Apocalypse Explained, Vol. 3

CHAPTER VII., VERSE 1.—NOTE 417[a].

"You shall measure outside the city the corner toward the east two thousand cubits," and the south corner the same, and the west corner the same, and the north corner the same (Numbers 35:5).

Also in Joshua

Here the east, south, west, and north corners mean the sides towards the east, south, west, and north quarters. This makes clear that "the four angels standing upon the four corners of the earth" mean not upon its literal four corners but in its four quarters The author is clarifying that "corners" refers to the four compass directions or "winds" of the world. So elsewhere in the Apocalypse original: "Apocalypsi," also known as the Book of Revelation:

Satan "shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth" (20:8).

[4.] "Four corners" are mentioned, and not four quarters, because "corners" signify all things, since they are outermosts In this theological context, "outermosts" refers to the final boundary or physical manifestation of a spiritual reality; the "container" for what is inside; for outermosts comprehend all things from the center to the last circumferences, for they are the last borders. This is why four horns were placed on the four corners of the altar, and upon them the blood was poured, and thus expiation The act of making amends or purification for sin; atonement was made for the whole altar

[5.] That "corners" signify outermosts and thus all things (for the reason stated above, that outermosts include and comprehend all things) is clearly evident from some of the statutes Divine laws or decrees given to the Israelites given to the sons of Israel; as,

That they should not round or shave the corner of their head (Leviticus 19:27).
That they should not shave off the corner of their beard (Leviticus 19:27 ; 21:5).
And that they should not wholly finish the corners of their field when they reaped (Leviticus 19:9 ; 23:22).

Why such statutes were given them cannot be known unless it is known what is signified by "hair of the head," by "beard," by "field," and also by "corner." "The hair of the head," and "the beard" signify the outmost of man's life, which is called the corporeal sensual The lowest level of human experience, relating purely to the physical body and the five senses; and "field" signifies the church, and "reaping" truth of doctrine. By these statutes, therefore, it was represented that the outermosts must be preserved because they signify all things; for unless there are outermosts middle things are not kept together, but are dispersed, comparatively as the interior parts of the man would be dispersed if he were not encompassed The author suggests that just as the skin holds the body together, spiritual "corners" or boundaries hold spiritual truths together.