揭秘启示录
第一章(1 - 152)
启示录1
1耶稣基督的启示，就是神赐给祂，叫祂将必须快发生的事指示祂的众仆人；祂差遣祂的天使指明给祂的仆人约翰，2约翰便为神的圣言和耶稣基督的见证，凡他所看见的，都作见证。3读的人和那些听见这预言的话又遵守其中所记载的，都是有福的，因为时候近了。4约翰写信给亚细亚的七个教会：但愿恩典、平安归与你们，就是来自那昔在、今在、以后永在的和祂宝座前的七灵，5并那忠信作见证的，从死里头生，为地上诸王元首的耶稣基督的。归于那爱我们，用自己的血洗去我们罪的；6又使我们归向神和祂的父作王和祭司：但愿荣耀、权能归给祂，直到时代的时代。阿们！7看哪，祂驾云而来；众目要看见祂，包括刺祂的人；地上的众支派都要因祂哀哭。的确这样；阿们。8昔在、今在、以后永在的全能者，主说，我是阿拉法和俄梅戛，是始和终。9我约翰，也就是你们的弟兄，和在耶稣基督的患难、国度、忍耐期待里有份的，为神的圣言，并为给耶稣基督作的见证，曾在那名叫拔摩的海岛上。10当主日，我在灵里；听见在我后面有大声音，好像号筒的响声，11说，我是阿拉法和俄梅戛，是首先的和末后的；你所看见的，当写在书上，寄给亚细亚的教会；就是给以弗所、士每拿、别迦摩、推雅推喇、撒狄、非拉铁非、老底嘉。12我转过身来，要看那与我说话的声音。既转过来，就看见七个金灯台，13七灯台中间有一位好像人子，身穿长衣，直垂到脚，胸间束着金带。14祂的头与发皆白，如白羊毛、如雪；祂的眼睛如同火焰。15祂的脚像擦亮的铜，仿佛在炉中发光；祂的声音如同众水的声音。16祂右手拿着七星；从祂口中出来一把两刃的利剑；祂的脸像日头满有力地发光。17我一看见祂，就仆倒在祂脚前，像死了一样。祂用右手按着我，对我说，不要惧怕；我是首先的和末后的；18又是那存活的；我曾死过；看哪，我是活着的，直到时代的时代，阿们；并且我拿着地狱和死亡的钥匙。19所以你要把所看见的和现在的事，并今后将发生的事都写下来。20你所看见、在我右手中的七星和七个金灯台的奥秘：那七星就是七个教会的天使；你所看见的七灯台就是七个教会。
灵义
整章内容
这启示唯独来自主，被那些将在祂的新教会，即新耶路撒冷，并承认主是天地之神的人接受；在圣言方面的主也被描述了。
各节内容
启1:1.“耶稣基督的启示”表示主对祂自己及其教会的预言，即这教会在末了时是什么样，以后又会是什么样(2节)。“就是神赐给祂，叫祂指示祂的众仆人”表示给那些处于源于仁的信之人(3节)。“必须快成的事”表示它们肯定会发生，免得教会灭亡(4节)。“祂差遣祂的天使指明给祂的仆人约翰”表示主通过天堂向那些处于源于仁及其信的生活良善的人所揭示的事(5节)。
启1:2.“约翰便为神的圣言和耶稣基督的见证，都作见证”表示从心里，因而在光中接受来自圣言的神性真理，并承认主的人身就是神性的(6节)。“凡他所看见的”表示他们在这启示录里的一切事上的光照(7节)。
启1:3.“读的人和那些听见这预言的话又遵守其中所记载的，都是有福的”表示那些照着新耶路撒冷的教义生活的人与天堂天使的团契(8节)。“因为时候近了”表示教会的状态是这样：它无法再继续维持它与主的结合(9节)。
启1:4.“约翰写信给七个教会”表示给所有在拥有圣言，通过圣言认识主的基督教界，并靠近或转向教会的人(10节)。“亚细亚的”表示给那些处于出自圣言的真理之光的人(11节)。“但愿恩惠、平安归与你们”表示神性的问候(12节)。“就是来自那昔在、今在、以后永在的”表示来自主，主是永恒和无限的，是耶和华(13节)。“和祂宝座前的七灵”表示来自整个天堂，在那里，主处于其神性真理(14节)。
启1:5.“(来自)耶稣基督”表示神性人身(15节)。“并那忠信作见证的”表示祂是神性真理本身(16节)。“从死里头生的”表示祂也是神性良善本身(17节)。“为地上诸王元首的”表示在教会中，源于良善的一切真理都来自祂(18节)。“那爱我们，用自己的血洗去我们罪的”表示那出于爱和怜悯通过其来自圣言的神性真理改造并重生人的(19节)。
启1:6.“又使我们作王和祭司”表示使那些从祂而生，也就是重生的人处于源于神性真理的智慧和源于神性良善的爱的(20节)。“归向神和祂的父”表示从而使(他们)成为祂的神性智慧和神性之爱的形像(21节)。“但愿荣耀、权能归给祂，直到时代的时代”表示唯独祂拥有神性威严和神性全能，直到永恒(22节)。“阿们”表示来自真理，因而来自祂自己的神性确认(23节)。
启1:7.“祂驾云而来”表示主将在圣言字义中揭示祂自己，并在教会的末了打开圣言的灵义(24节)。“众目要看见祂”表示所有出于情感处于对神性真理的理解之人都会承认祂(25节)。“包括刺祂的人”表示教会中那些处于虚假的人也会看见(26节)。“地上的众支派都要因祂哀哭”表示这将在教会不再有任何良善和真理的时候(27节)。“的确这样，阿们”表示对事情将是如此的神性确认(28节)。
启1:8.“我是阿拉法和俄梅戛，是始和终”表示祂是自有或自存，是从最初到最后，或从初始到终端的独一实在，一切事物都源于祂，因而祂是在自己里面的爱本身和唯一的爱，智慧本身和唯一的智慧，生命本身和唯一的生命，因而是创造者本身和唯一的创造者，救主，来自祂自己的光照者，因此是天堂和教会全部中的全部(29节)。“主说，是昔在、今在、以后永在的”表示祂是永恒和无限的，是耶和华(30节)。“全能者”表示祂是或存在、活着，从自己那里拥有能力，并通过终端从初始掌管一切事物(31节)。
