Apocalypse Explained (Tansley) n. 856

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

856. And I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps. That this signifies the glorification of the Lord from His spiritual kingdom, is evident from the signification of a voice, as denoting the glorification of the Lord, as above; and from the signification of harpers harping with their harps, as denoting the affections of those who are in the Lord's spiritual kingdom; for the affections of these are heard also as sounds - but as the sounds of stringed instruments. For sounds from stringed instruments correspond to truths from good, or to things intellectual, in which the angels of the Lord's spiritual kingdom are. But sounds from wind instruments correspond to goods; in which the angels of the Lord's celestial kingdom are. That these are correspondences may be seen above (n. 323, 326); and that harps signify confession from spiritual truths; and sackbuts, from goods (n. 323). Now because the heavens are distinguished into two kingdoms - the celestial kingdom, in which are the angels who are in the good of love, and the spiritual kingdom, in which are the angels who are in truths from that good; therefore it is said, that the voice out of heaven was heard as the voice of a great thunder, and as the voice of harpers harping with their harps. This signifies the glorification of the Lord from the celestial kingdom, thus from the good of love; and His glorification from the spiritual kingdom, thus from truths from that good.


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church