Like a: AR 241 - A Lion; AR 242 - A Calf; AR 243 - A Human Being; AR 244 - A Flying Eagle; AR 245 - Reading the Word

AR 241

The first living creature was like a lion.
(Revelation 4:7)

This symbolizes the Divine truth of the Word
in respect to its power.
A lion symbolizes truth in its power,
here the Divine truth of the Word in respect to its power,
as can be seen from the power of the lion,
which surpasses that of every other animal on the earth.
It can be seen as well from lions in the spiritual world
and the fact that they are images
representative of the power of Divine truth.
And it can be seen, too, from the Word,
in which lions symbolize Divine truth in its power.

AR 242

The second living creature like a calf.
(Revelation 4:7)

This symbolizes the Divine truth of the Word
in respect to its affection.

. . . The second living creature looked like a calf
because the Divine truth of the Word,
which it symbolizes,
affects hearts,
and so teaches and instills.

AR 243

The third living creature had a face like a human being.
(Revelation 4:7)

This symbolizes the Divine truth of the Word
in respect to its wisdom.
A human being in the Word symbolizes wisdom,
because the human being was born
to receive wisdom from the Lord and become an angel.
The wiser someone is, therefore,
the more human he is.
True human wisdom consists
in perceiving the existence of God,
the nature of God,
and what pertains to God.
This is what the Divine truth of the Word teaches.

AR 244

And the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.
(Revelation 4:7)

This symbolizes the Divine truth of the Word
in respect to its concepts
and the understanding they afford.
Eagles have various symbolic meanings,
but flying eagles symbolize
concepts which lead to understanding,
since when they fly, they recognize and see.
They also have sharp eyes so as to see keenly,
and eyes symbolize the intellect.
To fly means, symbolically, to perceive and teach,
and in the highest sense,
which has the Lord as its subject,
it means to foresee and provide.

AR 245

. . . the Divine truth of the Word affects people
who read it reverently . . ..