31#a.启1:6. “又使我们作王和祭司”表示我们从祂而在祂的属灵和属天国度。这从“王”和“祭司”的含义清楚可知：“王”是指那些处于源于良善的真理之人；由于他们构成主的属灵国度，所以“王”是指那些在祂的属灵国度的人；在圣言中，“王”表示这些人，这一点从下文明显看出来。“祭司”是指那些处于爱之良善的人；由于这些人构成主的属天国度，所以“祭司”是指那些在祂的属天国度的人。天堂总体上分为两个国度(参看《天堂与地狱》，20–28节)，属灵国度被称为主的君王国度，属天国度被称为祂的祭司国度(HH24节)。预言圣言的许多地方提到王，那些不知道内义的人以为那里的“王”是指君王；然而，所指的不是君王，而是所有从主处于源于良善的真理，或源于仁的信之人。其原因在于，主是唯一的王，那些从主处于源于良善的真理之人被称为祂的“儿子”。这就是为何“首领”、“天国之子”、“王子”，以及“王”具有相同的含义；从人抽象出来说，如在天堂的情形，所指的是源于良善的真理，或也可说，源于仁的信；因为真理属于信，良善属于仁。
所指的不是君王，这一点仅从此处说耶稣基督“使我们作王和祭司”，以及下面的话可以看出来：
又叫我们成为君王和祭司，归于我们的神。我们要在地上掌权。(启示录5:10)
马太福音：
撒在田里的好种就是天国之子。(马太福音13:38)
撒在田里的种子是指人从主所获得的源于良善的真理(可参看《属天的奥秘》，3373, 10248, 10249节)。此外，谁都能感知到，主不会叫此处所论述的所有人成为君王，而是叫他们凭那些从主处于源于良善的真理之人所拥有的能力和荣耀成为君王。由此可见在预言圣言中，“王”表示神性真理方面的主，“王”和“首领”表示那些从主处于源于良善的真理之人；和圣言中的大多数词语一样，它们也有反面意义，“王”在反面意义上表示那些处于源于邪恶的虚假之人。
在圣言中，“王”表示神性真理方面的主，这一点从主自己对彼拉多说的话清楚看出来：
彼拉多说，那么，你是王了？耶稣回答，我是王，这是你说的。我为此而生，也为此来到世界，为了给真理作见证。凡属真理的人都听我的声音。彼拉多说，真理是什么呢？(约翰福音18:37, 38)
从彼拉多的这个问题，即“真理是什么呢”清楚可知，他的理解是，主称真理为“王”；但他是一个外邦人，对圣言一无所知，所以无法被教导，神性真理来自主，主就是神性真理；因此，紧接着他的问题之后：
彼拉多出来对犹太人说，我查不出他有什么罪状；后来又写了一个牌子，钉在十字架上，即：这是耶稣，犹太人的王。祭司长对他说，不要写犹太人的王，要写祂说，我是犹太人的王，彼拉多回答，我写了就写了。(约翰福音19:4, 19–22)
明白了这些事，就能知道在以下启示录的经文中，“王”表示什么：
第六位天使把他的碗倒在幼发拉底大河上，河水就干了，要给那从日出之地所来的众王预备道路。(启示录16:12)
启示录：
那坐在多水之上的大淫妇与地上的诸王行淫。(启示录17:1–2)
又：
那七头就是女人所坐的七座山，又是七位王；五个已经倒了，一个还在，另一个还未来到。你所看见的那十角就是十王，他们还没有得国，但要和那兽同得权柄作王一个时辰。他们将与羔羊争战，羔羊必胜过他们；因为羔羊是万主之主，万王之王。(启示录17:9, 10, 12, 14)
又：
你所看见的那女人，就是管辖地上众王的大城。
又：
所有民族都喝了她邪淫烈怒的酒；地上的诸王素来与她行淫。(启示录18:3)
又：
我看见那兽和地上的诸王，并他们的众军都聚集，要与那骑在马上的和祂的军队争战。(启示录19:19)
又：
得救的列族要在城的光里行走，地上的诸王必将自己的荣耀、尊贵带给那城。(启示录21:24)
在这些经文中，“诸王”不是指君王，而是指所有要么处于源于良善的真理，要么处于源于邪恶的虚假之人，如前所述。在但以理书，彼此争战的南方王和北方王也是如此。那里的“南方王”表示那些处于源于良善的真理之光的人，“北方王”表示那些处于源于邪恶的黑暗之人。在圣言中，“南”表示那些处于源于良善的真理之光的人(参看《属天的奥秘》，1458, 3708, 3195, 5672, 9642节)；“北”表示那些处于源于邪恶的虚假之黑暗的人(3708节，总体上在《天堂与地狱》141–153节，那里论述了天堂里的四个方位)。
先知们在旧约也经常提到“王”；在那里，“王”同样表示那些从主处于源于良善的真理之人，在反面意义上表示那些处于源于邪恶的虚假之人；如在以赛亚书：
他必分散许多民族，诸王要因他闭口。因为他们已经看见所未曾传与他们的，已经明白未曾听见的。(以赛亚书52:15)
同一先知书：
以色列圣者的锡安啊，你必吃列族的奶，又吮列王的乳房。(以赛亚书60:16)
又：
列王必作你的养父，王后必作你的乳母；他们必将脸伏地，向你下拜。(以赛亚书49:23)
以及别处(如以赛亚书14:9; 24:21; 60:10; 耶利米书2:26;4:9; 49:38; 耶利米哀歌2:6, 9; 以西结书7:26, 27; 何西阿书3:4; 西番雅书1:8; 诗篇2:10; 110:5; 创世记49:20)。
31b.由于“王”表示那些从主处于源于良善的真理之人，所以从古代传下来的习俗是，君王在加冕时，要用表示源于良善的真理的标志或徽章来区分；例如，君王要用油来膏抹，头戴金王冠，右手持权杖，身穿紫袍，坐在银宝座上，戴着君王标志骑在白马上；因为“油”表示真理所来自的良善(参看《属天的奥秘》，886, 4638, 9780, 9954, 10011, 10261, 10268, 10269节)；截在头上的“金王冠”具有相同的含义(9930节)；“权杖”，也就是杖，表示源于良善的真理的能力(4581, 4876, 4966节)；长袍和外袍表示属灵国度中的神性真理(9825, 10005节)；“紫”表示对良善的属灵之爱(9467节)；“宝座”表示源于良善的真理的国度(5313, 6397, 8625节)；“银”表示这真理本身(1551, 1552, 2954, 5658节)；“白马”表示从真理被光照的理解力(参看《白马》，1–5节)，君王加冕时所遵守的礼仪涉及这些事物，但关于它们的知识如今都丢失了(也可参看《属天的奥秘》，4581, 4966节)。
由于从这些事物明显可知在圣言中，“王”表示什么，所以我在前面的内容上补充说明为什么主在进入耶路撒冷时，骑在驴驹上，又为何那时百姓宣告祂作王，还把衣服铺在路上(马太福音21:1–8; 马可福音11:1–11; 路加福音19:28–40; 约翰福音12:14–16)；撒迦利亚书预言了这一切：
锡安的女儿哪，应当大大喜乐；耶路撒冷的女儿哪，应当欢呼；看哪，你的王必来到你这里，是公义的，并且有救恩，骑着驴，骑着驴驹。(撒迦利亚书9:9; 马太福音21:5; 约翰福音12:15)
