Apocalypse Explained (Tansley) n. 1197

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

1197. Saying, Alleluia.- That this signifies the glorification of the Lord, is evident from the signification of Alleluia, as denoting the glorification of the Lord; for Alleluia, in the original, signifies "Praise ye God," consequently also, "Glorify ye the Lord." It was the expression of joy in confessions and worship; as in David:

"Bless Jehovah, O my soul, Hallelujah" (Psalm cvi. 35).

Again:

"Blessed be Jehovah, God of Israel, from eternity even to eternity; and let all the people say, Amen, Hallelujah" (Psalm cvi. 48).

Again:

"Let us bless Jah from henceforth and for ever, Hallelujah" (Psalm cxv. 18).

Again:

"Let every soul praise Jah, Hallelujah" (Psalm cl. 6).

Also in various other passages, as Psalms cv. 45; cvi. 1; cxi. 1; cxii. 1; cxiii. 1, 9; cxvi. 19; cxvii. 2; cxxxv. 3; cxlviii. 1, 14; cxlix. 1, 9; cl. 1.

[2] Continuation.- From the subjects and objects of the three kingdoms of nature, which embrace all things in the world, the following point may be illustrated and confirmed-that the Spiritual is united with the Natural in everything in the world, as the soul is united with the body in every one of its parts, or as the efficient cause is in every detail of the effect. That there is such a union of spiritual and natural things in all the subjects and objects of the animal kingdom collectively and individually, is evident from the wonderful facts which have been observed by learned men and societies, and submitted to the examination of those who love to investigate causes.

[THE LIFE OF ANIMALS.]

It is a fact generally known that animals of every kind, great and small, both those which walk or creep upon the earth and those which fly in the air or swim in the water, know from an innate and implanted capability called instinct and also nature, how their species must be propagated, and their young brought up and fed after birth, as well as the kinds of foods suitable for them. They also know their proper food from its mere appearance, smell, or taste, and where it must be sought for and collected. They know, further, their own dwellings and places of resort, and also where their companions and mates are to be found from the sound of their voices; and also, from the variation of the tone, they know what they desire. The knowledge of such things, regarded in itself, is spiritual, as well as the affection from which it proceeds. The clothing of both of these is from nature, and their production also takes place through her.

[3] Animals, moreover, are precisely like man as to the organs, members, and viscera of the body, and as to their uses; like man, they have eyes and sight; ears and hearing; nostrils and smell; a mouth and tongue and therefore taste; the sense of touch also, with its variations everywhere. Again, as to the interior parts of the body, they have similar viscera, two brains, a heart and lungs, a stomach, liver, pancreas, spleen, mesentery, intestines, with all the other organs that produce chyle and blood, and purify the system, besides the organs of separation and generation. They also resemble man as to the nerves, blood-vessels, muscles, skins, cartilages, and bones; and such is the resemblance, that man as to these things is an animal. That all these things in man have a correspondence with the societies of heaven has been shown in many places in the Arcana Coelestia; consequently they are also similar in the case of animals. It is evident from this correspondence that the Spiritual acts upon (in) the Natural and produces its effects by means of it as the principal cause acting by means of its instrumental cause. These are, however, merely general signs which bear witness to the conjunction existing in that kingdom.


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church