Arcana Coelestia (Elliott): AC 46

Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 46

46. That 'beasts' means affections residing with man - evil affections in evil men and good affections in good men - becomes clear from many examples in the Word, as in Ezekiel,

Behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, so that you will be tilled and sown; and I will multiply upon you man and beast, and they will be multiplied and be fruitful, and I will resettle you ^a to be as in your ancient times. Ezek 36:9-11.

This refers to regeneration. In Joel, Fear not, you beasts of My field, for the dwelling-places of the wilderness have been made green. Joel 1:22.

In David,

I was stupid, a beast ^b was I with God. Ps 73:12.

In Jeremiah, Behold, the days are coming when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast, and I will watch over them to build and to plant. Jer 31:27, 28. This refers to regeneration.

[2] 'Wild animals' (fera) has a similar meaning, as in Hosea, I will make for them a covenant on that day, with the wild animals of the field, and with the birds of the air,^c and with the creeping things of the earth. Hosea 2:18. In Job,

You will not fear the wild animals of the earth, for your covenant will be with the stones of the field, and the wild beasts of the field will be at peace with you. Job 5:22, 23.

In Ezekiel,

I will make with them ^d a covenant of peace, and I will banish the evil wild animal from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness. Ezek 34:25.

In Isaiah, The wild animals of the field will honour me, for I have given water in the desert. Isa 43:20. In Ezekiel,

In its branches all the birds of the air ^c made their nests and under its branches every wild animal of the field gave birth, and in its shadow dwelt all great nations. Ezek 31:6.

This refers to Assyria, which means the spiritual man and is compared to the Garden of Eden. In David,

Praise Jehovah, all his angels, praise Him from the earth, sea monsters, fruit trees, wild animals, and all beasts, creeping things, and flying birds! Ps 148:2-4, 7, 9, 10.

Here the list is precisely the same - sea monsters, fruit trees, wild animals, beasts, creeping things, and birds. Unless they all mean things that are alive in human beings, they cannot possibly be referred to as praising Jehovah.

[3] A careful distinction is made in the Prophets between beasts and wild animals of the earth, and between beasts and wild animals of the field. The practice of calling goods 'beasts' extends to calling people in heaven who are nearest to the Lord 'living creatures', both in Ezekiel and in John, All the angels stood around the throne, and the elders, and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God.^e Rev 7:11; 19:4.

The expression 'creatures' is also used of people who are to have the gospel preached to them because they are to be created anew, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15.

Notes

^a lit. I will cause you to inhabit
^b lit. beasts
^c lit. bird of the heavens (or the skies)
^d The Latin means with you; but the Hebrew means with them which Sw. has in other places where he quotes this verse.
^e The Latin means the Lamb; but the Greek means God which Sw. has in other places where he quotes this verse.

This page is part of