AE 759 - two wings of an eagle

AE 759 [Verse 14.]
And there were given to the woman two wings of a great eagle,
(Revelation 12:14)
. . . the signification of "the woman,"
as being the church that is called the New Jerusalem,
consequently the people of that church;
also from the signification of "wings,"
as being things spiritual;
also from the signification of an "eagle,"
as being intelligence and circumspection.
From this it follows that
"there were given to the woman two wings of a great eagle"
signifies the spiritual intelligence and circumspection
that the Lord gives to those who are of that church.

[2] What this means shall now be told.
. . . it is granted to the people of the New Church
that is called the Holy Jerusalem
to behold the Divine truths that are in the Word,
not sensually, that is, according to appearances,
but spiritually, that is, according to their essences;
for this reason the internal sense of the Word,
which is spiritual and is solely for those who will be of that church,
has been disclosed.
From that sense Divine truth is seen such as it is in its own spiritual light,
and from that light such as it is in its own natural light.
Divine truth is the Word,
and those who are of that church
are enlightened by the spiritual light of the Word
by influx from the Lord out of heaven,
for the reason that they acknowledge the Divine in the Lord's Human,
and are in the spiritual affection of truth from Him.
They and no others receive spiritual light,
which is continually flowing in from the Lord through heaven
with all who read the Word.
From this they have enlightenment.

[3] How enlightenment is effected shall also be told.
Every person in respect to his thoughts and affections is in the spiritual world,
consequently he is there in respect to his spirit,
for it is the spirit of a person that thinks and that is affected.
The person who becomes spiritual by being regenerated by the Lord
is in respect to his spirit in a heavenly society,
the natural person, that is, one who is not regenerated,
is in respect to his spirit in an infernal society;
with the latter evils flow in continually from hell,
and are also received with delight;
but with the former goods flow in continually from heaven,
and are also received;
and as goods flow into his affection,
and through the affection into his thought,
from that he has enlightenment.
This enlightenment is what is meant by
the spiritual intelligence and circumspection that are signified by
"the wings of an eagle" given to the woman,
with which she flew into the wilderness.
The spiritual also are comparatively like eagles flying on high;
while those who are merely natural
are comparatively like serpents who creep on the ground,
and see the eagles above them.
For this reason the dragon is called a "serpent" in the next verse.

[4] Furthermore, "the wings of an eagle" that were given to the woman
signify the understanding of truth;
for all who are of that church have the understanding enlightened
and from this they are able to see truth from the light of truth,
that is, whether a thing be true or not true.
Because they see truth in this way they acknowledge it,
and receive it with the affection which is of the will.
By this the truths they have are made spiritual;
and in consequence the spiritual mind,
which is above the natural mind,
is opened with them;
and when this is opened it receives angelic sight,
which is the sight of truth itself from its own light.
On the other hand, those who are not of that church,
who are they who do not acknowledge the Divine in the Lord's Human,
and who do not love truth because it is truth, that is, spiritually,
cannot have the understanding so enlightened
as to be able to see whether a thing be true or not;
but they see appearances of truth as genuine truths,
and confirm them as genuine truths from the sense of the letter of the Word;
and yet most things in that sense of the Word are appearances of truth;
and if these are confirmed as genuine truths
they are falsified, and falsified truths are falsities.
Because they are unable to see truths from the light of truth,
and thus apprehend them in the understanding,
they are in an obscure, yea, in a blind faith about what is to be believed;
and a blind faith is like an eye that sees little or nothing.
Yea a blind faith is not faith, but only a persuasion . . ..