That the Word is signified by a cloud, and the Lord as to the Word by the one sitting thereon, may seem wonderful to many, because those who comprehend all things according to the sense of the letter of the Word, only see that cloud signifies cloud, and nothing of a spiritual nature pertaining to the Word, because this does not appear to have any relation to a cloud. But still it is Divine truth in ultimates, such as the Word is in the letter, which is here signified. The reason is, that in the spiritual world, Divine truth flowing down from the higher heavens into the lower, appears as a cloud. It has been seen also by me in this way; and from it and its variegation I was enabled to form a conclusion concerning the quality of the truth which the angels of the higher heaven spoke one with another.

[2] The signification of the cloud which appeared upon mount Sinai, when the law was promulgated, which was Divine truth; and of the cloud which was seen every day upon the tent of the assembly, and which sometimes filled it is similar. The same also was signified by

"The bright cloud which overshadowed Peter, James, and John, when Jesus appeared transfigured, out of which cloud was heard a voice, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him" (Matt. xvii. 5; Luke ix. 34, 35).

Also in the following passages in the Evangelists:

"Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man; and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and glory" (Matt. xxiv. 30; Luke xxi. 27).

And Jesus said, "Now shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven" (Matt. xxvi. 64; Mark xiv. 61, 62).

By coming in the clouds of heaven, in these passages also, is meant the manifestation of the Lord in the Word; for, after His Advent, they clearly saw the predictions concerning the Lord in the prophetical parts of the Word, which they had not seen before; and still more clearly at this day, now that the spiritual sense of the Word has been opened, in which, in the highest sense, the Lord is everywhere treated of; also the subjugation of the hells by Him, and the glorification of His Human. This sense is what is meant by the glory, in which He would come. That glory signifies spiritual Divine truth, such as it is in the heavens, may be seen above (34, 874).

From these things it is evident what is signified by John seeing a white cloud, and on the cloud one sitting like unto the Son of man; for in what now follows, the subject treated of is the separation of the good from the evil, before the Last Judgment, and afterwards that Judgment; as was also predicted by the Lord, in the Evangelists, that He would come in the clouds of heaven; and also in the first chapter of the Apocalypse in these words:

Jesus Christ, "who is the faithful Witness, the first-begotten from the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him" (vers. 5, 7).