原因在于，骑着驴和驴驹是至高士师和一个君王的显著标志；这从以下经文可以看出来，士师记：
我心倾向以色列的立法者，骑白母驴的。(士师记5:9–10)
创世记：
权杖必不离犹大，立法者必不离他两脚之间，直等细罗来到。犹大把驴驹拴在葡萄树上，把母驴崽拴在上好的葡萄树上。(创世记49:10, 11)
由于骑驴和驴驹是这样一种显著标志，所以士师骑白母驴(士师记5:9–10)；他的儿子则骑驴驹(士师记10:4; 12:14)；王自己在加冕时骑母骡子(列王纪上1:33)；他的儿子骑骡子(撒母耳记下13:29)。人若不知道“马”、“骡子”和“驴驹”在代表意义上表示什么，就会以为主骑在驴驹上表示苦难和羞辱；但它表示王家的华丽；因此，那时百姓宣告主作王，并把衣服铺在路上。当主进入耶路撒冷时，之所以这样做，是因为“耶路撒冷”表示教会(可参看《新耶路撒冷及其属天教义》，6节)，“衣服”表示作为衣服穿在良善上并服事良善的真理(可参看《属天的奥秘》，1073, 2576, 5248, 5319, 5954, 9212, 9215, 9216, 9952, 10536节；《天堂与地狱》，177–182节)。
由此清楚可知在圣言中，“王”和“列王、诸王或众王”表示什么，以及“受膏者”、“弥赛亚”和“基督”表示什么；因为“受膏者”、“弥赛亚”、“基督”，跟“王”一样，表示从主的神性良善发出的神性真理方面的主；因为王被称为“受膏者”，“受膏者”在希伯来语就是弥赛亚，在希腊语是基督。但唯独神性人身方面的主是“耶和华的受膏者”，因为自成孕时，神性之爱的神性良善就唯独在祂里面；事实上，祂从耶和华成孕；但所有受膏者都只代表祂(参看《属天的奥秘》，9954, 10011, 10268–10269节)。“祭司”则表示存在于属天国度中的良善，这一点可见于《属天的奥秘》一书，那里说明祭司代表神性良善方面的主(2015, 6148节)；祭司职分代表拯救工作方面的主，因为拯救来自祂的神性之爱的神性良善(参看9809节)；亚伦和他的儿子，并利未人的祭司职分代表在连续顺序中的拯救工作(参看10017节)；因此，在圣言中，“祭司”(the priesthood)和“祭司职分”(priesthoods)表示来自主的爱之良善(参看9806, 9809节)；“耶稣”和“基督”这两个名字表示祂的祭司职分和王权，也就是说，“耶稣”表示神性良善，“基督”表示神性真理(3004, 3005, 3009节)；不承认主的祭司和君王表示反面，即表示邪恶和源于邪恶的虚假(3670节)。
31. (Verse 6) And hath made us kings and priests. That this signifies, that from Him we are in His spiritual and celestial kingdom, is evident from the signification of kings as being those who are in truths from good, and, because these constitute the spiritual kingdom of the Lord, as being those who are in His spiritual kingdom - that such are signified by kings in the Word, will be evident from what follows; and from the signification of priests, as denoting those who are in the good of love, and, because these constitute the celestial kingdom of the Lord, as denoting those who are in His celestial kingdom. (That there are two kingdoms into which the heavens are in general distinguished, may be seen in the work, Heaven and Hell 20-28; and that the spiritual kingdom is called the regal kingdom of the Lord, and the celestial kingdom His priestly kingdom, may be seen in the same work, n. 24.) Mention is made of kings in many places in the prophetic Word, and those who are ignorant of the internal sense, believe that kings are there meant; kings, however, are not meant, but all those who are in truths from good, or in faith from charity, from the Lord; the reason is, that the Lord is the only King, and those who, from the Lord, are in truths from good, are called His sons. This is why, by princes, sons of the kingdom, sons of kings, and also by kings such are meant; and that abstractedly from persons, as is the case in heaven, truths from good are meant, or, what is the same thing, faith from charity; because truth pertains to faith, and good to charity.
[2] That kings are not meant, may be evident from the expression alone here used, namely, that Jesus Christ hath made us kings and priests; and afterwards,
