1. And I saw in the right hand of the One Sitting upon the throne a book written on the inside and on the back (a tergo), sealed with seven seals. 2. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a great voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3. And in one in heaven, nor upon the land, nor yet under the land, was able to open the book, and to look into it. 4. And I was weeping much, because no one was found to open and to read the book, and to look into it. 5. And one of the elders says unto me, Do not weep; behold the Lion has prevailed, Who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, to open the book and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6. And I saw, and behold in the midst of the throne, and of the four animals, and in the midst of the elders a LAMB standing as if slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into every land. 7. And He came and took the book out of the right hand of the One sitting upon the throne. 8. And when He had taken the book, the four animals and the twenty-four elders fell prostrate before the LAMB, each one of them having harps, and golden phials full of incense-offerings, which are the prayers of the saints. 9. And they were singing a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof, because Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to GOD in Thy blood, out of every tribe and tongue, and people and nation. 10. And Thou hast made us to our GOD kings and priests, and we shall reign over the land. 11. And I saw and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and the animals, and the elders, and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands. 12. Saying with a great voice, Worthy is the slain LAMB to take power, and riches, and wisdom, and honour and glory, and blessing. 13. And every created thing that is in heaven and in the land, and under the land, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, To the One sitting upon the throne and to the Lamb, blessing and honour and glory and strength for ages of ages. 14. And the four animals were saying, Amen; and the twenty-four elders fell prostrate and adored the One living for ages of ages.

THE SPIRITUAL SENSE

THE CONTENT OF THE WHOLE CHAPTER

That the Lord in the Divine Human is going to make a judgment out of the Word and in accordance therewith, because He is the Word; and that this is acknowledged by all in the three heavens.

THE CONTENTS OF EACH OF THE VERSES

1. And I saw in the right hand of the One sitting upon the throne a book written on the inside and on the back (a tergo) signifies the Lord as to His Divine Itself from eternity, Who has Omnipotence and Omniscience, and Who is the Word. Sealed with seven seals signifies this altogether hidden away from angel and man. 2. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a great voice signifies Divine Truth from the Lord inflowing inwardly with angels and men. Who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof? signifies Who is in the power of getting to know the states of life of all in the heavens and on earth (in terris), and of judging each one in accordance with his own [state]? 3. And no one in heaven, nor upon the land, nor yet under the land, was able signifies that none in the higher heavens and in the lower heavens was able. To open the book signifies to get to know the states of life of all, and to judge each one in accordance with his own [state]. Nor to look into it signifies not at all. 4. And I was weeping much, because no one [worthy] was found to open the book, nor to look into it signifies grief of heart because if there should not be anyone able [to do this] all would perish. 5. And one of the elders says unto me, Do not weep signifies consolation. Behold, the Lion has overcome, Who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David signifies the Lord, that out of His own power He subjugated the hells, and brought all things back into order when He was in the world, by means of Divine Good united with Divine Truth in His Human. To open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. signifies here as before. 6. And I saw, and behold in the midst of the throne, and of the four animals, and in the midst of the elders signifies from the inmosts, and thence in all things of heaven, of the Word, and of the Church. A Lamb standing as if slain signifies the Lord as to the Human not acknowledged in the Church to be Divine. Having seven horns signifies His Omnipotence. And seven eyes signifies His Omniscience and Divine Wisdom. Which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into every land signifies that out of that [Divine Wisdom] there is Divine Truth throughout all the lands where there is religion. 7. And He came and took the book out of the right hand of the One sitting upon the throne signifies that the Lord as to His Divine Human is the Word, and that He is this out of His Divine in Itself, and that therefore He is going to effect the judgment out of the Divine Human. 8. And when He had taken the book signifies when the Lord set about making the judgment, and bringing all things in the heavens and upon earth back into order by means of it. The four animals and the twenty-four elders fell prostrate before the Lamb signifies a humbling, and the adoration of the Lord out of the higher heavens. Each one of them having harps signifies the confession of the Lord's Divine Human out of spiritual truths. And golden phials full of incense-offerings signifies the confession of the Lord's Divine Human out of spiritual goods. Which are the prayers of the saints signifies the thoughts that are of faith derived from the affections that are of charity with those who worship the Lord out of spiritual goods and truths. 9. And they were singing a new song signifies an acknowledgment and glorification of the Lord, because He Only is the Judge, Redeemer, and Saviour thus the God of heaven and earth. Saying, Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof signifies here as before. Because Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God in Thy blood signifies liberation from hell, and salvation by means of conjunction with Himself. Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation signifies that those who, in the Church or any religion, are in truths as to doctrine and in goods as to life, have been redeemed by the Lord. 10. And Thou hast made us to our God kings and priests signifies that from the Lord they are in wisdom out of Divine truths, and in love out of Divine goods. And we shall reign over the land signifies that they will be in His kingdom, He in them and they in Him. It And I saw and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and the animals and the elders signifies a confession and glorification of the Lord by the angels of the lower heavens. [And the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands signifies all in truths and in goods.] 12. Saying with a great voice, Worthy is the slain Lamb to take power and riches and wisdom and honour and glory signifies confession out of the heart, that the Lord as to the Divine Human has Omnipotence, Omniscience, Divine Good and Divine Truth. And blessing signifies all these in Him, and from Him in those [angels]. 13. And every created thing that is in heaven and in the land, and under the land, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying signifies a confession and glorification of the Lord by the angels of the lowest heavens. To the One sitting upon the throne and to the Lamb, blessing and honour and glory and strength for ages of ages signifies that in the Lord from eternity, and consequently in His Divine Human, is everything of heaven and the Church, Divine Good and Divine Truth, and Divine Power, and from Him in those [who are in heaven and the Church]. 14. And the four animals were saying, Amen signifies Divine confirmation out of the Word. And the twenty-four elders fell prostrate and adored the One living for ages of ages signifies a humbling before the Lord, and as a result of the humbling the adoration by all the heavens, of Him from Whom and in Whom is eternal life.