启1:9.“我约翰，也就是你们的弟兄和有份的”表示那些处于仁之良善，由此处于信之真理的人(32节)。“在耶稣基督的患难、国度、忍耐期待里”表示教会中那些被邪恶和虚假侵扰的事物，但当主降临时，祂要除去这些邪恶和虚假(33节)。“曾在那名叫拔摩的海岛上”表示他能被光照的状态和地方(34节)。“为神的圣言，并为给耶稣基督作的见证”表示为了来自圣言的神性真理可以从心里，因而在光中被接受，也为了主的人身可以被承认为神性(35节)。
启1:10.“当主日，我在灵里”表示那时由于神性流注的一种属灵状态(36节)。“听见在我后面有大声音，好像号筒的响声”表示对从天堂所揭示的神性真理的明显感知(37节)。
启1:11.“说，我是阿拉法和俄梅戛，是首先的和末后的”表示祂是自有或自存，是从最初到最后，或从初始到终端的独一实在，一切事物都源于祂，更多的如前所述(38节)。“你所看见的，当写在书上”表示这些真理可以揭示给后人(39节)。“寄给亚细亚的教会”表示给基督教界中那些处于来自圣言的真理之光的人(40节)。“就是给以弗所、士每拿、别迦摩、推雅推喇、撒狄、非拉铁非、老底嘉”表示具体地照着各人的接受状态(41节)。
启1:12.“我转过身来，要看那与我说话的声音”表示就对圣言真理的感知而言，当那些处于生活良善的人转向主时，他们状态的反转(42节)。“既转过来，就看见七个金灯台”表示新教会，它将处于来自主、出于圣言的光照(43节)。
启1:13.“七灯台中间有一位好像人子”表示圣言方面的主，该教会来自祂(44节)。“身穿长衣，直垂到脚”表示发出的神性或神性发出，也就是神性真理(45节)。“胸间束着金带”表示发出同时又带来结合的神性，也就是神性良善(46节)。
启1:14.“祂的头与发皆白，如白羊毛、如雪”表示在初始和终端中的神性智慧的神性之爱(47节)。“祂的眼睛如同火焰”表示神性之爱的神性智慧(48节)。
启1:15.“祂的脚像擦亮的铜，仿佛在炉中发光”表示属世的神性良善(49节)。“祂的声音如同众水的声音”表示属世的神性真理(50节)。
启1:16.“祂右手拿着七星”表示来自祂的圣言中的良善和真理的一切知识或认知(51节)。“从祂口中出来一把两刃的利剑”表示主通过圣言和由此而来的教义对虚假的驱散(52节)。“祂的脸像日头满有力地发光”表示神性之爱和神性智慧，它们就是祂自己并从祂发出(53节)。
启1:17.“我一看见祂，就仆倒在祂脚前，像死了一样”表示由于主的这种同在，人自己的生命的丧失或剥夺(54节)。“祂用右手按着我”表示那时祂所唤起的生命(55节)。“对我说，不要惧怕”表示复活和那时出于至深谦卑的崇拜(56节)。“我是首先的和末后的”表示祂是永恒和无限的，因而是独一神(57节)。
启1:18.“又是那存活的”表示唯独祂是生命，并且生命唯独来自祂(58节)。“我曾死过”表示在教会中，祂被漠视，祂的神性人身没有得到承认(59节)。“看哪，我是活着的，直到时代的时代”表示祂是永生(60节)。“阿们”表示对这是真理的神性确认(61节)。“并且我拿着地狱和死亡的钥匙”表示唯独祂能拯救(62节)。
启1:19.“所以你要把所看见的和现在的事，并今后将发生的事都写下来”表示为了现在所揭示的一切都可以留给后人(63节)。
启1:20.“你所看见、在我右手中的七星和七个金灯台的奥秘”表示异象中关于新天堂和新教会的奥秘(64节)。“那七星就是七个教会的天使”表示天堂里的新教会，也就是新天堂(65节)。“你所看见的七灯台就是七个教会”表示地上的新教会，也就是由主那里从新天堂而降的新耶路撒冷(66节)。
诠释
1、迄今为止，人们还不知道灵义是什么。《新耶路撒冷教义之圣经篇》(5-26节)已经说明，灵义就在圣言的每个细节中，没有灵义，圣言在许多地方都是无法理解的。灵义在字义上并不明显，因为它在字义里面，就像灵魂在身体里面一样。人们都知道有属灵之物和属世之物，属灵之物流入属世之物，以进入人们视觉和触觉领域的形式使自己被看见和感受到；没有这些形式，属灵之物只被感知为情感和思维，或爱和智慧，它们都属于心智。人们承认，情感和思维，或情感所属的爱和思维所属的智慧，都是属灵的。众所周知，灵魂的这两种官能以被称为感觉器官和运动器官的形式呈现在身体中；事实上，它们(即灵魂的官能和器官)构成一体，并以这种方式构成一体：当心智思考时，嘴巴立刻就说出来，当心智意愿时，身体立刻就行出来。由此清楚可知，在人身上有一种属灵事物与属世事物的完美结合。
世界上的一切事物，无论总体还是细节，都是如此。它们里面既有属灵之物，也就是原因的至内层，也有属世之物，也就是这原因的结果，这两者构成一体。属灵之物在属世之物中也是不明显的，因为如前所述，属灵之物在属世之物里面，就像灵魂在身体里面，也像原因的至内层在结果里面。圣言也是如此；由于圣言是神性，所以没有人能否认它在其核心上是属灵的。然而，由于属灵之物在字义，也就是属世意义上并不明显，所以灵义或属灵意义至今不为人知；在主揭示真正的真理之前，它不可能为人所知，因为灵义就在这些真理里面。这就是为何人们至今都不理解《启示录》。但为了不怀疑它包含这些事物，必须解释细节，并通过在圣言别处的类似经文来证明它们。接下来就是解释和证明。
1. THE APOCALYPSE OR BOOK OF REVELATION
CHAPTER 1
1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,
2. who bore witness to the Word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to whatever he saw.
3. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it, for the time is near.
4. John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne,
5. and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth, who loves us and washes us from our sins in His blood,
6. and makes us kings and priests to His God and Father. To Him be glory and might forever and ever. Amen.
7. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him, and all the tribes of the earth will wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.
8. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
9. I, John, who am also your brother and your companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patient awaiting of Jesus Christ, was on the island called Patmos for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10. I became in the spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
11. saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. What you see, write in a book and send it to the churches which are in Asia - Ephesus and Smyrna, Pergamum and Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."
12. Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me, and having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
13. and in the midst of the seven lampstands one like the Son of Man, clothed with a long robe and girded about the breasts with a golden girdle.
14. His head and hair were white, like wool as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire.
15. His feet were like fine brass, as though fired in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;
16. having in His right hand seven stars, and issuing from His mouth a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance as the sun shines in its power.
17. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last,
18. and am He who lives, and was put to death, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of hell and death.
19. Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.
20. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches."