"Thou hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth" (Arcana Coelestia 3373, 10248, 10249). Every one also may perceive that the Lord will not make all those who are there treated of kings, that He calls them kings from the power and the glory belonging to those who are in truths from good from the Lord.
From these considerations it may now be seen, that by king, in the prophetic Word, is meant the Lord as to Divine truth, and by kings and princes, those who are in truths from good from the Lord; and, as most terms used in the Word have also an opposite sense, in that sense kings signify those who are in falsities from evil.
[3] That by king in the Word is meant the Lord as to Divine truth, is evident from the words of the Lord Himself to Pilate:
"Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is in the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?" (John 18:37, 38).
From the question of Pilate, What is truth? it is evident that he understood that the Lord called truth a king; but because he was a Gentile, and knew nothing from the Word, he could not be instructed that Divine truth was from the Lord, and that He was Divine truth; therefore, immediately after his question, "He went out to the Jews, saying, I find no fault in him"; and afterwards put upon the cross,
"This is Jesus, the king of the Jews. And when the chief priests said unto him, Write not, The king of the Jews, but that he said, I am the king of the Jews, Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written" (John 19:19-22).
[4] These things being understood, it may be known what is meant by kings in the following passages in the Apocalypse:
"The sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates, and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings from the rising of the sun might be prepared" (Arcana Coelestia 1458, 3708, 3195, 5672, 9642, and the north those who are in the darkness of falsity from evil, n. 3708, and in general in the work, Heaven and Hell 141-153; where the four quarters in heaven are treated of.)
[5] Kings are also frequently mentioned by the prophets in the Old Testament, where also are likewise meant those who are in truths from good from the Lord, and, in an opposite sense, those who are in falsities from evil; as in Isaiah:
"He shall disperse many nations; kings shall shut their mouths upon him; because what was [not] told them they have seen, and what they have not heard they have understood" (52:15).
And in the same:
"Zion of the Holy One of Israel, thou shalt suck the milk of the nations, and shalt suck the breasts of kings" (60:16).
Also, in the same:
"Kings shall be thy nursing fathers and princesses thy nursing mothers; they shall bow down to thee with their face to the earth" (49:23).
