Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 610“Ephraim” signifies the illustrated understanding of those who areof the church; “glory” signifies Divine truth; “to fly away as a bird”signifies the deprivation of it (comparison is made with a bird,because a “bird” signifies the rational and intellectual, as Ephraimdoes); “if they have brought up sons, then will I make thembereaved of man,” signifies that if nevertheless they have broughtforth truths, still they are not at all made wise thereby; for “sons”are truths, and “to make them bereaved of man” is to deprive themof wisdom.[8] In Moses:Ye shall not make to you the form of any beast upon the earth, northe form of any winged bird that flieth towards heaven (Deut. 4:16,17).This signifies in the internal sense that man must not acquire forhimself wisdom and intelligence from self, or from what is his own,for “beasts that walk upon the earth” signify the affections of good,from which is wisdom, and “birds” signify the affections of truthfrom which is intelligence. That they should not make tothemselves the form of these signifies that the things signified arenot to be acquired from man, that is, from what is his own. It issaid, “the winged bird that flieth towards heaven,” because “wingedbird” signifies the understanding of spiritual truth, and “to flytowards heaven” signifies the circumspection that belongs tointelligence in things Divine.[9] From this it can now be seen what is signified by this cherub’sappearing “like a flying eagle” as also what is signified in Isaiah by:The seraphim, which had six wings; with twain he covered his face,and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly (6:2);namely that the “wings with which be covered his face” signify theaffection of spiritual truth; the “wings with which he covered hisfeet” the affection of natural truth therefrom; and the “wings withwhich he did By” circumspection and presence, here omnipresence,