Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 553[3] The “sardius” is mentioned because that stone signifies good,here Divine good, because the Lord is described. This is the stonethat is called “pyropus” [firestone], and since it shines as by fire,both names signify the translucency of truth from good. (That allprecious stones signify the truths from good of heaven and of thechurch, see Arcana Coelestia, n. 114, 9863, 9865, 9868, 9873; forthis reason twelve precious stones were set in the breastplate ofAaron, which is called the Urim and Thummim, and by themresponses were given, and this by their shining forth, and at thesame time by a perception as to the thing interrogated or by a livingvoice, n. 9905.)269. And a rainbow was round about the throne in aspect like anemerald, signifies the appearance of Divine truth in the heavensabout the Lord. This is evident from the signification of “a rainbowin aspect like an emerald,” as denoting the appearance of Divinetruth in its circumference; for “a rainbow round about the throne”signifies Divine truth round about; “in aspect like” signifiesappearance. The appearance was like an emerald, because it hadreference to the Last Judgment; for the color of this stone is green,and “green” signifies truth obscured. Divine truth in its brightnessappears either of the color of heaven, or in various colors inbeautiful order like a rainbow; but when obscured it appears of thecolor of an emerald. The heaven that was obscured was the heavencalled “the former heaven,” on which judgment was to be executed,and which was about to parish (see Rev. 21:1). On this account “arainbow round about like an emerald” is mentioned. “Rainbow”signifies Divine truth in the heavens in its order and consequentlyin its beauty, because there are infinite varieties of truth from goodin the heavens, and when these are represented by colors, theypresent the aspect of a most beautiful rainbow. For this reason “arainbow” was made the sign of the covenant after the flood (Gen.9:12–17). (That there are infinite varieties in the heavens see in thework on Heaven and Hell, n. 56, 405, 418, 486; and in the smallwork on the Last Judgment, n. 13; and in Arcana Coelestia, n. 684,690, 3744, 5598, 7236, 7833, 7836, 9002; that colors in heavenappear from the light there, and that they are modifications andvariegations of the light, n. 1042, 1043, 1053, 1624, 3993, 4530,4742, 4922; and that the colors appear various according to the