286. Verse 11. And I saw, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the animals and the elders, signifies confession and glorification of the Lord by the angels of the lower heavens. That there was confession and glorification of the Lord by the angels of the three heavens, may be seen above (n. 275); and by the angels of the higher heavens, (from verses 8 to 10); and therefore now by the angels of the lower heavens (verses 11, 12); wherefore by "the voice of the angels round about the throne," is meant the confession and glorification of the Lord by the angels of the lower heavens. That he then saw also the animals and elders together with them, because by "the animals" and "elders" are signified the angels of the higher heavens (n. 275), and the lower heavens never act separately from the higher heavens, but in conjunction with them; for the Lord inflows into all the heavens immediately from Himself; thus also into the lower heavens; and at the same time mediately through the higher heavens into the lower. This is the reason, therefore, why "he saw and heard the animals and elders" first by themselves, and afterwards in conjunction with the others.