245. [verse 8] 'And the four animals, each separately, had six wings round about' signifies the Word as to power and as to its guards. That by 'the four animals' the Word is signified, has been shown above; that by 'wings 'are signified powers, and also guards, will be seen below. By 'six' is signified all as to truth and good, for six comes into existence out of 3 and 2 multiplied together, and by 'three' is signified all as to truths (n. 505), and by 'two' all as to good (n. 762). Powers are signified by the 'wings', because by means of them [birds] raise themselves upwards, and wings with birds are in place of arms with a man, and by 'arms' powers are signified. Since powers are signified by the 'wings', and each animal had six wings, it is plain from the things said above what kind of power is signified by the 'wings' of each, namely, that by the 'wings of a lion' is signified the power of fighting against evils and untruths out of hell. This is the power of the Divine Truth of the Word from the Lord. [It is plain also] that by the 'wings of a calf' is signified the power of affecting the mind (animus), for the Divine Truth of the Word affects those who read it in a holy manner (sancte); that by the 'six wings of a man' is signified the power of discerning what God is, and what is of God, for this is properly man's in reading the Word, and that by the 'wings of an eagle' is signified the power of recognising what is true and good, and thus of furnishing oneself with intelligence. [2] Concerning the wings of the cherubs [we] read in Ezekiel that:-
The wings were kissing each other, and were also covering their bodies, and the likeness of hands was under them Ezek. i 23, 24; iii 13; x 5, 21.
By 'kissing each other' is signified conjoint and unanimous action; by 'covering the bodies' is signified guarding lest the interior truths that are of the spiritual sense of the Word should be violated; and by 'hands under the wings' are signified powers. Concerning the 'seraphs' it is also said that:-
They had six wings, with two of which they were covering the face, with two the feet, and with two they were flying Isa. vi 2.
By 'seraphs' in like manner is signified the Word, properly doctrine out of the Word, and by the 'wings with which they were covering faces and feet' guards likewise are signified, and by the 'wings with which they were flying' powers, as above. That by 'flying' is signified to perceive and instruct, and in the highest sense to look out and provide, is established also from these passages:-
God rode upon a cherub, He did fly, He sailed upon the wings of the wind Ps. xviii 10 [H.B. 11]; 2 Sam. xxii 11.
I saw an angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel Rev. xiv 6.
That guards are signified by 'wings' is plain from these passages:-
Jehovah shall cover thee under His wing Ps. xci 4.
To be hid under the shadow of God's wings Ps. xvii 8.
To put trust in the shadow of His wings Ps. xxxvi 7 [H.B. 8], lvii 1 [H.B. 2], lxiii 7 [H.B. 8].
I stretched out a wing over thee, and covered thy nakedness Ezek. xvi 8.
Unto you shall be healing in His wings Mal. iv 2 [H.B. iii 20].
As an eagle stirs up her nest, flutters over her young, spreads abroad her wings, bears them on her wings, so Jehovah leads him Deut. xxxii 10-12.
Jesus said:-
O Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen [gathers] her chickens under her wings Matt. xxiii 37; Luke xiii 34.
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