palaces and temples, sometimes by rivers and waters, sometimes by animals of various descriptions, as by lions, camels, horses, oxen, heifers, sheep, lambs, doves, eagles, and many others. Similar things were seen by the prophets by whom the Word was written, in order that the Word in its ultimates, which are the things contained in the sense of the letter, might consist of such things as are in the world, which were representations and correspondences of celestial and spiritual things, and thus serve for a basis and foundation to the spiritual sense. It was for this heaven also that the cherubim, by which are signified the guardianship and providence of the Lord that the higher heavens may not be approached except by the good of love and of charity, were seen by John, and also by Ezekiel, to have faces like animals. Because it is the Lord who guards and provides, and this by Divine truth and Divine good, thus by His Divine wisdom and intelligence, therefore there were seen four animals, respectively like a lion, a calf, a man and an eagle.
[2] By the lion was represented the power of Divine truth; by the calf, the Divine good as to protection; by the man, the Divine wisdom; and by the eagle, the Divine intelligence. These four are included in the Divine providence of the Lord as to the guardianship of the higher heavens, that they may not be approached except by the good of love and of charity.
That a lion signifies Divine truth proceeding from the Lord as to power, is evident from the following passages in the Word; as in Moses:
"Judah is a lion's whelp; from the prey, my son, thou art gone up; he stooped down, he lay down as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?" (Arcana Coelestia 3634, 3881, 5603, 5782, 6363. That by prey, when said of that kingdom and concerning the Lord, is signified the dissipation of falsities and evils, and snatching away and deliverance from hell, Arcana Coelestia 6368, 6442; that by stooping, when said of the lion, is signified to put himself into power, n. 6369; and that to lie down, signifies a state of security and tranquillity, n. 3696).
[3] In the same:
"At this time it shall be said to Jacob and to Israel, What hath God wrought? Behold, the people riseth up as an old lion, and lifteth up himself as a young lion; he shall not lie down until he eat of the spoil" (Arcana Coelestia 4286, 4570, 5973, 6426, 8805, 9340. What the Lord's Celestial Kingdom is, and what His Spiritual Kingdom, may be seen in the work, Heaven and Hell 20-28. That to couch denotes to put himself into power, that prey and spoil denote the dissipation of falsities and evils, and that lying down when said of a lion denotes a state of security and tranquillity, see above).
[4] Again in Nahum:
"Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feeding place of the young lions? where walked the lion, the old lion, the lion's whelp, and none making afraid?" (2:11).
By lions here also are signified those who are in power by means of Divine truth; by their dwelling is signified, where there are such in the church; by their feeding place are signified the knowledges (cognitiones) of truth and good; by their walking and none making afraid is signified their state of security from evils and falsities.
[5] Again, in Micah
"The remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people, as a dew from Jehovah, as the drops upon the herb, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep; who, if he go through, will tread down, and disperse in pieces, so that none delivereth. Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine enemies, and all thine adversaries shall be cut off" (Arcana Coelestia 2851, 8289, 9314, 10481).
[6] In Isaiah:
"The Lord said, Go, set a watchman, who shall behold and declare. And he saw a chariot, a pair of horsemen, a chariot of an ass, a chariot of a camel, and he hearkened a hearkening; a lion upon the watch tower cried aloud: O Lord! I stand continually in the daytime, and I am set upon my guard all the night; Babylon is fallen, is fallen" (Arcana Coelestia 2761, 2762, 5321, 8029, 8215: that horseman signifies the Word as to understanding may be seen, n. 2761, 6401, 6534, 7024, 8146, 8148).
[7] In the same:
"Like as a lion and a young lion roareth on his prey when a multitude of shepherds goeth out against him so shall Jehovah of hosts descend to war upon mount Zion, and upon the hill thereof" (31:4).
In this passage Jehovah is compared to a lion roaring, because by a lion is signified the power of leading out from hell, or from evils, and by roaring is signified defence against evils and falsities; therefore it is said, "so shall Jehovah of hosts descend to war upon mount Zion, and upon the hill thereof." Mount Zion and the hill thereof denotes the celestial church and the spiritual church; and the prey upon which the lion and the young lion is said to roar signifies deliverance from evils, which are from hell.
[8] To roar, when said of the lion, has the same signification in Hosea:
"I will not return to destroy Ephraim, they will go after Jehovah as a lion roareth" (Heaven and Hell 154-161).
[9] Because Jehovah is compared to a lion from Divine truth as to power, therefore the Lord is called a lion in the Apocalypse:
"Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David" (3935). Hence it is said, "Blessed is he who hath given breadth to Gad," for by breadth is signified truth (see Arcana Coelestia 1613, 3433, 3434, 4482, 9487, 10179; that all power is from Divine truth, may be seen in the work, Heaven and Hell, in the article concerning the power of the angels of heaven, n. 228-233).
[10] Because by lion is signified power, therefore in the lamentation of David over Saul and Jonathan, it is said,
"Saul and Jonathan were lovely, they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions" (Arcana Coelestia 2686, 2709, 6422).
[11] Because by the kings of Judah and Israel the Lord was represented as to Divine truth, and because by a throne was represented judgment, which is executed from Divine truth, and by lions were represented power, guardianship and defence against falsities and evils, therefore near the two stays of the throne built by Solomon there were two lions, and twelve upon the six steps on the one side and on the other (1 Kings 10:18-20). From these considerations it is evident what is signified by lions in the Word when the subject treated is the Lord, heaven and the church. Lions also, in the Word, in an opposite sense, signify the power of falsity from evil, by which the church is destroyed and devastated; as in Jeremiah:
"The young lions roar against him, they utter their voice, they reduce the earth to wasteness" (2:15).
And in Isaiah:
A nation "whose darts are sharp, and all his bows bent, the hoofs of his horses are accounted as rock, his roaring as of a lion, he roareth as a young lion, he roareth and layeth hold of the prey" (5:28, 29).
Also in many other places, as in Isaiah 11:6; 35:9; Jeremiah 4:7; 5:6; 12:8; 50:17; 51:38; Ezekiel 19:3, 5, 6; Hosea 13:7, 8; Joel 1:6, 7; Psalms 17:12; 22:13; 57:4; 58:6; 91:13.
278. Verse 7. And the first animal was like a lion, signifies the appearance, in ultimates, of Divine truth proceeding from the Lord in respect to power and effect. This is evident from the signification of "lion," as being Divine truth proceeding from the Lord in respect to power and effect (of which in what follows). It means appearance in ultimates, because the cherubim were seen as animals, and this first one like a lion. It is said in ultimates, because that appearance was before John when he was in the spirit, and he saw all things in ultimates, in which Divine celestial and Divine spiritual things are variously represented, now by gardens and paradises, now by palaces and temples, now by rivers and waters, now by living creatures of various kinds, such as lions, camels, horses, oxen, bullocks, sheep, lambs, doves, eagles, and many others. Like things were seen by the prophets through whom the Word was written, in order that the Word in its ultimates, which are the things contained in the sense of the letter, might consist of such things as exist in the world, which might be representations and correspondences of celestial and spiritual things, and thus might serve as a basis and foundation to the spiritual sense. For this reason also the cherubim (which signify the guard and providence of the Lord that the higher heavens be not approached except from the good of love and charity) were seen by John and also by Ezekiel, in respect to their faces, as animals.
Since it is the Lord who guards and provides, and this through Divine truth and Divine good, thus through His Divine wisdom and intelligence, four animals were seen, which were like a lion, a calf, a man, and an eagle; for thus by "lion" Divine truth in respect to power was represented, by "calf" Divine good in respect to protection, by "man" the Divine wisdom, and by "eagle" the Divine intelligence; which four things are included in the Lord's Divine Providence in its guarding the higher heavens, that they be not approached except from the good of love and charity.
[2] That a "lion" signifies Divine truth proceeding from the Lord in respect to power is evident from the passages in the Word in which "lion" is mentioned; as from the following, in Moses:
Judah is a lion's whelp; from the prey, my son, thou are gone up; he couched, he lay down as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? (Arcana Coelestia 3654), n. 3654, 3881, 5603, 5782, 6363; that "prey," in reference to that kingdom and to the Lord, signifies the dispersion of falsities and evils, and the rescue and deliverance from hell, n. 6368, 6442; that "couching" in reference to a lion, signifies to put oneself into power, n. 6369; and that "lying down" signifies a state of security and tranquillity, n. Arcana Coelestia 3696[1-5])
[3] In the same:
At this time it shall be said to Jacob and to Israel, What hath God wrought? Behold the people riseth up as an old lion, and as a young lion doth he lift himself up; he shall not lie down until he eat of what is torn (Arcana Coelestia 4286, 4570, 5973, 6426, 8805, 9340; what the Lord's celestial kingdom is, and what His spiritual kingdom is, see in the work on Heaven and Hell 20-28). That "to couch" is to put oneself into power; that "prey" and "spoil" mean the dispersion of falsities and evils; and that "lying down" means a state of security and tranquillity, when these things are said of a lion, see just above.