THE SPIRITUAL MEANING
The Contents of the Whole Chapter:
The meaning is that this revelation comes from the Lord alone, and is received by people who will be in His New Church, which is the New Jerusalem, and who will acknowledge the Lord as God of heaven and earth. The Lord also is described in relation to the Word.
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The Contents of the Individual Verses:
| Verse Contents | Spiritual Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, | Predictions from the Lord regarding Himself and His church, what the church will be like at its end, and what it will be like thereafter, |
| which God gave Him to show His servants | for people who have faith arising from charity. |
| things which must shortly take place. | They must surely come to pass to keep the church from perishing. |
| And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, | The things that have been revealed by the Lord through heaven to people who possess goodness of life arising from charity and its accompanying faith, |
| 2. who bore witness to the Word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, | who from the heart and so in a state of light receive Divine truth from the Word and acknowledge the Lord's humanity to be Divine. |
| to whatever he saw. | Their enlightenment in all matters contained in this revelation. |
| 3. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it, | Their communion with angels in heaven who live according to the doctrine of the New Jerusalem, |
| for the time is near. | the state of the church being such that it can no longer continue to maintain its conjunction with the Lord. |
| 4. John, to the seven churches | To all who are in the Christian world where the Word exists and where through it the Lord is known, and who turn to the church, |
| which are in Asia: | to those who from the Word possess the light of truth. |
| Grace to you and peace | A Divine salutation |
| from Him who is and who was and who is to come, | from the Lord who is eternal and infinite, and who is Jehovah, |
| and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, | from the whole of heaven, where the Lord is in His Divine truth, |
| 5. and from Jesus Christ, | His Divine humanity, |
| the faithful witness, | which is Divine truth itself, |
| the firstborn from the dead, | and which is Divine good itself, |
| and the ruler of the kings of the earth, | from whom originates all truth from good in the church, |
| who loves us and washes us from our sins in His blood, | who out of love and mercy reforms and regenerates people by His Divine truths drawn from the Word, |
| 6. and makes us kings and priests | who grants those who are born from Him, that is, who are reborn or regenerated, to possess wisdom from Divine truths, and love from Divine goods, |
| to His God and Father. | thus images of His Divine wisdom and of His Divine love, |
| To Him be glory and might forever and ever. | to whom alone belong Divine majesty and Divine omnipotence to eternity. |
| Amen. | A Divine confirmation springing from truth, thus from Himself. |
| 7. Behold, He is coming with the clouds (of heaven), | The Lord will reveal Himself in the literal sense of the Word and lay open its spiritual meaning at the end of the church. |
| and every eye will see Him, | All those will acknowledge Him who possess, from an affection for it, an understanding of Divine truth. |
| even they who pierced Him, | Even those will see Him who are caught up in falsities in the church. |
| and all the tribes of the earth will wail.... | This will be when there are no longer any goods and truths in the church. |
| Even so, Amen. | A Divine confirmation that it will be so. |
| 8. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," | Who is the one and only reality from firsts to lasts, from whom springs all else, thus who is the one and only love, the one and only wisdom, and the one and only life in itself, and so the one and only Creator, Savior and Enlightener from Himself, and therefore the all in all of the church and heaven. |
| says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, | Who is eternal and infinite, and Jehovah. |
| the Almighty. | Who exists, lives, and has power of Himself, and who directs all things from the first of them through the last. |
| 9. I, John, who am also your brother and companion | Those people who possess the goodness of charity and consequent truths of faith, |
| in the tribulation and kingdom and patient awaiting of Jesus Christ, | which in the church have been infested by evils and falsities, but which will be removed by the Lord when He comes. |
| was on the island called Patmos | A state and place in which he could be enlightened, |
| for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. | so as to receive Divine truth from the Word with the heart and so in a state of light, and to acknowledge the Lord's humanity to be Divine. |
| 10. I became in the spirit on the Lord's day, | A spiritual state then owing to Divine influx. |
| and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, | A manifest perception of Divine truth revealed from heaven. |
| 11. saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. | Who is the one and only reality from firsts to lasts, from whom springs all else (as so on as stated above). |
| What you see, write in a book | That these things may be revealed for posterity, |
| and send it to the churches which are in Asia - | for those in the Christian world who have the light of truth from the Word |
| Ephesus and Smyrna, Pergamum and Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea." | in every case according to each one's state of reception. |
| 12. Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me, | A turning around of the state of those people who possess goodness of life, in respect to their perception of the truth in the Word, when they turn to the Lord. |
