After these things I saw, when behold the temple of the tabernacle was opened in heaven, and the seven angels having the seven plagues went out.

That by those words is signified that the inmost of heaven was seen, where the Lord is in His holiness, and in the Law which is the Decalogue, may be seen above (n. 669, 670). Then also [it is plain] from the exposition of chap. xvii verse 1, where are these words:-

And there came one of the angels having the seven phials, and spoke with me saying, Come, I will show thee the judgment of the great harlot.

That by those words is signified an influx and revelation from the Lord out of the inmost of heaven concerning the Roman Catholic form of religion, may be seen above (n. 718, 719). From this it is plain that by 'there came unto me one of the seven angels having the seven phials full of the seven last plagues and spoke with me saying' is understood the Lord inflowing out of the inmost of heaven; and that by 'Come, I will show thee' is signified making manifest; and that by 'the bride, the Lamb's wife' is signified the New Church, which will be conjoined to the Lord by means of the Word (as n. 881). That Church is called 'the bride' when it is being set up, and 'wife' when it has been set up, here 'the bride, the wife' because of the certainty of the setting up.