437. And the voice of their wings was as the voice of chariots of many horses running to war, signifies their reasonings as if they were from truths of doctrine from the Word fully understood, for which they must ardently fight. "The voice of wings" signifies reasonings, because "to fly" signifies to perceive and instruct (n. 245, 415); "chariots" signify doctrinals, as will be seen presently; "horses" signify the understanding of the Word (n. 298); and "many horses," what is plenary; that "running to war" signifies ardor for fighting, is evident. That "a chariot" signifies doctrine, is plain from these passages:
The chariots of God are two myriads, thousands of peaceful ones, the Lord is among them (Ps. 68:17). Jehovah maketh the clouds His chariots; He walketh upon the wings of the wind (Ps. 104:2-3). Jehovah, Thou didst ride upon thine horses, Thy chariots are salvation (Hab. 3:8). Behold, Jehovah will come with fire and with His chariots like a whirlwind (Isa. 66:15). Ye shall be satisfied at My table with horse and chariot; and I will set My glory among the nations (Ezek. 39:20-21). I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem (Zech. 9:10). I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, I will overthrow the chariot, and those that ride in them (Hag. 2:22). Set a watchman who may look, let him announce; and he saw a chariot with a pair of horsemen, and a camel chariot and the chariot of a man, and he said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen (Isa. 21:6-7, 9). "Elijah" and "Elisha" represented the Lord as to the Word, and thence signify doctrine from the Word, as did all the prophets (n. 8), therefore they were called "the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof"; and for the same reason:
Elijah was seen taken into heaven in a chariot of fire, and there were seen by Elisha's boy chariots and horses of fire round about him (2 Kings 2:11-12; 6:17; 13:14; besides other places where "chariots" occur; as in Isa. 31:1; 37:24; 66:20; Jer. 17:25; 22:4; 46:2-3, 8-9; 50:37-38; 51:20-21; Ezek. 26:7-8, 10-11; Dan. 11:40; Nahum 3:1-3; Joel 2:1-5).
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