| and having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, | A new church, which will have an enlightenment from the Lord from the Word. |
| 13. and in the midst of the seven lampstands one like the Son of Man, | The Lord in relation to the Word, from whom that church originates. |
| clothed with a long robe | The emanating Divinity which is Divine truth. |
| and girded about the breasts with a golden girdle. | The emanating and at the same time conjoining Divinity which is Divine good. |
| 14. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, | The Divine love accompanying Divine wisdom in first things and last. |
| and His eyes like a flame of fire. | The Divine wisdom accompanying Divine love. |
| 15. His feet were like fine brass, as though fired in a furnace, | Natural Divine good. |
| and His voice as the sound of many waters; | Natural Divine truth. |
| 16. having in His right hand seven stars, | All concepts of goodness and truth in the Word from the Lord. |
| and issuing from His mouth a sharp two-edged sword, | A dispersion of falsities by the Lord by means of the Word and doctrine drawn from it. |
| and His countenance as the sun shining in its power. | The Divine love and wisdom which are the Lord and which emanate from Him. |
| 17. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. | A failure of his own life owing to such a presence of the Lord. |
| But He laid His right hand on me, | Life then infused from the Lord. |
| saying to me, "Do not be afraid. | A revival, and from the deepest humility then, adoration. |
| "I am the First and the Last, | He is eternal and infinite, thus the only God, |
| 18. and am He who lives, | who alone is life, and the only source of life. |
| and was put to death, | Disregarded in the church, and His Divine humanity not acknowledged, |
| and behold, I am alive forevermore. | He is eternal life. |
| "Amen." | A Divine confirmation that it is the truth. |
| "And I have the keys of hell and death." | He alone is able to save. |
| 19. "Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. | So that everything now being revealed may be saved for posterity. |
| 20. "The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: | The secrets contained in the visions having to do with a new heaven and a new church. |
| "The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, | A new church in the heavens, which is the New Heaven. |
| and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches." | A new church on earth, which is the New Jerusalem descending from the Lord out of the New Heaven. |
THE EXPOSITION
People have hitherto not known what the spiritual meaning is. We have shown in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem Regarding the Sacred Scripture, nos. 5-26, that it exists in every constituent of the Word, and that in many places the Word cannot be understood apart from it. This meaning is not apparent in the literal sense, for it is present in it as the soul is in the body.
People do know that there is a spiritual reality and a natural one, and that the spiritual one flows into the natural one and presents itself to be seen and felt in forms that fall within the scope of people's vision and touch. Moreover, they know that apart from these forms the spiritual component is perceived only as affection and thought, or as love and wisdom, which are properties of the mind. They acknowledge that affection and thought, or love, which has the capacity to be affected, and wisdom, which has the capacity to think, are spiritual. They know that these two faculties of the soul present themselves in forms in the body that are called sensory and motor organs, and furthermore, that these forms operate in harmony with those faculties, so much so that when the mind thinks something, the mouth in an instant expresses it, and when the mind wills something, the body in an instant does it. It is apparent, therefore, that there is a perfect union of spiritual and natural components in the human being.
[2] The case is the same with each and every constituent of the world. Each has in it something spiritual as the inmost of its cause, and something natural as its effect, and these two function as one. Moreover, the spiritual component is not apparent in the natural one, because, as we said, it is present in the natural one as the soul is in the body and as the inmost of a cause is in the effect.
It is the same with the Word. Because it is Divine, no one can deny that it is spiritual at its core. But because the spiritual component is not apparent in the literal sense, which is natural, therefore the spiritual meaning has been hitherto unknown. Nor could it have been known previously, before the Lord revealed genuine truths, as the spiritual meaning consists in those truths.
It is on this account that the book of Revelation has heretofore not been understood. But lest there be any doubt that it contains such truths, its contents must be explained phrase by phrase and demonstrated by similar passages elsewhere in the Word. The explanation and demonstration now follow.
1. THE APOCALYPSE
THE FIRST CHAPTER
1. THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, which GOD gave unto Him to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He signified, sending by His angel to His Servant John.
2. Who bare witness of the Word of GOD, and the testimony of JESUS CHRIST, whatsoever things he saw.
3. Blessed is he who reads and they who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein, for the time is near.
4. John to the seven Churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you and peace from Him Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come; and from the seven spirits who are before His throne.
5. And from JESUS CHRIST, Himself the Faithful Witness, Himself the First-born from the dead, and Himself the Prince of the kings of the land, loving us and washing us from our sins in His own blood.
