Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 590Besides many other places (as in Isa. 11:6; 35:9; Jer. 4:7; 5:6; 12:8;l. 17; 51:38; Ezek. 19:3, 5, 6; Hos. 13:7, 8; Joel 1:6. 7; Ps. 17:12;22:13; 57:4; 58:6; 91:13).279a. And the second animal like a calf signifies the appearance iaultimates of Divine good in respect to protection. This is evidentfrom the signification of a “calf,” or “bullock,” as being the good ofthe natural man, and specifically his good of innocence and charity;and because it is the good of the natural man it also is the good ofthe lowest heaven, for this heaven is spiritual natural (see in thework on Heaven and Hell, n. 29–31); and as this good is there,there is a guard or protection that the higher heavens be notapproached except through the good of love and charity; this is whyone cherub was like a calf. That this appearance was in ultimates,see just above (n. 278a). A “calf” or “bullock” signifies the good ofthe natural man, because animals from the herd signified theaffections of good and truth in the external or natural man; andthose from the flock signified the affections of good and truth inthe internal or spiritual man. Those from the flock were lambs, shegoats,sheep, rams, and he-goats; those from the herd were oxen,bullocks, and calves.[2] That “bullocks” and “calves” signify the good of the naturalman is evident from the passages of the Word where they arementioned. First from the description of the feet of the cherubimin Ezekiel:Their foot was straight and the sole of their feet like the sole of acalf’s foot, and they sparkled like the appearance of burnished brass(1:7).Their foot thus appeared “straight” because the cherubimrepresented the Divine guard of the Lord, and the feet and the solesof the feet represented the same in ultimates or in the spiritualnatural heaven and the natural world; for “feet” in general signifythe natural; a “straight foot” the natural in respect to good; “thesole of the foot” the ultimate of the natural; “burnished brass” alsosignifies good in the natural. From this it is clear that good in thenatural is signified by a “calf,” and that in this is the ultimate good