Selections from Apocalypse Explained ~ Emanuel Swedenborg
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain ... Revelation 5:6
And I saw, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four animals, and in the midst of the elders, signifies in the whole heaven, and especially in the inmost heavens. This is evident from the signification of "in the midst," as being the inmost, and therefore the whole (of which presently);
• from the signification of "throne," as being heaven in the whole complex;
• from the signification of "the four animals" as being the Lord's providence and guard that heaven be not approached except through the good of love;
• and as that guard is especially in the third or inmost heaven, since all who are there are in the good of love to the Lord from the Lord, that heaven is signified especially by "the four animals".
It is also evident from the signification of "elders" as being those who are in truths from good; here, therefore, those who are in the middle or second heaven, since all who are there are in truths
from good; for there are these two heavens, the third and second, distinguished from each other by this, that –
• those in the third heaven are in love to the Lord
• those in the second in charity towards the neighbor; those in charity towards the neighbor are in truths from good.
From this it can be seen what is especially signified by the "four animals" and the "elders."
But the "four animals" signify
in general all Divine good in the whole heaven,
which guards; and the "elders" signify
in general all Divine truth proceeding from Divine good in the whole heaven;
both guard because they are united; thus "the four animals and the elders," together, signify
Divine good united to Divine truth proceeding from the Lord, and therefore the entire angelic heaven, but especially the two inmost heavens.
This is so for the reason that angels are not angels from what is their own [ex proprio], but from the Divine good and the Divine truth that they receive; for it is the Divine with them, that is, the Divine received by them, that causes them to be angels, and causes heaven, which is made up of them, to be called heaven (see in the work on Heaven and Hell, n. 2-12, 51-86).
That "the midst" or "in the midst" signifies the inmost, and therefore the whole, can be seen from many passages in the Word. But first let something be said to explain whence it is that because "the midst" signifies the inmost, it also signifies the whole. This may be illustrated by
comparison with light, with the sun,
with the arrangement of all in the heavens, and also
of all who are of the church on earth.
By comparison with light:
Light in the midst propagates itself round about or from the center to circumferences in every direction; and because from the inmost it is propagated and fills the spaces around, thence "in the midst" signifies also the whole.
By comparison with the sun:
The sun is in the midst because it is the center of its universe; because from it are the heat and light in its system, therefore the sun "in the midst" signifies its presence in every direction, or throughout the whole.
By comparison with the arrangement of all in the heavens:
There are three heavens, and the inmost of them is the third heaven; this flows into the two lower heavens, and makes them to be one with it by communication which is effected by influx from the inmost. Moreover, in every society of the heavens that which is inmost is also the most perfect; those, therefore, who are round about in that society are in light and intelligence according to their degree of distance from the inmost (see in the work on
Heaven and Hell, n. 43, 50, 189).
By comparison with those who are in the church on earth:
The Lord's church is spread through the whole world; but its inmost is where the Lord is known and acknowledged, and where the Word is; from that inmost, light and intelligence are propagated to all who are round about and are of the church, but this propagation of light and intelligence is effected in heaven (of which see in the work on
Heaven and Hell, n. 308). From this it can be seen that "the midst" or "in the midst," as it signifies the inmost, signifies also the whole. This makes clear what is meant by "I saw, and lo, in the midst of the throne, and of the four animals, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing," namely, the Lord in respect to His Divine Human, in the whole heaven, and especially in the inmost heavens.
THE GOOD OF INNOCENCE
A Lamb standing, signifies
the Lord in respect to the Divine Human. This is evident from the signification of "lamb," as being, in reference to the Lord, Himself in respect to the Divine Human.
The Lord in respect to the Divine Human is called a "lamb" because a "lamb" signifies the good of innocence, and
the good of innocence is the good itself of heaven proceeding from the Lord; and
so far as angels
receive this good,
so far they are angels.
This good reigns with angels that are in the third or inmost heaven; for this reason –
• those in that heaven appear as infants before the eyes of other angels.
(What the good of innocence is, and that the angels of heaven are in that good, see in the work on
Heaven and Hell, in the chapter treating of
The State of Innocence of the Angels of Heaven, n. n. 276-283, also n. 285, 288, 341, 382.)