6. And He makes us kings and priests unto GOD AND HIS FATHER: to Him be glory and strength for ages of ages. [Amen.]
7. Behold He is coming with clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and they who pierced Him, and all the tribes of the land shall wail over Him. Even so, Amen.
8. I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, says the LORD, Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come, the Almighty.
9. I John, who also am your brother and companion in affliction, and in the kingdom, and the patient expectation of JESUS CHRIST, was in the isle called Patmos for the Word of GOD, and the testimony of JESUS CHRIST.
10. I came to be in the spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet,
11. Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last. What thou seest write in a book, and send to these Churches in Asia, unto Ephesus, and Smyrna, and Pergamum, and Thyatira, and Sardis, and Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
12. And I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me, and having turned I saw seven golden lampstands.
13. And in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the SON OF MAN clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the breasts with a golden girdle.
14. And His head and hairs were white as wool, like snow, and His eyes as a flame of fire.
15. And His feet like burnished bronze as if burned in a furnace, and His voice as the voice of many waters.
16. And having in His right hand seven stars; and out of His mouth a sharp two-edged sword going forth, and His face as the sun shines in its power.
17. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Do not be afraid, I am the First and the Last;
18. And am the Living One, and was put to death, and behold I am the Living One for ages of ages, Amen, and have the keys of hell and of death.
19. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which are going to be hereafter.
20. The mystery of the seven stars which thou hast seen in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands. The seven stars are the Angels of the seven Churches, and the seven lampstands which thou hast seen are the seven Churches.
THE SPIRITUAL SENSE
THE CONTENTS OF THE WHOLE CHAPTER
That this Revelation is from the Only Lord, and that it is received by those who will be in His New Church, which is the New Jerusalem, and who acknowledge the Lord as the God of heaven and earth. Also the Lord is described as to the Word.
THE CONTENTS OF EACH OF THE VERSES
1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, signifies predictions by the Lord concerning Himself and concerning His Church, what this will be like at its end, and what it is going to be like afterwards.
Which God gave unto Him to show unto His servants, signifies for those who are in a faith derived from charity.
Things which must shortly come to pass, signifies that they are certainly going to happen so that the Church may not perish.
And He signified, sending by His angel unto His servant John, signifies the things that have been revealed by the Lord through heaven to those who are in the good of life derived from charity and its faith.
2. Who bare witness of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, signifies who from the heart and so in the light receive Divine Truth out of the Word, and acknowledge the Lord's Human to be Divine.
Whatsoever things he saw, signifies their enlightenment in all the things that are in this Revelation.
3. Blessed is he who reads and they who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein, signifies their fellowship with the angels of heaven, who live in accordance with the doctrine of the New Jerusalem.
For the time is near, signifies that the state of the Church is such that it cannot any longer endure so as to have conjunction with the Lord.
4. John to the seven Churches, signifies to all who are in Christendom, where the Word is, and through it the Lord is known, and who accede to the Church.
Which are in Asia, signifies to those who are in the light of the truth (veritas) out of the Word.
Grace be unto you and peace, signifies a Divine salutation.
From Him Who is and Who was and Who is to come, signifies from the Lord Who is the Eternal and Infinite, and is Jehovah.
And from the seven spirits who are before His throne, signifies from the entire heaven, where the Lord is in His Divine Truth.
5. From Jesus Christ, signifies the Divine Human.
Himself the Faithful Witness, signifies that He is Divine Truth Itself.
Himself the First-born from the dead, signifies that He also is Divine Good Itself.
And Himself the Prince [of the kings] of the land, signifies out of Whom is everything true derived from good in the Church.
Loving us and washing us from our sins [its His own blood], signifies Who out of Love and Mercy reforms and regenerates men by means of His Divine truths out of the Word.
6. And He makes us kings and priests, signifies Who grants that those who are born from Him, that is, regenerated, are in wisdom derived from Divine truths, and in love derived from Divine goods.
Unto God and His Father, signifies thus [they are] images of His Divine Wisdom and of His Divine Love.
To Him be glory and strength for ages of ages, signifies Who Only has Divine Majesty and Divine Omnipotence to eternity.
Amen, signifies Divine confirmation out of the Truth (veritas), thus out of His very Self.
7. And He is coming with the clouds of heaven, signifies that the Lord is going to reveal Himself in the sense of the letter of the Word, and to open its spiritual sense at the end of the Church.
And every eye shall see Him, signifies that all who out of affection are in an understanding of Divine Truth are going to acknowledge [Him].
