Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 581Coelestia, n. 9457, 9481, 10545; the “ark” the inmost or thirdheaven, n. 3478, 9485; the “testimony or law in the ark,” the Lordin respect to the Word, n. 3382, 6752, 7463; the “habitation,” thatwas without the veil, the middle or second heaven, n. 3478, 9457,9481, 9485, 9594, 9596, 9632; the “mercy seat,” the hearing andreception of all things of worship that are from the good of loveand charity from the Lord, n. 9506; and “gold” the good of love, n.113, 1551, 1552, 5658, 6914, 6917, 9510, 9874,3881.)[5] Because “cherubim” signified those guards:There were cherubim also upon the curtains of the tabernacle andupon the veil (Exod. 26:1, 31).And for the same reason Solomon made in the oracle of the templecherubim of olive wood, and set them in the midst of the interior house,and overlaid them with gold, and also carved all the walls of the houseround about with carved figures of cherubim, and also the doors (1Kings 6:23–29, 32–35).The “temple” also signified heaven and the church, and its “oracle”the inmost of heaven and the church. The “olive wood,” of whichthe cherubim were made, signifies the good of love; likewise the“gold” with which they were overlaid. The “walls” on which thecherubim were engraved, signify the ultimates of heaven and of thechurch, and the “cherubim” thereon signify guards. The “doors,”on which also there were cherubim, signify entrance into heavenand the church. From this it is clear that “cherubim” signifiedguards that heaven be not approached except through the good oflove and charity. And as “cherubim” signified such guards they alsosignify the Lord’s Divine Providence, for these guards are from theLord, and are His Divine Providence. (That the “temple” and the“house of God” signify heaven and the church, see above, n. 220;the “oracle” therefore signifies the inmost of these. That “olivewood” signifies the good of love, see Arcana Coelestia, n. 886, 3728,4582, 9780, 9954, 10261; likewise “gold,” see above, n. 242. That“doors” signify approach and admission, see also above, n. 248.)