It is believed in the world that the Lord is called "a Lamb" for the reason that the continual burnt-offering, or what was offered every day, evening and morning, was from lambs, and especially on the Passover days, when a lamb was also eaten; and that the Lord suffered Himself to be sacrificed. Such a reason for His being so called may do for those in the world who do not think beyond the sense of the letter of the Word;
but nothing of this kind is perceived in heaven when the term "lamb" is predicated of the Lord; but when "lamb" is mentioned, or is read in the Word,–
• the angels, because they are all in the spiritual sense of the Word, perceive the good of innocence; and when the Lord is so called, they perceive His Divine Human, and at the same time the good of innocence that is from Him.
I know that this will with difficulty be believed, but yet it is true.
That
"lamb" in the Word signifies
the good of innocence, and in reference to
the Lord Himself, "lamb" signifies
His Divine Human, can be seen from the following passages.
In Isaiah:
Behold, the Lord Jehovih cometh in strength. He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs into His arm, and shall carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead the sucklings (Isa. 40:10-11).
This treats of the Lord's coming–
• the "flock that He shall feed as a shepherd," signify those who are in the good of charity
• the "lambs that He shall gather into His arm," signify those who are in love to Him.
It is this love that, viewed in itself, is innocence;
therefore all who are in it are in the heaven of innocence, which is the third heaven; and as this love is signified by lambs, it is also said, "He shall gently lead the sucklings." "Sucklings" and "infants" in the Word mean those who are in innocence (see in the work on
Heaven and Hell, n. 277, 280, 329-345).
In the same:
The wolf shall sojourn with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little boy shall lead them; and the heifer and the bear shall feed, their young ones shall lie down together; the suckling shall play on the hole of the adder, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the basilisk's den (Isa. 11:6-8).
These things are said of the Lord's coming and of His kingdom, also of those therein who are in the good of innocence, that they shall have nothing to fear from the hells and the evils therefrom, because they are protected by the Lord.
The Lord's kingdom is here described by innocences of various kinds, and by their opposites from which they shall be protected.
• a "lamb" means innocence of the inmost degree — its opposite is the "wolf"
• a "kid" means innocence of the second degree — the opposite of which is the "leopard"
• a "calf" means innocence of the last degree — the opposite of which is the "young lion."
(That "lamb," "ram," or "sheep," and "calf," signify three degrees of innocence, see
Arcana Coelestia, n. 10132.)
• Innocence of the inmost degree is such as belongs to those who are in the third or inmost heaven, and its good is called celestial good;
• innocence of the second degree is such as belongs to those who are in the second or middle heaven, and its good is called spiritual good;
• innocence of the last degree is such as belongs to those who are in the first or the last heaven, and its good is called spiritual-natural good.
(That all who are in the heavens are in some good of innocence, see
Arcana Coelestia, n. 4797.)
Because the goods of innocence are described by the animals above named, it is said further "and a little boy shall lead them," also, "the suckling shall play on the hole of the adder, and the weaned child shall put forth his hand on the basilisk's den." These degrees of innocence are signified also by "boy," "suckling," and "weaned child." (That "boy" has this signification, see
Arcana Coelestia, n. 430, 5236; that "suckling," or infant of the first age, and "weaned child," or infant of the second age, have these significations see n. 3183, 4563, 5608, 6740, 6745.)
Because a "lamb" signifies innocence, or those who are innocent, and a "wolf" those who are against innocence, it is said in like manner in another place in the same prophet:
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together; they shall not do evil in the whole mountain of holiness (Isa. 65:25);
"the mountain of holiness" is heaven, especially the inmost heaven. Therefore the Lord said to the seventy whom He sent forth:
I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves (Luke 10:3).
Because "lambs" signify those who are in the love to the Lord, which love is one with innocence, and because "sheep" signify those who are in love towards the neighbor, which love is charity, the Lord said to Peter:
Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto Him, Feed My lambs; and afterwards, Feed My sheep (John 21:15-17).
These things were said to Peter, because by "Peter" truth from good, or faith from charity was meant, and truth from good teaches; "to feed" meaning to teach.
(from Apocalypse Explained 313[1-3]; 314[1-5])
