479. [verse 8] 'And the voice that I heard out of heaven [was] speaking with me again saying, Receive the little book opened in the hand of the angel standing upon the sea and upon the land' signifies a command out of heaven that they should draw out that doctrine concerning the Lord, but that it should be made manifest by means of John how it would be received in the Church, before those were removed who are understood by the dragon, the beast and the false prophet. By the 'voice' that he 'heard out of heaven' now speaking with him again is understood the voice that said to him that he should seal up the things that the seven thunders uttered and not write them (verse 4), by which is signified that that doctrine concerning the Lord would not be received until after those who are understood by 'the dragon', 'the beast' and 'the false prophet' have been cast out of the world of spirits, because of the danger if [they were received] before, as may be seen above (n. 473). That this is the case is now made manifest by means of John, by his eating up the little book, about which it follows on. That by 'the little book' is understood the doctrine concerning the Lord may be seen (n. 469, 472); and that by the 'angel standing upon the sea and the land' is understood the Lord (n. 465, 470).