37. And I heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, signifies manifest perception of the Divine truth revealed from heaven. "A great voice," when heard from heaven, signifies the Divine truth, of which presently; it was heard "as a trumpet," because when the Divine truth descends from heaven, it is sometimes so heard by the angels of the lowest heaven, and then is manifestly perceived. Therefore, by "a voice as of a trumpet," is signified manifest perception; of the signification of trumpet, more will be seen below (n. 397, 519). That "a great voice" when heard from heaven signifies Divine truth is evident from these passages:
The voice of Jehovah is upon the water, the voice of Jehovah is in power, the voice of Jehovah is with honor, the voice of Jehovah breaketh the cedars, the voice of Jehovah falleth as a flame of fire; the voice of Jehovah maketh the wilderness to tremble; the voice of Jehovah maketh the hinds to bring forth (Ps. 29:3-9). Sing psalms to the Lord ye kingdoms of the earth, behold He will give forth His voice, a voice of strength (Ps. 68:32-33). Jehovah gave forth His voice before His army, for numberless, it doeth His Word (Joel 2:11). Jehovah will give forth His voice from Jerusalem (Joel 3:16). And since "voice" signifies the Divine truth from the Lord, therefore the Lord said that:
The sheep hear His voice; they know His voice; and other sheep I have, them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me (John 10:3-4, 16, 27). And in another place:
The hour cometh, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of man, and they that hear shall live (John 5:25). "Voice" here is the Divine truth of the Lord from his Word.
This page is part of 
© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church