And moreover in Isaiah 14:9; 24:21; 60:10; Jerem. 2:26; 4:9; 49:38; Lament. 2:6, 9; Ezekiel 7:26, 27; Hosea, 3:4; Zeph. 1:8; Psalm 2:10; 110:5. Falsities, Genesis 49:20.
[6] Because kings signify those who are in truths from good from the Lord, therefore it became a custom from ancient times, that kings, when they were crowned, should be distinguished by certain insignia which signify truths from good; as, for example, that the king should be anointed with oil, that he should wear a crown of gold, that he should hold a sceptre in the right hand, that he should be clothed with a crimson robe, that he should sit upon a throne of silver, and that he should ride with his insignia upon a white horse. (For oil signifies good from which is truth, as may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 886, 4683, 9780, 9954, 10011, 10261, 10268; a crown of gold upon the head has a similar signification, n. 9930; a sceptre, which is a staff, signifies the power of truth from good, n. 4581, 4876, 4966; a robe and cloak signifies Divine truth in the spiritual kingdom, n. 9825, 10005; and crimson, the spiritual love of good, n. 9467; a throne, the kingdom of truth from good, n. 5313, 6397, 8625; and silver, that truth itself, n. 1551, 1552, 2954, 5658.) A white horse signifies the understanding enlightened from truths (as may be seen in the little work, The White Horse 1-5. That rituals observed at the coronation of kings involve such things, but that the knowledge thereof is at this day lost, see also n. 4581, 4966).
[7] Since it is evident from these things what is signified by king in the Word, I will add to the above, why the Lord, when He entered Jerusalem, sat upon the foal of an ass, and why the people then proclaimed Him king, and also strewed their garments in the way (6; that garments signify truths clothing good, and ministering to it, may be seen in Arcana Coelestia, n. 1073, 2576, 5248, 5319, 5954, 9212, 9216, 9952, 10536, and in the work, Heaven and Hell 177-182.)
[8] From these things it is now evident what is signified by king and by kings in the Word, so also, what by the Anointed, Messiah, and Christ; for Anointed, Messiah, and Christ, just as King, signify the Lord as to Divine truth going forth from His Divine good; for a king is called the anointed, and the term signifying anointed is Messiah in Hebrew and Christ in Greek. (But that the Lord, as to His Divine Human was alone "the Anointed of Jehovah," because in Him alone was the Divine good of the Divine love from conception, because He was conceived of Jehovah; but all the anointed only represented Him, as may be seen, n. 9954, 10011, 10269. But that priests signified the good that exists in the celestial kingdom may be seen in Arcana Coelestia, where it is shown that priests represented the Lord. as to Divine good, n. 2015, 6148; that the priesthood was representative of the Lord as to the work of salvation, because this was from the Divine good of His Divine love, see n. 9809; that the priesthood of Aaron, of his sons, and of the Levites was representative of the work of salvation in successive order, see n. 10017; that hence by the priesthood, and by priesthoods in the Word, is signified the good of love which is from the Lord, see n. 9806, 9809. That by the two names, Jesus and Christ, is signified both His Priestly and His regal function, that is, by Jesus is signified the Divine good, and by Christ the Divine truth, n. 3004, 3005, 3009. That priests who do not acknowledge the Lord, and also kings, represent the contrary of the above, or evil and the falsity from evil, n. 3670.)
31. Verse 6. And hath made us kings and priests, signifies that from Him we are in His spiritual and celestial kingdom. This is evident from the signification of "kings," as meaning those who are in truths from good; and since they constitute the Lord's spiritual kingdom, as meaning those who are in His spiritual kingdom. That these are signified by "kings" in the Word, will appear from what follows. The above is evident also from the signification of "priests," as meaning those who are in the good of love; and since these constitute the Lord's celestial kingdom, they also are those who are in His celestial kingdom. (That there are two kingdoms, into which the heavens are in general divided, see in the work on Heaven and Hell 20-28, and that the spiritual kingdom is called the Lord's regal kingdom, and the celestial kingdom His priestly kingdom, n. 24.) In any places in the prophetic Word, kings are mentioned, and he that is ignorant of the internal sense believes that by "kings" are there meant kings; kings, however, are not meant, but all those who are in truths from good, or in faith from charity, from the Lord. The reason of this is, that the Lord is the sole king, and those who from Him are in truths from good are called His "sons;" for this reason the same are meant by "princes," by "sons of the kingdom," by "sons of kings," and also by "kings;" and in a sense abstracted from the idea of persons, as it is in heaven, truths from good are meant, or, what is the same, faith from charity; since truth is of faith, and good is of charity.
