Apocalypse Explained (Whitehead) n. 265

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265. Verses 2-6. And immediately I was in the spirit; and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and upon the throne One sitting. And He that sat was in aspect like to a jasper stone and a sardius; and a rainbow was round about the throne in aspect like an emerald. And around the throne were four and twenty thrones, and upon the thrones I saw four and twenty elders sitting, arrayed in white garments, and they had on their heads golden crowns. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunders and voices; and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God; and in sight of the throne a glassy sea like crystal. 2. "And immediately I was in the spirit," signifies a spiritual state when there is revelation (n. 266); "and behold, a throne was set in heaven," and upon the throne One sitting," signifies the Lord in respect to the Last Judgment (n. 267). 3. "And He that sat was in aspect like to a jasper stone and a sardius" signifies the Lord's appearance in respect to Divine truth pellucid by virtue of the Divine good of the Divine love (n. 268); "and a rainbow was round about the throne in aspect like an emerald," signifies the appearance of Divine truth in the heavens about the Lord (n. 269). 4. "And around the throne were four and twenty thrones, and upon the thrones four and twenty elders sitting," signifies all truths from good in the higher heavens, arranged by the Lord before judgment (n. 270); "arrayed in white garments," signifies all truths from good in the lower heavens (n. 271); "and they had on their heads golden crowns," signifies all truths arranged into order by Divine good, thus also all the former heavens (n. 272). 5. "And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunders and voices," signifies illustration, understanding, and perception of Divine truth in the heavens (n. 273); "and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God," signifies Divine truth itself united to Divine good, proceeding from the Lord's Divine love (n. 274). 6. "And in sight of the throne a glassy sea like crystal," signifies the appearance of Divine truth in ultimates where its generals are, pellucid by virtue of the influx of Divine truth united to Divine good in firsts (n. 275).


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