[4] In Nahum:
Where is the abode of the lions, and the feeding place of the young lions? where walked the lion, the old lion, the lion's whelp, and none maketh them afraid? (Nahum 2:11).
Here also "lions" signify those who are in power through Divine truth; "their abode" signifies where there are such in the church; their "feeding place" signifies the knowledges of truth and good; their "walking and none making them afraid" signifies their state of security from evils and falsities.
[5] In Micah:
The remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples, as dew from Jehovah, as the drops upon the herb. As a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who if he go through shall tread down and tear in pieces so that none delivereth, thine hand shall be lifted up above thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off (Arcana Coelestia 2851 Arcana Coelestia 2851[1-15], 8289, 9314, 10481).
[6] In Isaiah:
The Lord said, Go set a watchman, who may look and announce. And he saw a chariot, a pair of horsemen, an ass chariot, a camel chariot; and he harkened a hearkening; a lion upon a watch-tower called out, O lord, I stand continually in the daytime, and I am set upon my watch all the nights: Babylon is fallen, is fallen (Arcana Coelestia 2761, 2762, 5321, 8029, 8215; that "horseman" signifies the Word in respect to the understanding, see n. 2761, 6401, 6534, 7024, 8146, 8148.)
[7] In the same:
Like as the lion and the young lion roareth over what he hath torn which 1a multitude of shepherds meeteth, so shall Jehovah come down to fight upon Mount Zion and upon the hill thereof (Isaiah 31:4).
Here Jehovah is compared to "a roaring lion," because a "lion" signifies power to lead forth from hell or from evils, and to "roar" signifies defense against evils and falsities; therefore it is said, "so shall Jehovah Zebaoth come down to fight upon Mount Zion and upon the hill thereof," "Mount Zion and the hill thereof" meaning the celestial church and the spiritual church; and "that which is torn over which the lion and the young lion roar" signifying deliverance from evils, which are from hell.
[8] To "roar" when attributed to a lion, has the same signification in Hosea:
I will not return to destroy Ephraim. They shall go after Jehovah as a lion roareth (Heaven and Hell 154-161.)
[9] Because Jehovah is compared to a lion from Divine truth in respect to power, therefore the Lord is called a "lion" in Revelation:
Behold the lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath overcome (Arcana Coelestia 3934 Arcana Coelestia 3934[1-8], 3935); therefore it is said, "Blessed is he who hath given breadth to Gad," for "breadth" signifies truth (Arcana Coelestia 1613, 34 33, 3434, 4482, 9487, 10179; that all power is from Divine truth, see in the work on Heaven and Hell, in the chapter on The Power of the Angels in Heaven, n. 228-233).
[10] Because a "lion" signifies power, therefore in the lamentations of David over Saul and Jonathan it is said:
Saul and Jonathan were lovely, they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions (2686, 2709, 6422).
[11] Because "the kings of Judah and Israel" represented the Lord in respect to Divine truth, and because a "throne" represented the judgment, which is effected according to Divine truth, and because "lions" represented power, guard, and protection against falsities and evils, therefore near the two stays of the throne built by Solomon there were two lions, and twelve lions on the six steps on the one side and on the other (1 Kings 10:18-20). From this it can be seen what "lions" in the Word signify when the Lord, heaven, and the church are treated of. "Lions" in the Word signify also the power of falsity from evil by which the church is destroyed and devastated. As in Jeremiah:
The young lions roar against her, 2they give forth their voice, they reduce the land to wasteness (Jeremiah 2:15).
In Isaiah:
A nation whose arrows are sharp, and all his bows bent, the hoofs of his horses are accounted as rock, his roaring like that of a lion, he roareth like a young lion, and he growleth and seizeth the prey (Isaiah 5:28-29).