THE EXPOSITION

[verse 1] 'And I saw in the right hand of the One sitting upon the throne a book written on the inside and on the back (a tergo)' signifies the Lord as to His Divine Itself from eternity, Who has Omnipotence and Omniscience, and Who is the Word, Who also of Himself (ex Se ipso) has knowledge of the states of life of all in the heavens and on earth (in lerris), in everything particular and in everything general. By 'the One sitting upon the throne' is understood the Lord as to the Divine Itself, out of which is His Human, for it follows on (verse 7) that 'the Lamb took the book out of the right hand of the One sitting upon the throne'; and by 'the Lamb' is understood the Lord as to the Divine Human. By 'a book written on the inside and on the back' is understood the Word in everything particular and in everything general; by 'on the inside' in everything particular, and by 'on the back' in everything general. By 'on the inside and on the back' is understood also the Word's interior sense which is spiritual, and its exterior sense, which is natural. By the right hand' is understood Himself as to Omnipotence and Omniscience, because it treats of the examination of all, in the heavens and on earth (in terris), upon whom there will be a last judgment, and of their separation. The Lord as the Word from Himself (a Se Ipso) knows the states of all in the heavens and on earth, because He is Divine Truth Itself, and Divine Truth Itself has knowledge of all things of Itself (ex Se ipso). But this is an arcanum which has been uncovered in ANGELIC WISDOM CONCERNING DIVINE LOVE AND WISDOM. That the Lord as to the Divine Itself from eternity was the Word, that is, Divine Truth, is plain from these [words] in John:-

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God John ii;

also that the Lord was made the Word even as to His Human in the same:-

And the Word was made flesh John i 14.

From this it can be established what is understood by [the statement] that the book was 'in the right hand of the One sitting upon the throne', and that the Lamb 'took the book' therefrom (verse 7). [2] Since the Lord is the Word, and the Word is Divine Truth, which in general makes heaven and the Church, and in particular makes an angel so that heaven may be in him, and a man so that the Church may be in him; and because the Word is here understood by 'the book' out of which and in accordance with which all are to be judged, it is therefore said in different places 'to be written in the book', 'to be judged out of the book', 'to be blotted out of the book', where it treats of anyone's eternal life; as in these places:-

The Ancient of days did sit in judgment, and the books were opened Dan. vii 9, 10.

Every people shall be delivered that shall be found written in the book Dan. xii

My bone was not hid from Thee; upon Thy book all the days have been written, and not one of them is missing Ps. cxxxix 15, 16.

Moses said, Blot me, I pray Thee, out of the book which Thou hast written, and Jehovah said, Him who has sinned against Me, will I blot out of the book Exod. xxxii 32, 33.

Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the just Ps. lxix 28.

I saw that the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is of life, and the dead were judged according to the things that were written in the book according to their works, and if anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast out into the lake of fire Rev. xx 12-15.

None shall enter into the New Jerusalem, unless they are written in the Lamb's book of life Rev. xxi 27 [Schm. 26].

All shall adore the beast, whose names have not been written in the Lamb's book of life Rev. xiii 8; xvii 8.

That by 'the book 'is understood the Word [may be seen] in David:-

In the roll of the book it has been written of Me Ps. xl 7 [H.B. 8].

And in Ezekiel:-

I saw and behold a hand sent forth unto me, and in it the roll of a book written on the front and the back Ezek. ii 9, 10.

The book of the words of Isaiah Luke iii 4.

The book of Psalms Luke xx 42.