[2] That kings are not meant can be seen simply from its here being said that Jesus Christ "hath made us kings and priests"; and afterwards:
And hast made us to be unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign upon the earth (Arcana Coelestia 3373, 10248, 10249). Everyone, moreover, may perceive that the Lord will not make all those here treated of to be kings, but that he calls them kings from the power and the glory which those have who from the Lord are in truths from good. From this it can now be seen that by "king," in the prophetic Word, is meant the Lord as to Divine truth, and by "kings" and "princes," those who from the Lord are in truths from good, and as most things in the Word have also an opposite sense, that "kings" signify in that sense those who are in falsities from evil.
[3] That by "King" in the Word is meant the Lord in respect to Divine truth, is clear from the words of the Lord Himself to Pilate:
Pilate said, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest it, because I am a king. For this have I been born, and for this am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is in the truth heareth My voice. Pilate said unto Him, What is truth? (John 18:37-38).
From the question of Pilate, "What is truth," it is clear that he understood that truth was called "king" by the Lord; but as he was a Gentile, and knew nothing from the Word, he could not be taught that Divine truth is from the Lord, and that He is Divine truth; therefore, immediately after his question:
He went out to the Jews, saying, I find no fault in him; and afterwards put upon the cross, This is Jesus, the king of the Jews. And when the chiefs of the priests said unto him, Write not, The king of the Jews, but that He saith I am the king of the Jews, Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written (John 19:4, 19:14-22).
[4] When these things are understood, it may be known what is meant by "kings" in the following passages in Revelation:
The sixth angel poured out his bowl upon the great river Euphrates, and the water thereof was dried up, that the way might be made ready for the kings that come from the sun rising (Arcana Coelestia 1458, 3708, 3195, 5672, 9642; and "north" those who are in the darkness of falsity from evil, n. 3708, and in general, in the work on Heaven and Hell 141-153, where The Four Quarters in Heaven are treated of.)
[5] "Kings" are also frequently mentioned by the prophets in the Old Testament; and there likewise are meant those who, from the Lord, are in truths from good, and in a contrary sense, those who are in falsities from evil; as in Isaiah:
He shall disperse 1many nations: kings shall shut their mouths upon Him; for that which had not been told them they have seen, and that which they have not heard they have understood (Isaiah 52:15).
In the same:
The Zion of the Holy One of Israel, thou shalt suck the milk of the nations, and shalt suck the breast of kings (Isaiah 40:14, 16).
Kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and the chief women thy nursing mothers; they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth (Isaiah 49:23; and 14:9 elsewhere, as in Isaiah 14:9; 24:21; 60:10; Jeremiah 2:26; 4:9; 49:38; Lamentations 2:6, 9; Ezekiel 7:26, 27; Hosea 3:4; Zephaniah 1:8; Psalms 2:10; 110:5; Genesis 49:20).
[6] Since "kings" signify those who, from the Lord, are in truths from good, it was a custom derived from ancient times for kings, when they were crowned, to receive such insignia as signify truths from good: as for the king to be anointed with oil, to wear a crown of gold, to hold a scepter in his right hand, to be clothed with a purple cloak, to sit upon a throne of silver, and to ride with the royal insignia upon a white horse; for "oil" signifies good from which is truth (See Arcana Coelestia 886[1-2], 4638, 9780, 9954, 10011, 10261, 10268-10269); a "crown of gold" upon the head has a like meaning (n. 9930); a "scepter," which is a staff, signifies the power of truth from good (n. 4581, 4876, 4966); a "cloak" and a "robe," Divine truth in the spiritual kingdom (n. 9825, 10005); and "purple," the spiritual love of good (n. 9467); a "throne," the kingdom of truth from good (n. 5313, 6397, 8625); "silver," that truth itself (n. 1551-1552, 2954, 5658); a "white horse," the understanding enlightened from truths (See the small work on The White Horse 1-5. That the ceremonies observed at the coronation of kings involve such things, but that the knowledge thereof is at this day lost, see also Arcana Coelestia 4581, 4966).
[7] As it is known from these things what is meant by a "king" in the Word, I will add to the above:
Why the Lord, when He entered Jerusalem, sat upon the foal of an ass, and the people then proclaimed Him king, and also strewed their garments in the way (The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 6; and that "garments" signify truths clothing and serving good, may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia 1073, 2576, 5248, 5319, 5954, 9212, 9215-9216, 9952, 10536; and in the work on Heaven and Hell 177-182).
