Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 256About the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before andbehind; each one had wings full of eyes about and within (Rev. 4:6, 8).These four “living creatures” also were cherubim, for thedescription of them is almost like that of the cherubim in Ezekiel.So many “eyes” are ascribed to them because the Lord’s Divineprovidence, which is signified by “cherubim,” is his government ofall things in the heavens and on the earth by Divine wisdom; forthe Lord by Divine providence sees all things, disposes all things,and looks out for all things. (That by “cherubim” is signified theLord’s Divine providence, and in particular, a guard that the Lordbe not approached except through good, see n. 9277, 9509, 9673.)153. And his feet like burnished brass, signifies the ultimate ofDivine order, which is the natural, full of Divine love, as is evidentfrom what is said and shown above (n. 69), where similar wordsoccur. As what is written to the angel of this church treats of theinternal of the church, which is spiritual, and its external, which isnatural, that they must make one (see above, n. 150), so it isprefaced by these things respecting the Lord, from whom iseverything of the church, “These things saith the son of God, thathath his eyes as a flame of fire, and his feet like unto burnishedbrass”; for in respect to man, “eyes” signify the internal, which isspiritual, and “feet” the external, which is natural; but in respect tothe Lord, “eyes” and “feet” signify the Divine things from whichare the internal and external with man.154. Verse 19. I know thy works and charity, signifies the internalof those who are of the church. This is evident from thesignification of “works,” as being the things that are of the will, orof celestial love (of which see above, n. 98), and from thesignification of “charity,” as being the things that are of spirituallove. “Works and charity” signifies the internal of the church,because its internal is made up of the things that are of the will orlove, and its external of the things that are of the understandingand faith. There are two loves that constitute heaven or the church,love to the Lord and love towards the neighbor, or charity; love tothe Lord is called celestial love, and love toward the neighbor,which is charity, is called spiritual love. They are so called for the