674. Verse 8. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, signifies the inmost of heaven full of spiritual and celestial Divine truth from the Lord. By "the temple," the inmost of heaven is signified, as shown above (n. 669). By "smoke" is signified the Divine in the ultimates, as will be seen presently. By "glory" is signified spiritual Divine truth (n. 249, 629); and by "power" celestial Divine truth is signified (n. 373). Hence by "the temple being filled with the smoke from the glory of God and from His power," is signified the inmost heaven full of Divine truth spiritual and celestial. "Smoke" signifies the Divine truth in ultimates, because "fire," from which is smoke, signifies love; "the fire of the altar of burnt-offering," celestial love (n. 395, 494); and "the fire of the altar of incense," spiritual love (n. 277, 392, 394). That "smoke" signifies these things may be evident from these passages:
Jehovah will create upon every habitation of mount Zion a cloud by day, and smoke and the brightness of fire by night; for upon all the glory shall be a covering (Isa. 4:5). The posts of the threshold were moved at the voice of the seraphim that cried, and the house was filled with smoke (Isa. 6:4). The smoke of the incense went up with the prayers of the angels* out of the hand of the angel before God (Rev. 8:4). The smoking flax shall He not quench, He shall bring forth judgment into truth (Isa. 42:3). That "smoke" in the opposite sense signifies the falsities of lusts, may be seen above (n. 422); and falsities originating from the pride of one's own intelligence (n. 452). Also "smoke" in many places signifies the same as "a cloud." * The original Latin has "angels," the Greek is "saints."
674b. And no one could enter into the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were consummated, signifies to such a degree there that more could not be endured, and this until, after devastation, the end of that church was seen. By "no one could enter into the temple," is signified that the inmost of heaven was full of spiritual and celestial Divine truth to such a degree that more could not be endured. By "the temple," here as above, the inmost of heaven is signified. By "until the seven plagues of the seven angels were consummated," is signified that this would continue until the end of the church after devastation (n. 658). And by "the seven plagues of the seven angels," the evils and falsities which devastate the church and make an end of it are signified (n. 657).
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