Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 70thus into his manifest perception; for whatever enters into affectionis manifestly perceived, for the whole life of perception is fromaffection; but whatever flows out of heaven immediately into thethought flows into the region above the forehead. (Concerning thisinflux, see Heaven and Hell, n. 251.) From this it is clear what issignified by John’s having heard “behind him,” and by hisafterwards “having turned to see the voice which spoke with him.”A “trumpet” or “horn” signifies Divine truth about to be revealedout of heaven, because sometimes Divine truth is heard in this waywhen it flows down from the Lord through the heavens with man;for it is increased in coming down; and it thus flows in. But it isthus heard only in the beginning with those through whom Divinetruth is to be revealed in the ultimate sense, which is representativeof interior things. But afterwards it is heard as a human voice.From this it is evident why “the voice of a trumpet” or “horn”signifies Divine truth about to be revealed out of heaven.[2] He who is aware that “trumpet” or “horn” signifies Divinetruth out of heaven can understand many passages in the Wordwhere these are mentioned. As in Matthew:He shall send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, andthey shall gather together the elect from the four winds (Matt. 24:31).In Isaiah:All ye inhabitants of the world, and ye dwellers on the earth, whenthe sign of the mountains shall be lifted up, see ye; and when thetrumpet is blown, hear ye (Isa. 18:3).In Jeremiah:Proclaim with the trumpet in the land. Set up a standard towardsZion. How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of thetrumpet? For my people are foolish, they are sottish sons, and they haveno understanding (Jer. 4:5–6, 21–22).I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of thetrumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. Therefore hear, ye nations(Jer. 6:17–18).