[8] From this it is now clear what is signified by the "King" and by "kings," in the Word, so also what by the "Anointed," "Messiah," and "Christ;" for "Anointed," "Messiah," and "Christ," like "King," signify the Lord as to Divine truth proceeding from His Divine good; for a king is called "anointed;" and "anointed" in the Hebrew is Messiah, and in the Greek Christ. But that the Lord, as to the Divine Human, was alone "the Anointed of Jehovah," since in Him alone was the Divine good of Divine Love from conception, for He was conceived of Jehovah, but that all that were anointed were only representatives of Him (See Arcana Coelestia (Arcana Coelestia 9954), n. 9954, 10011, 10268-10269). But "priests" signify such good as exists in the celestial kingdom (See in Arcana Coelestia, namely, that priests represented the Lord, as to Divine good, n. 2015, 6148; that the priesthood was representative of the Lord as to the work of salvation, since this was from the Divine good of His Divine Love, see n. 9809; that the priesthood of Aaron, of his sons, and of the Levites, was representative of the work of salvation, in successive order, see n. Arcana Coelestia 10017; that from this "the priesthood," and "priesthoods," in the Word signified good of love, which is from the Lord, see n. 9806, 9809; that by the two names, "Jesus" and "Christ," is signified both His priesthood and His royalty, that is, by "Jesus" is signified Divine good, and by "Christ" Divine truth, n. 3004, 3005, 3009; that priests and likewise kings who do not acknowledge the Lord signify the opposite, namely, evil, and falsity from evil, n. 3670).
Footnotes:
1. The Hebrew has "sprinkle," as found also in Arcana Coelestia 2015.
31. (Vers. 6.) "Et fecit nos reges et sacerdotes." - Quod significet quod ab Ipso simus in regno Ipsius spirituali et caelesti, constat ex significatione "regum", quod sint qui in veris ex bono, et quia illi constituunt regnum spirituale Domini, quod sint qui in regno spirituali Ipsius; (quod "reges" in Verbo illos significent, patebit a sequentibus;) et a significatione "sacerdotum", quod sint qui in bono amoris, et quia illi constituunt regnum caeleste Domini, quod sint qui in regno caelesti Ipsius. (Quod duo regna sint, in quae caeli in communi distincti sunt, videatur in opere De Caelo et Inferno 20-28; et quod regnum spirituale dictatur regnum regium Domini, et quod regnum caeleste dicatur regnum sacerdotale Ipsius, ibid., n. 24.) Plurimis in locis in Verbo Prophetico nominantur reges; et qui non sensum internum scit, credit quod per "reges" ibi intelligantur reges; ast non intelliguntur reges, sed omnes illi qui in veris ex bono sunt, seu in fide ex charitate a Domino. Causa est, quia Dominus est solus Rex, et illi qui in veris ex bono sunt ab Ipso, "filii" Ipsius vocantur. Inde est quod per "principes", "filios regni", "filios Regis", et quoque per "reges", intelligantur illi; et quod abstracte ab idea personarum, ut fit in caelo, intelligantur vera ex bono; seu quod idem, fides ex charitate, quia Verum est fidei et bonum est charitatis.
[2] Quod non reges intelligantur, constare potest solum ex eo, quod hic dicatur quod Jesus Christus "fecerit nos reges et sacerdotes"; et postea,
"Fecisti nos Deo nostro reges et sacerdotes, et regnabimus super terram" (5:10);
et apud Matthaeum,
"Semen (bonum)" in agro seminatum "sunt filii regni" (13:38);
"semen agri" sunt vera ex bono a Domino apud hominem (videatur n. 3373, 10248, 10249). Quisque etiam percipere potest quod Dominus non facturus sit omnes illos, de quibus ibi agitur, reges, sed quod illos dicat reges ex potentia et ex gloria quae illis qui in veris ex bono sunt a Domino. Ex his nunc videri potest quod per "Regem" in Verbo Prophetico intelligatur Dominus quoad Divinum Verum, et per "reges" et "principes" illi qui in veris ex bono sunt a Domino; et quia pleraque in Verbo etiam sensum oppositum habent, quod in eo sensu per "reges" significentur illi qui in falsis ex malo sunt.
[3] Quod per "Regem" in Verbo intelligatur Dominus quoad Divinum Verum, patet ab Ipsius Domini Verbis ad Pilatum:
"Dixit... Pilatus, Num ergo Rex es Tu? Respondit Jesus, Tu dicis, quia Rex sum Ego; Ego in hoc natus sum, et ad hoc veni in mundum, ut tester veritati; omnis existens in veritate audit vocem meam. Dixit ei Pilatus, Quid est Veritas?" (Johannes 18:37, 38.)
