352. When the Lamb had opened the first of the seals, signifies the first manifestation from the Lord. This is evident from the signification of "to open a seal," as being to reveal the things hidden which are written within; for when a seal is opened the things enclosed are read, here the hidden things that no one except the Lord alone could know, for they are the states of all in general and in particular. That no one except the Lord alone knows these states is evident from what has been explained above respecting this book and the opening of its seals (n. 199, 222, 299, 327). From this it is clear that "when the Lamb had opened the first of the seals," signifies the first manifestation from the Lord.