Apocalypse Explained, Vol. 3

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED.

That “the four winds” signify the four quarters is clearly evident

In Ezekiel (xlii. 16-19), where the measure of the house according to the four winds, that is, the four quarters, is treated of;

and there the same word is used in the Hebrew for quarter as for wind and spirit. But more will be seen concerning winds in the article that now follows.

419[a]. “That the wind should not blow” signifies that the good be not injured, and the evil be not cast out before the day.— This is evident from the signification of “wind,” as meaning the Divine going forth, which is Divine good united to Divine truth; therefore “that the wind should not blow” signifies that the influx might be moderate and gentle. “The wind not blowing upon the earth” signifies that the good may not be injured, or the evil cast out before the day, because separations of the good from the evil and the casting out of the evil in the spiritual world are effected by various degrees of moderation and intensity of the Divine that goes forth from the Lord as a sun. When this flows in moderately the good are separated from the evil, and when it flows in intensely the evil are cast out; and for the following reasons: when the Divine from the Lord flows in moderately there is everywhere tranquillity and serenity, wherein all appear such as they are in respect to the state of their good, for all then stand forth in light; consequently those who are in good from a spiritual origin are then separated from those who are in good from a merely natural origin; for the Lord looks into those who are in spiritual good and leads them, and thus separates them. Those who are in good from a spiritual origin are those referred to in what follows where they are said “to be sealed on their foreheads,” for they are spiritual, and are angels of heaven; but those who are in good from a merely natural origin are not good because they are not spiritual, for the apparent good in them is evil, because it has regard to self and the world as an end. Such do good in external form with reference to their own glory, honor, and gain, and not with reference to the neighbor’s good, consequently they do good only that they may be respected by men. Those who are merely natural are those who are “not sealed,” and who are afterwards cast out. But when the Divine from the Lord flows in intensely, the goods in the evil are dispersed, because these goods are in themselves not goods but evils, and evils cannot endure the influx of the Divine. This causes the externals in such to be closed up, and when these are closed up the interiors are opened, in which there is nothing except evils and