AR 672 - Seven Golden Bowls

AR 672

Then one of the four living creatures gave 
to the seven angels seven golden bowls. 
(Revelation 15:7)

This symbolizes the truths and goods 
by which evils and falsities in the church are exposed, 
drawn from the literal sense of the Word.

The four living creatures, being cherubim, 
symbolize the Word in its outmost expressions, 
and protections to keep its genuine truths and goods 
from being violated . . .. 
And because the interior truths and goods in the Word 
are protected by its literal meaning, 
therefore that meaning of the Word 
is symbolized by one of the four living creatures.

The seven bowls have the same symbolic 
meaning as the seven plagues, 
for the bowls are vessels, 
and vessels in the Word 
have the same symbolic meaning as their contents. 
So for example, a cup has the same symbolic meaning 
as the wine in it, 
and a dish the same symbolic meaning as the food. 
. . . cups, goblets, bowls, plates and saucers 
have the same symbolic meaning as their contents . . ..