Besides many other places (as in Isaiah 11:6; 35:9; Jeremiah 4:7; 5:6; 12:8; 50:17; 51:38; Ezekiel 19:3, 5-6 (Ezekiel 19:5-6); Hosea 13:7, 8; Joel 1:6-7; Psalms 17:12; 22:13; 57:4; 58:6; 91:13).
Footnotes:
1. For "which" the Hebrew has "when . . . meeteth him," as found in Arcana Coelestia 1664.
2. For "her" the Hebrew has "him"; cf. Apocalypse Explained 601.
278. (Vers. 7) "Et Animal primum simile leoni." - Quod significet apparentiam in ultimis quoad potentiam et effectum Divini Veri procedentis a Domino, constat ex significatione "leonis", quod sit Divinum Verum procedens a Domino quoad potentiam et effectum (de qua sequitur); quod sit apparentia in ultimis, est quia cherubi visi sunt sicut Animalia, et primum hoc simile leoni; in ultimis dicitur, quia apparentia illa erat coram Johanne cum in spiritu erat, et is vidit omnia in ultimis, ubi Divina caelestia et spiritualia repraesentantur vario modo, nunc per hortos et paradisos, nunc per palatia et templa, nunc per fluvios et aquas, nunc per animalia varii generis, ut per leones, camelos, equos, boves, juvencos, oves, agnos, columbas, aquilas, et per plura. Similia visa sunt prophetis per quos Verbum conscriptum est, ob causam ut Verbum in suis ultimis, , quae sunt quae continentur in sensu litterae ejus, ex talibus quae sunt in mundo, quae repraesentationes et correspondentiae caelestium et spiritualium essent, consisteret, et sic serviret sensui spirituali pro basi et fundamento. Ob illam causam etiam cherubi (per quos significatur custodia et providentia Domini ne caeli superiores adeantur nisi quam a bono amoris et charitatis) visi sunt Johanni, et quoque Ezechieli, quoad facies ut Animalia.
(b.) Quoniam Dominus est qui custodit et providet, et hoc per Divinum Verum et per Divinum Bonum, ita per Divinam suam sapientiam et intelligentiam, ideo visa sunt quatuor Animalia, quae erant similia leoni, vitulo, homini, et aquilae; sic enim per leonem repraesentatum est Divinum Verum quoad potentiam, per vitulum Divinum Bonum quoad tutelam, per hominem Divina sapientia, et per aquilam Divina intelligentia: Divina Domini providentia quoad custodiam caelorum superiorum, ne adeantur nisi a bono amoris et charitatis, includit illa quatuor.
[2] Quod "leo" significet Divinum Verum procedens a Domino quoad potentiam, constat a locis in Verbo ubi nominatur, ut ex sequentibus:
- Apud Mosen,
"Catulus leonis Jehudah; a praeda ascendisti, fili mi; curvavit se, cubuit.... sicut leo Vetus; quis excitabit eum?" (Genesis 49:9);
per "Jehudam" hic significatur caeleste regnum Domini, ubi omnes sunt in potentia a Domino per Divinum Verum; potentia illa intelligitur per "catulum leonis" et per "veterem leonem"; per "praedam" ex qua ascendit, significatur dissipatio falsorum et malorum; per "curvare se" significatur in potentiam se mittere; per "cubare" significatur quod in securo sit ab omni falso et malo, quare dicitur, "Quis excitabit eum?" (Quod per "Jehudam "in verbo significetur regnum caeleste Domini, videatur n. 3654, 3881, 5603, 5782, 6363:
quod per "praedam", ubi de illo regno ac de Domino, significetur dissipatio falsorum et malorum, ac ereptio et liberatio ab inferno, n. 6368, 6442; quod per "curvare se", cum de leone, significetur mittere se in potentiam, n. 6369; quod per "cubare" significetur status securitatis et tranquillitatis, n. 3696.)
