Arcana Coelestia volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

ARCANA COELESTIA 36In Ezekiel:I will make with you a covenant of peace, and will cause the evilwild animal to cease out of the land, that they may dwell confidently inthe wilderness (Ezek. 34:25).In Isaiah:The wild animals of the field shall honor me, because I have givenwaters in the wilderness (Isa. 43:20).In Ezekiel:All the fowls of the heavens made their nests in his boughs, andunder his branches did all the wild animals of the field bring forth theiryoung, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations (Ezek. 31:6).This is said of the Assyrian, by whom is signified the spiritual man,and who is compared to the garden of Eden. In David:Glorify ye him, all his angels, glorify Jehovah from the earth, yewhales, fruit trees, wild animal, and every beast, creeping thing, andflying fowl (Ps. 148:2, 7, 9–10).Here mention is made of the same things—as “whales,” the “fruittree,” “wild animal,” the “beast,” “creeping thing,” and “fowl,”which, unless they had signified living principles in man, couldnever have been called upon to glorify Jehovah.[3] The prophets carefully distinguish between “beasts” and “wildanimals of the earth,” and “beasts” and “wild animals of the field.”Nevertheless goods in man are called “beasts,” just as those who arenearest the Lord in heaven are called “animals,” both in Ezekiel andin John:All the angels stood round about the throne, and the elders, andthe four animals, 3 and fell before the throne on their faces, andworshiped the lamb (Rev. 7:11; 19:4).