Ex interrogatione Pilati, "Quid est veritas?" patet quod intellexerit quod Dominus veritatem appellaverit "regem"; sed quia gentilis fuit, et non ex Verbo aliquid novit, non instrui potuit quod Divinum Verum esset a Domino, et quod Ipse esset Divinum Verum; ideo post interrogationem statim
Exivit ad Judaeos, dicens, "Ego nullam causam invenio in Eo"; et dein posuit super cruce, "Hic est Jesus Rex Judaeorum." Et cum principes sacerdotum dicerent ei, "Ne scribe Rex Judaeorum, sed quod Ipse dixerit sum Rex Judaeorum, respondit Pilatus, Quod scripsi, scripsi" (Joh. 19:[4,] 14-22, 14-22).
[4] Ex his intellectis sciri potest quid per "reges" in sequentibus locis intelligitur, in Apocalypsi:
- "Sextus angelus effudit phialam suam in flumen magnum Euphratem, et exsiccata est aqua ejus, ut pararetur via regum ab ortu solis" (16:12);
Cum meretrice magna sedente super aquis multis "scortati sunt reges terrae" (17:1, 2);
"Septem capita sunt septem montes ubi mulier 1
sedet, et reges septem sunt; quinque ceciderunt, (et unus est, ) alius nondum venit:... et decem cornua quae vidisti, decem reges sunt, qui regnum nondum acceperunt; sed potestatem sicut reges unam horam accipiunt cum bestia:... hi cum Agno pugnabunt, et Agnus vincet illos, quoniam Dominus dominorum est et Rex regum" (17:9, 10, 12, 14);
"Et mulier, quam vidisti, est urbs magna, habens regnum super reges terrae" (17:18);
"De vino irae scortationis" Babyloniae "biberunt omnes gentes, et reges terrae cum illa scortati sunt" (18:3);
"Et vidi bestiam et reges terrae, et exercitus eorum congregatos facere proelium cum sedente super equo, et cum exercitu Ipsius" (19:19);
"Et gentes quae servatae sunt, in lumine 2
ejus ambulabunt, et reges terrae afferent gloriam et honorem suum in illam" (21:24);
in his locis per "reges" non intelliguntur reges, sed omnes qui vel in veris ex bono sunt vel in falsis ex malo, ut supra dictum est. Similiter apud Danielem,
Per "regem meridiei" et per "regem septentrionis", qui bellum inter se gesserunt (cap. 11:1 ad fin. );
per "regem meridiei" ibi intelliguntur illi qui in luce veri ex bono sunt, et per "regem septentrionis" illi qui in tenebris ex malo sunt.
(Quod "meridies" in Verbo significet illos qui in luce veri ex bono sunt, videatur n. 1458, 3708, 3195, 5672, 9642; et "septentrio" illos qui in tenebris falsi ex malo, n. 3708; et in genere in opere De Caelo et Inferno 141-153, ubi agitur De Quatuor Plagis in Caelo.)
[5] Reges etiam pluries nominantur apud Proplletas in Veteri Testamento, et per eos similiter intelliguntur illi qui in veris ex bono a Domino sunt, et in opposito sensu qui in falsis ex malo:
- Ut apud Esaiam,
" 3
Asperget gentes multas; super eo claudent reges os suum, quia quod narratum est illis viderunt, et quod non audiverunt intellexerunt" (52:15);
apud eundem,
"Zion Sancti Israelis, ... suges lac gentium, et ubera regum suges' (40 [14,] 16, 16);
apud eundem,
"Erunt reges nutricii tui, et principes mulieres lactatrices tuae; facic tenam incurvabunt se tibi" (49:23).
(Et praeterea Esaias 14:9; 24:21; 60:10; Jeremias 2:26; 4:9; cap. 49:38 4
; Threni 2:6, 9; Ezechiel 7:26, 27; Hoschea 3:4; Zephanias 1:8; Psalms 2:10; 110:5.) (Falsa, Genesis 49:20.)
[6] Quia "reges" significant illos qui in veris ex bono a Domino sunt, ideo ab antiquis temporibus derivatum est, quod reges, cum coronabantur, insignirentur talibus quae significant vera ex bono; ut quod rex oleo ungeretur, quod portaret coronam ex auro, teneret dextra sceptrum, indueretur chlamyde purpurea, Sederet super throno argenteo, et cum insignibus equitaret super equo albo. ("Oleum" enim sgnificat bonum ex quo verum, n. 886, 4638, 9780, 9954, 10011, 10261, (10268,) 10269: "corona ex auro" super caput, simile, n. 9930: "sceptrum", quod est baculis, potentlam veri ex bono, n. 4581, 4876, 466: "chlamys" et "pallium", Divinum Verum in redo spirituali, n. 9825, 10005; et "purpura" amorem spiritualem boni, n. 9467: "thronus", regnum veri ex bono, n. 5
5313, 6397, 8625; "argentum", ipsum illud verum, n. 1551, 1552, 2954, 5658: "equus albus" intellectum illis statum ex illud in opusculo De Equo Angelis. Quod ritualia circa coronationes ragum involvant mala, sed quod cognitio de illis hodie perierit, n. 4581, 4966.)
