Doctrine of Holy Scripture - Swedenborg Foundation

DOCTRINE OF HOLY SCRIPTURE 155signify like things, namely, all the truths and goods of the church inone complex.11. In Revelation, chapter 7, it is said:That there were sealed one hundred and forty-four thousand—twelvethousand of each tribe of Israel—of the tribe of Judah, of the tribe of Reuben,of Gad, of Asher, of Naphtali, of Manasseh, of Simeon, of Levi, of Issachar, ofZebulon, of Joseph, and of Benjamin (Rev. 7:4–8).The spiritual sense of these words is that all are saved in whom isthe church from the Lord; for, in the spiritual sense, to be sealed onthe forehead, or to be sealed, signifies to be acknowledged by theLord and saved. The twelve tribes of Israel signify all of thatchurch; twelve, twelve thousand, and a hundred and forty-fourthousand, signify all; Israel signifies the church; and each tribesome specific thing of the church. He who does not know thisspiritual signification of these words may imagine that only thisprecise number are to be saved, and they solely from the Israelitishand Jewish nation.12. In Revelation, chapter 6, it is said:That when the lamb opened the first seal of the book, there went forth awhite horse, and that he who sat thereon had a bow, and to him was given acrown; that when he opened the second seal there went forth a red horse, andthat to him who sat thereon was given a great sword; that when he opened thethird seal there went forth a black horse, and that he who sat thereon had apair of balances in his hand; and that when he opened the fourth seal therewent forth a pale horse, and that the name of him who sat thereon was death(Rev. 6:1–8).What these things signify can be unfolded solely by means of thespiritual sense; and it is completely unfolded when it is knownwhat is signified by the opening of the seals, by a horse, and by theother things mentioned. By them are described the successive statesof the church, from its beginning to its end, in respect to itsunderstanding of the Word. The “opening of the seals of the bookby the lamb” signifies the manifestation by the Lord of those statesof the church. A “horse” signifies the understanding of the Word;