Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 613283b. [3] The cherubim were seen as animals because heavenlythings are represented in ultimates in various ways, as can he seenfrom many passages in the Word; as:That the Holy Spirit appeared as a dove over Jesus when He wasbaptized (Matt. 3:16, 17).13).And that the Divine of the Lord appeared as a lamb (Rev. 5:6, 8,And from this the Lord was also called a Lamb (Rev. 6:1, 16; 7:9,10, 14, 17; 12:11; 13:8; 14:1, 4; 17:14; 19:7, 9; 21:22, 23, 27).There were “four cherubim,” and “each had six wings,” because“four” signifies celestial good, and “six” spiritual good; for “four”signifies conjunction, and inmost conjunction with the Lord isthrough love to Him; but “six” signifies communication, andcommunication with the Lord is by means of charity towards theneighbor.[4] That “wings” signify the spiritual Divine, which in its essenceis truth from good, can be seen from the following passages. InDavid:If ye have lain among the ranks, [ye shall have] the wings of a doveoverlaid with silver, and her pinions with the yellow of gold; whenThou, Shaddai, dost spread out, kings shall be in it (Ps. 68:13, 14).What it means that “those who lie among the ranks shall have thewings of a dove overlaid with silver, and her pinions with theyellow of gold,” and that “kings shall be in it when Shaddaispreadeth out,” can be understood only from the internal sense; inthat sense “to lie among the ranks” signifies to live according to thestatutes; “the wings of a dove overlaid with silver” signify spiritualtruths; her “pinions with the yellow of gold” signify spiritual goodfrom which are those truths; “Shaddai” signifies a state oftemptations; “kings in it” signify truths in that state and after it.“The wings of a dove overlaid with silver” signify spiritual truths,because “wing” signifies the spiritual, “dove” signifies truth from