Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 587This treats of the coming of the Lord and a new church at thattime. “A lion upon a watch-tower” signifies the Lord’s guard andprovidence; therefore it is said, “I stand continually in the daytime,and I am set upon my watch all the nights.” A “chariot” and a “pairof horsemen” signify the doctrine of truth from the Word;“hearkening a hearkening” signifies a life according to thatdoctrine. (That “chariot” signifies the doctrine of truth, see ArcanaCoelestia, n. 2761, 2762, 5321, 8029, 8215; that “horseman”signifies the Word in respect to the understanding, see n. 2761,6401, 6534, 7024, 8146, 8148.)[7] In the same:Like as the lion and the young lion roareth over what he hath tornwhich 1 a multitude of shepherds meeteth, so shall Jehovah come downto fight upon Mount Zion and upon the hill thereof (31:4).Here Jehovah is compared to “a roaring lion,” because a “lion”signifies power to lead forth from hell or from evils, and to “roar”signifies defence against evils and falsities; therefore it is said, “soshall Jehovah Zebaoth come down to fight upon Mount Zion andupon the hill thereof,” “Mount Zion and the hill thereof” meaningthe celestial church and the spiritual church; and “that which istorn over which the lion and the young lion roar” signifyingdeliverance from evils, which are from hell.[8] To “roar” when attributed to a lion, has the same significationin Hosea:I will not return to destroy Ephraim. They shall go after Jehovah asa lion roareth (11:9, 10).In Amos:The lion hath roared, who does not fear? the Lord Jehovah hathspoken, who will not prophesy (3:8).In Revelation: