233. [verse 4] 'And around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting' signifies the setting of all in heaven in order for the last judgment. He who is not acquainted with the spiritual sense of the Word, and genuine truths of the Church at the same time, is able to believe that when the last judgment comes, the Lord will be seated upon a throne, and that other judges will also be on thrones around Him. He, however, who is acquainted with the spiritual sense of the Word and genuine truths of the Church at the same time, knows that the Lord will not then be seated upon a throne, nor will there be other judges around Him. On the contrary, he knows that the Lord is not going to judge anyone to hell, but that He is going to cause the Word to judge each one, Himself controlling all things so that they are effected in accordance with justice. In fact the Lord says:-
The Father does not judge anyone, but has given all judgment to the Son: He has given [Him] the ability to effect judgment, because He is the Son of Man John v 22, 27.
But elsewhere He says:-
I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world: the Word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day John xii 47, 48.
These two [statements] agree, when it is known that the Son of Man is the Lord as to the Word (see above, n. 44). Therefore the Word is going to judge, with the Lord controlling. [2] That by the twelve tribes of Israel and their elders are signified all who belong to the Lord's Church in the heavens and on earth (in terris), and abstractly all the truths and goods there, may be seen (n. 251, 349, 369, 808); and that similar things are signified by the apostles (n. 79, 790, 903). From these considerations it is plain what is signified by these words of the Lord:-
Jesus said unto the disciples, You who have followed Me, when the Son of Man sits upon the throne of His glory, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel Matt xix 28; Luke xxii 30.
By 'twelve' are signified all, and they are predicated of the goods and truths of heaven and the Church (n. 348); likewise 'twenty-four'. The 'twelve apostles' and the 'twenty-four elders' therefore signify all things of the Church, and the 'twelve' as well as the 'twenty-four thrones' signify everything of judgment. Who is unable to understand that the apostles and elders are not going to judge, and that they cannot do so? From these considerations it can now be established why 'thrones' and 'elders' are mentioned where [the Word treats of] judgment, as also in Isaiah:-
Jehovah will come to judgment with the elders of the people Isa. iii 14.
In David:-
Jerusalem has been built, and thither the tribes go up, and thrones are set there for judgment Ps. cxxii 3-5.
And in the Apocalypse:-
I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them Rev. xx 4.
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