And they who pierced Him, signifies that those in the Church who are in untruths are also going to see.
And all the tribes of the land shall wail 1, signifies that this will be when there are no longer any goods and truths in the Church.
Even so, Amen, signifies Divine confirmation that it is going to be so.
8. And I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, signifies Who is the Very and Only One from Primes to Ultimates, from Whom all things are, thus Who is the Very and One Only Love, the Very and One Only Wisdom, and the Very and One Only Life in Itself, and thus the Very and One Only Creator, Saviour, and Enlightener from Himself, and thence the All in all of heaven and the Church.
Says the Lord, Who is and Who was and Who is to come, signifies Who is the Eternal and Infinite, and is Jehovah.
And the Almighty, signifies Who is, lives, and has power out of His Very Self, and Who rules all things out of primes by means of ultimates.
9. I John, who also 2am your brother and companion, signifies those who are in the good of charity and thence in the truths of faith.
In affliction, and in the kingdom, and the patient expectation of Jesus Christ, signifies those things [i.e. the good of charity and truths of faith] in the Church which have been infested by evils and untruths, but these [evils and untruths] are to be removed by the Lord when He comes.
Was in the isle called Patmos, signifies the state and situation in which he could be enlightened.
For the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, signifies so that from the heart, and thus in the light, Divine Truth may be received out of the Word, and the Lord's Human acknowledged to be Divine.
10. I came to be in the spirit on the Lord's day, signifies the spiritual state then as a result of Divine influx.
And heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet, signifies a manifest perception of Divine Truth revealed out of heaven.
11. Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, signifies Who is the Very and Only One from Primes to Ultimates, from Whom all things are, and more as above (verse 8).
[What thou seest write in a book, signifies so that [these truths] may be revealed to posterity.] 3And send to these Churches in Asia, signifies for those in Christendom who are in the light of the truth (veritas) out of the Word.
Unto Ephesus, and Smyrna, and Pergamum, and Thyatira, and Sardis, and Philadelphia, and Laodicea, signifies specifically in accordance with the state of reception of each one.
12. And I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me, signifies the inversion of the state of those who are in the good of life, as to the perception of truth in the Word, while they turn to the Lord.
And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, signifies the New Church, which will be in enlightenment from the Lord out of the Word.
13. And in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, signifies the Lord as to the Word from Whom that Church [will be].
Clothed with a garment down to the foot, signifies the Divine proceeding, which is Divine Truth.
And girt about the breasts with a golden girdle, signifies the Divine proceeding and at the same time conjoining, which is Divine Good.
14. And His head and hairs were white as wool, like snow, signifies the Divine Love of the Divine Wisdom in primes and in ultimates.
And His eyes as a flame of fire, signifies the Divine Wisdom of the Divine Love.
15. And His feet like burnished bronze as if burned in a furnace, signifies natural Divine Good.
And his voice as the voice of many waters, signifies natural Divine Truth.
16. And having in His right hand seven stars, signifies all the cognitions 4of good and truth in the Word out of Himself.
And out of His mouth a sharp two-edged sword going forth, signifies the dispersion of untruths by the Lord by means of the Word and doctrine.
And His face as the sun shining in power, signifies the Divine Love and Wisdom, which are Himself, and proceed from Him.
17. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead, signifies a failing of one's own life as a result of such presence of the Lord.
And He put His right hand upon me, signifies life then inspired by Him.
Saying unto me, Do not be afraid, signifies revival, and adoration then from profound humiliation.
I am the First and the Last, signifies that He is the Eternal and Infinite, therefore the Only God.
18. And I am the Living One, signifies Who Only is Life, and from Whom Only Life is.
And was put to death, signifies that in the Church He has been disregarded, and His Divine Human has not been acknowledged.
And behold I am the Living One for ages of ages, signifies that He is eternal Life.
Amen, signifies Divine confirmation that it is the truth (veritas).
And have the keys of hell and of death, signifies that He Only can save.
19. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which are going to be hereafter, signifies in order that all the things that are now being revealed may be for posterity.
20. The mystery of the seven stars which thou hast seen in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, signifies the arcana in the visions concerning a new heaven and a new Church.
The seven stars are the Angels of the seven Churches, signifies the new Church in the heavens, which is the new heaven.
And the seven lampstands which thou hast seen are the seven Churches, signifies the new Church on earth (in terris), which is the new Jerusalem coming down from the Lord out of the new Heaven.
