AR 295 - The Lamb Opened the First Seal; AR 296 - A Voice of Thunder

AR 295

Now I saw when the Lamb
opened the first of the seals.
(Revelation 6:1)

This symbolizes an examination by the Lord
of all those people on whom
the Last Judgment would fall,
as to their understanding of the Word
and thus their states of life.

This is the symbolic meaning
because there follows next in order
an examination of all the people
on whom the Last Judgment would fall
as to their states of life,
and this by the Lord in accordance with the Word.

AR 296

And I heard one of the four living creatures saying,
as though with a voice of thunder.
(Revelation 6:1)

This symbolically means,
in accordance with the Divine truth in the Word.

. . . A voice of thunder is mentioned here
because this living creature refers to the lion,
which symbolizes the Divine truth of the Word
in respect to its power.
That is why this living creature is said to speak
as though with a voice of thunder.
For later we are told
that the second living creature spoke,
and then the third and fourth.