[3] Apud eundem,
"Hoc tempore dicetur Jacobo et Israeli, Quid fecerit Deus? En populus sicut vetus leo surgit, et sicut leo juvenis effert se; non requiescet donec comederit rapinam" (Numeri 23:23, 24);
et apud eundem,
"Incurvat se, cubat.... sicut leo Vetus, quis excitabit eum? Benedicentes tibi benedictus, maledicentes tibi maledictus" (Numeri 24:9);
hic de "Jacobo et Israele", per quos significatur regnum spirituale Domini; potentia illorum describitur per "leonem veterem" et "juvenem", qui surgit, effert se, et incurvat se; dissipatio falsorum et malorum significatur per "comedere rapinam"; et status securitatis et tranquillitatis per "cubare, quis excitabit eum?" (Quod per "Jacobum et Israelem" in Verbo intelligatur regnum spirituale Domini, videatur n. 4286, 4570, 5973, 1
6426, 8805, 9340. Quid regnum caeleste Domini, et quid regnum spirituale Ipsius, videatur in opere De Caelo et Inferno 20-28.) Quod "incurvare se" sit in potentiam se mittere, quod "praeda" et "rapina" sit dissipatio falsorum et malorum, et quod "cubare" sit status securitatis et tranquillitatis, cum illa de leone, videatur mox supra.
[4] Apud Nahum,
"Ubi est habitaculum leonum, et pascuum leonum juvenum? ubi ambulavit leo, vetus leo, catulus leonis, nec terrens?" (2:12 [B.A. 11);)
per "leones" etiam hic significantur qui in potentia sunt per Divinum Verum; per "habitaculum" eorum significatur ubi tales in ecclesia; per "pascuum" eorum significantur cognitiones veri et boni; per "ambulavit nec terrens" significatur status securitatis eorum a falsis et malis.
[5] Apud Micham,
"Erunt reliquiae Jacobi in medio populorum multorum, sicut ros a cum Jehovah, sicut guttae super herba, .... sicut leo inter bestias silvae, sicut leo juvenis inter greges ovium, qui si transiverit, conculcabit et disperget, ut non eripiens; exaltabitur manus tua super hostes tuos, et omnes inimici tui exscindentur" ([B.A. 7-9]);
per "reliquias Jacobi" significantur vera et bona ecclesiae; per "rorem a Jehovah" significatur verum spirituale; per "guttam super herba", verum naturale; per "leonem inter bestias silvae" et per "leonem juvenem inter greges ovium", ac per "conculcare et dispergere ut non eripiens", significatur potentia super mala et falsa; quia haec significantur, ideo dicitur, "Exaltabitur manus tua super hostes tuos et omnes inimici tui exscindentur", per "hostes" enim significantur mala, et per "inimicos" falsa (videatur n. 2851, 8289, 9314, 10481).
[6] Apud Esaiam,
"Dixit Dominus, Abi constitue speculatorem, qui spectet et nuntiet: et vidit currum, par equitum, currum asini, currum cameli, et auscultavit auscultationem:.... clamavit leo super specula; Domine, ego stans jugiter interdiu, et super custodia mea ego constitutus omnibus noctibus;.... cecidit, cecidit, Babel" (21:6-9);
agitur ibi de adventu Domini, et de nova ecclesia tunc; per "leonem super specula", significatur custodia et providentia Domini; quare dicitur, "Ego stans jugiter interdiu, et super custodia mea ego constitutus omnibus noctibus"; per "currum" et per "par equitum", significatur doctrina veri ex Verbo; et per "auscultare auscultationem" vita secundum illam.
(Quod "currus" significet doctrinam veri, videatur n. 2761, 2762, 5321, 8029, 8215; quod "eques" significet Verbum quoad intellectum, n. 2761, 6401, 6534, 7024, 8146, 8148.)
[7] Apud eundem,
"Quemadmodum rugit leo et juvenis leo super rapina sua, 2
cum occurrit contra illum plenitudo pastorum, sic descendet Jehovah ad militandum super monte Zionis et super colle ejus" (31:4);
hic Jehovah comparatur "leoni rugienti", quia per "leonem" significatur potentia educendi ab inferno seu a malis, et per "rugire" defensio contra mala et falsa; quare dicitur, "Sic descendet Jehovah Zebaoth ad militandum super monte Zionis et super colle ejus"; "mons Zionis et collis ejus" est ecclesia caelestis et ecclesia spiritualis; "rapina" super qua rugit leo et juvenis leo, significat liberationem a malis quae ab inferno.
