241. Verse 7. And the first animal was like a lion, signifies the Divine truth of the Word as to power. That "a lion" signifies truth in its power, here the Divine truth of the Word as to power, may appear from the power of the lion above every animal of the earth, as also from lions in the spiritual world, where they are images representative of the power of Divine truth; and likewise from the Word, where they signify the Divine truth in its power. What the power of the Divine truth in the Word is, may be seen in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem concerning the Sacred Scripture, n. 49, and in the work on Heaven and Hell, (n. 228-233). Hence it is that Jehovah, or the Lord is compared to "a lion," and is also called "a lion"; as in the following passages:
The lion roareth, who will not fear? the Lord Jehovah hath spoken, who will not prophesy? (Amos 3:8). I will not return to destroy Ephraim, they shall walk after Jehovah. He roareth as a lion (Hos. 11:9-10). As the lion roareth and the young lion, so shall Jehovah come down to fight upon Mount Zion (Isa. 31:4). Behold the Lion which is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David hath conquered (Rev. 5:5). Judah is a lion's whelp, he coucheth, he lay down, as an old lion, who shall rouse him up? (Gen. 49:9). [2] In these passages the power of Divine truth which is from the Lord, is described by "the lion." "To roar" signifies to speak and act from power against the hells which wish to carry man away, but from which the Lord rescues him as a lion his prey; to "couch himself," is to put himself in power; "Judah," in the highest sense, signifies the Lord (n. 96, 266). The angel cried with a great voice as a lion roareth (Rev. 10:3). He couched, he lay down as an old lion, who shall stir him up? (Num. 24:9). Behold, the people shall rise up as an old lion, and lift up himself as a young lion (Num. 23:24) This is concerning Israel, by whom is signified the church, whose power, which is in Divine truths, is thus described. In like manner:
The remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of the people, as a lion among the beasts of the forests, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep (Micah 5:7-8; besides many other places; as Isa. 11:6; 21:6-9; 35:9; Jer. 2:15; 4:7; 5:6; 12:8; 50:17; 51:38; Ezek. 19:3, 5-6; Hos. 13:7-8; Joel 1:6-7; Nahum 2:12; Ps. 17:12; 22:13; 57:4; 58:6; 91:13; 104:21-22; Deut. 33:20).
This page is part of 
© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church