Arcana Coelestia volume 7 - Swedenborg Foundation

ARCANA COELESTIA 3856One who is not aware what these terms represent, and thencesignify, must believe that the Lord has a throne like kings on earth,and that there are such things as are here mentioned; yet there arenot such things in the heavens, but they are so presented to viewbefore those who are in the ultimate heaven, and from them asfrom pictures they see Divine arcana.[15] The Lord’s royalty, by which is signified the Divine truththat proceeds from him, was represented also by the throneconstructed by Solomon, regarding which it is thus written in thefirst book of Kings:Solomon made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with thefinest gold. There were six steps to the throne, and the top of the thronewas round behind; and there were hands on either side by the place ofthe seat, and two lions standing beside the hands, and twelve lions stoodthere on the one side and on the other upon the six steps (1 Kings10:18–21).Thus was represented the “throne of glory,” the “lions” beingDivine truths fighting and conquering, and the “twelve lions” allthese truths in one complex.[16] As almost all the things in the Word have also an oppositesense, so too has a “throne,” and in this sense it signifies thekingdom of falsity, as in Revelation:To the angel of the church in Pergamos: I know thy works, andwhere thou dwellest, even where Satan’s throne is (Rev. 2:12–13).The dragon gave the beast that came up out of the sea his power,and his throne, and great authority (Rev. 13:2).The fifth angel poured out his vial upon the throne of the beast;and his kingdom was darkened (Rev. 16:10).And in Isaiah:Thou hast said in thy heart, I will ascend into the heavens, I willexalt my throne above the stars of God (Isa. 14:13);