[8] Simile per "rugire", cum de leone, significatur apud Hoscheam,
"Non revertar ad perdendum Ephraimum, .... post Jehovam ibunt, sicut leo rugit" (11 [9,] 10):
apud Amos,
"Leo rugiit, quis non timeat? Dominus Jehovih locutus est, quis non prophetet?" (3:8):
in Apocalypsi,
"Angelus clamavit voce magna, et sicut leo 3
rugit" (10:3):
et apud Davidem,
"Leones rugientes ad praedam, et ad quaerendum a Deo cibum suum; oritur sol, colliguntur, et in habitaculis suis recubant" (Psalms 104:21, 22);
describitur per haec apud Davidem status angelorum caeli, quando non in statu intensi amoris et inde sapientiae sunt, et quando in illo redeunt; prior status describitur per "Leones rugientes ad praedam et ad quaerendum a Deo cibum"; posterior status per "Oritur sol, colliguntur, et in habitaculis suis recubant"; per "leones" intelliguntur angeli caeli, per "rugire" desiderium, per "praedam" et "cibum" bonum quod est amoris et verum quod est sapientiae, per "oriri solem" Dominus quoad amorem et inde sapientiam, per "colligi" redire in statum caelestem, et per "recubare in habitaculis suis" status tranquillitatis et pacis. (De binis illis statibus angelorum caeli, videatur in opere De Caelo et Inferno 154-161.)
[9] Quia Jehovah comparatur leoni ex Divino Vero quoad potentiam, ideo Dominus vocatur "Leo" in Apocolypsi,
"Ecce vicit Leo, qui est ex tribu Jehudae, Radix Davidis" (5:5):
et quia omnis potentia est ex Domino per Divinum Verum, ideo hoc quoque significatur per "leonem", ut apud Mosen,
"Gadi dixit, Benedictus qui latitudinem dedit Gadi; sicut leo habitat, rapit brachium, etiam verticem" (Deuteronomius 33:20);
per "Gadem" significatur in supremo sensu omnipotentia, et inde in sensu repraesentativo potentia quae est veri (videatur 3934, 3935); inde dicitur, "Benedictus qui latitudinem dedit Gadi", per "latitudinem" enim significatur verum (n. 1613, 3433, 3434, 4482, 9487, 10179; quod omnis potentia sit ex Divino Vero, videatur in opere De Caelo et Inferno, in articulo De Potentia Angelorum Caeli, n. 228-233).
[10] Quoniam per "leonem" significatur potentia, ideo in lamentatione Davidis super Saule et Jonathane, dicitur,
"Saul et Jonathan amabiles prae aquilis veloces fuerunt, prae leonibus validi" (2 Samuelis 1:23);
per "Saulem" ibi ut regem et per "Jonathanem" ut filium regis intelligitur verum tutans ecclesiam, nam agitur ibi de doctrina veri et boni, inscripsit enim lamentationem illam "Ad docendum filios Jehudae arcum" (vers. 18 ibi); per "arcum" significatur illa doctrina (videatur n. 2686, 2709, 6422 4
).
[11] Quoniam per reges Jehudae et Israelis repraesentabatur Dominus quoad Divinum Verum, et per thronum repraesentabatur judicium quod fit ex Divino Vero, ac per leones repraesentabatur potentia, custodia et tutela contra falsa et mala, ideo juxta duas manus throni a Salamone aedificati erant duo leones, et duodecim leones super sex gradibus hinc inde ( 5
1 Reg. 10:18-20). Ex his constare potest quid per "leones", cum de Domino, caelo et ecclesia agitur in Verbo, significatur. Per "leones" etiam in Verbo significatur potentia falsi ex malo, per quod destruitur et vastatur ecclesia:
- Ut apud Jeremiam,
"Contra 6
eum rugiunt leones juvenes, edunt vocem suam, redigunt terram in vastitatem" (2:25):
et apud Esaiam,
Gens "cujus tela acuta, et omnes arcus ejus tensi, ungulae equorum ejus sicut rupes reputantur;.... rugitus illi sicut leonis, rugit sicut leo juvenis, et fremit et apprehendit praedam" (5:28, 29).
Praeter multis aliis in locis (Ut Esaias 11:6; 35:9; Jeremias 4:7; 5:6; 7
12:8; cap. 50:17; 51:38; Ezechiel 19:3, 5, 6; Hoschea 13:7, 8; Joel 1:6, 7; Psalms 17:12; Psalms 22:14 [B.A. 13); Psalms 57:5 [B.A. 4); Psalm. 58:7 8
[B.A. 6); Psalms 91:13).
Footnotes:
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