Apocalypse Explained, Vol. 3

CHAP. VII., VERSE I.—N. 418[b].

specting this separation more will be said in what follows, likewise respecting the casting out of the evil into the hells, which takes place afterwards. [2.] "The four winds" signify everything Divine going forth, because "the winds of heaven" signify the quarters of heaven, for the whole heaven is divided into four quarters, namely, east, west, south, and north. Into two quarters, the east and the west, the Lord flows with Divine good more powerfully than with Divine truth; and into two quarters, the south and the north, with Divine truth more powerfully than with Divine good; consequently those who are in the latter are more in wisdom and intelligence, and those in the former more in love and charity; and as the whole heaven is divided into four quarters, and those quarters are meant by "the four winds," "the four winds" signify everything Divine that goes forth. They are called "the four winds of the earth," because "the earth" means all the earth in the spiritual world, but in the spiritual sense "the earth" signifies heaven and the church (respecting which see what was said in the preceding article).

[b.] [3.] From all this the meaning of "the four winds" in other passages of the Word can be seen; as in Ezekiel:

The Lord Jehovih original: "Dominus Jehovih" said unto me, "Prophesy about the spirit, prophesy, ....and say to the spirit, Thus the Lord Jehovih hath said, Come from the four winds, O spirit, and breathe into these slain that they may live. And when I had prophesied....the spirit came, and they revived" (xxxvii. 9, 10).

This is said of "the dry bones" seen by the prophet, by which the sons of Israel are meant (as is evident from verse 11); and this vision describes the reformation and establishment of a new church from those who have not before had any spiritual life. "The dry bones" are those who have nothing of spiritual life; the spiritual life given them by the Lord, which constitutes the church in them, is described by these words; "the spirit" about which the prophet prophesied, and by which they were revived, signifies spiritual life, which is a life according to the truths of the Word. "Come from the four winds, O spirit," signifies from the Divine of the Lord in heaven, "the four winds" meaning the four quarters in heaven, and the four quarters are everything Divine there (as has been said above). In the sense of the letter, "spirit" here means the breath (spiritus breath/wind) of respiration, which is wind; it is therefore said that it should "come and breathe into these slain;" but the breath of respiration also signifies spiritual life, as will appear from what follows. "The slain" have the same signification as "dry bones," namely, those who have no spiritual life. [4.] In Zechariah: