Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 544through the notable change about to take place, and that all thingsshould then he done according to order; that is, that thoseinteriorly evil should be separated from those interiorly good, andthe latter be raised up into heaven, but the former cast down intohell.259. Verse 1. After these things I saw, and behold a door openedin heaven; and the first voice that I heard, as of a trumpet speakingwith me, said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things thatmust come to pass hereafter. 1. “After these things I saw,” signifiesthe understanding illustrated (n. 260); “and behold a door openedin heaven,” signifies the arcana of heaven revealed (n. 260); “andthe first voice that I heard,” signifies revelation now of things tocome (n. 261); “as of a trumpet speaking with me,” signifies clearand manifest (n. 262); “sad, Come up hither,” signifies elevation ofmind and attention in. 263); “and I win show thee things thatmust come to pass hereafter,” signifies instruction about the thingsthat win occur in the last time of the church (n. 264).260. Verse 1. After these things I saw, signifies the understandingillustrated. This is evident from the signification of “to see” as beingto understand. “To see” signifies to understand because the sight ofthe eye corresponds to the sight of the mind, which isunderstanding. That correspondence is from this, that as theunderstanding sees spiritual things so the sight of the eye seesnatural things. Spiritual things are truths from good, and naturalthings are objects in various forms. Truths from good, which arespiritual things, are seen in heaven as distinctly as objects before theeye, yet with much difference; for these truths are seenintellectually, that is, they are perceived; and the nature of this eightor perception cannot be described by human words; it can beapprehended only so far as this, that it has in it consent andconfirmation from the inmost that so it is. There are, indeed,confirming reasons in very great abundance, which presentthemselves to the intellectual sight as a one, and this one is as itwere a conclusion from many particulars. These confirming reasonsare in the light of heaven, which is Divine truth or Divine wisdomproceeding from the Lord, and which operate in each angel