[7] Quia ex his scitur quid "rex" in Verbo significat, Velim his addere,
Cur Dominus, cum Hierosolymam intravit, sederit super pullo asinae, et populus proclamaverit Ipsum tunc Regem, et quoque straverint vestimenta super Viam (Matthaeus 21:1-8; Marcus 11:1-11; Luca 19:2; Johannes 12:14-16);
quod praedictum est apud Sachariam,
"Exulta filia Zionis, clange filia Hierosolymae, ecce Rex tuus veniet tibi justus et salvans, equitans super asino et super pullo asinae" (9:9; Matthaeus 21:5; Johannes 12:15).
Causa erat, quia sedere super asino et super pullo asinae erat insigne summi judicis et regis; quod constare potest ex his sequentibus:
"Cor meum ad legislatores Israelis qui equitatis super asinabus candidis" (Judicum 5:9, 10);
"Non recedet sceptrum de Jehudah, nec legislator ab inter pedes ejus, usque dum Venit Schilo;... qui ligabit ad vitem asininum pullum suum, et ad Vitem nobilem filium asinae suae" (Genesis 49:10, 11).
Quia sedere super asino et pullo asinae tale insigne erat, ideo
Judices equitabant super asinabus albis (Judicum 5:9, 10);
Et filii 6
eorum super pullis asinae (Judicum 10:4; et cap. 12:14);
Et ipse rex, cum coronabatur, super mala (1 Regnum 1:33);
Ac filii ejus super mulis (2 Samuelis 13:29).
Qui non scit quid per "equum", "mulum", et "pullum asinae" in sensu repraesentativo significatur, credet quod Domini equitatio super pullo asinae significaverit miseriam et humiliationem; sed significabat magnificentiam regiam; quapropter etiam populus tunc proclamabat Dominum Regem, et vestimenta straverunt super viam. (Quod hoc factum sit cum iret Hierosolymam, erat causa quia per "Hierosolymam" significatur ecclesia, videatur in opusculo De Nova Hierosolyma et ejus Doctrina Caelesti 6; et quod "vestimenta" significent vera induentia num, et servientia illi, in Arcanis Caelestibus, n. 1073, 2576, 5148, 5319, 5954, 9212, 9215, 9216, 9952, 10536; et in opere De Caelo et Inferno 177-182.)
[8] Ex his nunc patet quid per "Regem" et per "reges" in Verbo significatur; ita quoque quid per "Unctum", "Messiam", et "Christum"; nam "Unctus", "Messias", et "Christus", similiter ac "Rex", significant Dominum quoad Divinum Verum procedens ex Divino Bono Ipsius; Rex enim dicitur "Unctus", et Unctus vocatur Messias in lingua Hebraea, ac Christus in lingua Graeca. (Sed quod Dominus quoad Divinum Humanum solus fuerit "Unctus Jehovae", quia in Illo solo erat Divinum Bonum Divini Amoris a conceptione, conceptus enim erat a Jehovah, at quod omnes uncti modo repraesentaverint Ipsum, videatur n. 5954, 10011, (10268,) 10269. Quod autem "sacerdotes" significent bonum quale est in Regno caelesti, videatur in Arcanis Caelestibus: nempe quod sacerdotes repraesentaverint Dominum quoad Divinum Bonum, n. 2015, 6148. Quod sacerdotium esset repraesentativum Domini quoad opus salvationis, quia hoc erat ex Divino Bono Divini Amoris Ipsius, n. 9809. Quod sacerdotium Aharonis, filiorum ejus, et Levitarum, fuerit repraesentativum operis salvationis successivo ordine, n. 10017. Quod inde per "sacerdotium" et per "sacerdotia" in Verbo significetur bonum amoris quod a Domino, n. 9806, 9809. Quod per duo nomina "Jesus" et "Christus" significetur tam sacerdotale quam regium Ipsius; nempe per "Jesum" Divinum Bonum", et per "Christum Divinum Veram, n. 3004, 3005, 3009. Quod sacerdotes qui non agnoscunt Dominum significent contrarium, similiter reges; nempe malum, et falsum ex malo, n. 3670.)
Footnotes:
1. The editors made a correction or note here.
2. The editors made a correction or note here.
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6. The editors made a correction or note here.