THE EXPOSITION
Up to this time it has not been known what the spiritual sense is. In THE DOCTRINE OF THE NEW JERUSALEM CONCERNING THE SACRED SCRIPTURE 5-26, it has been shown that that sense is in the details of the Word, and that without it the Word in many places cannot be understood. This sense is not apparent in the sense of the letter, for it is within it like the soul in the body. It is known that there is a Spiritual and a Natural, and that what is spiritual inflows into what is natural and presents itself to be seen and felt in forms that become objects of sight and touch, and that the Spiritual apart from those forms is not perceived otherwise than as affection and thought, or as love and wisdom, which are of the mind. It is acknowledged that affection and thought, or love to which affection pertains, and wisdom to which thinking pertains, are spiritual. The fact is known that these two faculties of the soul present themselves in the body in forms that are called sensory and motor organs; as also is the fact that they [the soul's faculties and organs] make one, and one in such a way that, while the mind thinks, the mouth instantly utters what is being thought, and while the mind wills, the body instantly does what is being willed. From this it is clear that with man there is a perfect union of things spiritual and natural.
[2] It is similar in all the things of the world and in each separate thing thereof. What is spiritual is there, being the inmost of the cause, and what is natural is there, being the effect of that; and the two make one. In the Natural also the Spiritual is not apparent, because, as has been said, this is within it as the soul in the body, and as the inmost of the cause in the effect. It is similar with the Word. Since this is Divine, it is not possible for anyone to deny that in its bosom it is spiritual. Since, however, what is spiritual is not apparent in the sense of the letter, which is natural, the spiritual sense was unknown up to this time; and it could not have become known before, until genuine truths were revealed by the Lord, for that sense is in these truths. This is why the Apocalypse has not been understood up to this time. But so that there may be no doubt that such things are therein, the details must be expounded and demonstrated by means of similar things elsewhere in the Word. The exposition and demonstration now follows.
Footnotes:
1. The words 'over Him,' omitted here, are not referred to at 27.
2. Reading et (also) instead of est (is).
3. Omitted here in the Original Edition. But see Arcana Coelestia 39.
4. The term cognitiones, here used in the Latin, is translated 'cognitions' to distinguish these knowledges from those that are meant by the Latin scientifica also used in the Writings of Swedenborg. Two of the meanings most commonly associated with cognitiones are (i) a particular species of knowledge, as knowledges of the Word, of good and truth, or of spiritual things (Arcana Caelestia 24, 3665, 9945; The New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine 51; Heaven and Hell 111, 351, 469, 474, 517-518); and (ii) a higher type of knowledge which is from understanding and perception (Arcana Caelestia 1486-1487; Heaven and Hell 110, 353).
1. Revelation 1
1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He signified, sending by His angel to His servant John,
2. Who testified the Word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ, whatsoever he saw.
3. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear, the words of the prophecy, and keep the things written therein: for the time is near.
4. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come; and from the seven spirits who are before His throne;
5. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first-born from the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. To Him that loveth us, and washeth us from our sins in His blood:
6. And He maketh us kings and priests unto God and His Father: to Him be glory and might for ever and ever.
7. Behold He cometh with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and they who pierced Him: and all the tribes of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so; Amen.
8. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, saith the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.
9. I, John, who also am your brother, and companion in affliction, and in the kingdom and patient expectation of Jesus Christ, was in the island called Patmos, for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10. I became in the spirit on the Lord's day; and I heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
11. Saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last: and, what thou seest, write in a book, and send to the churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and Smyrna, and Pergamos, and Thyatira, and Sardis, and Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
12. And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me: and, having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands;
13. And in the midst of the seven lampstands One like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14. And His head and His hairs were white as white wool, like snow; and His eyes as a flame of fire;
15. And His feet like unto fine brass, as if glowing in a furnace; and His voice as the voice of many waters;
16. And having in His right hand seven stars; and out of His mouth a sharp two-edged sword going forth; and His face was as the sun shineth in His power.
17. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the First and the Last;
18. And am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold I am alive for ages of ages. Amen; and I have the keys of hell and of death.
19. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.
20. The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches; and the seven lampstands, which thou sawest, are the seven churches.
THE SPIRITUAL SENSE
The contents of the whole chapter
That this Revelation is from the Lord alone, and that it is received by those who will be in His New Church, which is the New Jerusalem, and acknowledge the Lord as the God of heaven and earth; the Lord is also described as to the Word.
Revelation 1:1. The contents of each verse.
Verse 1. "The Revelation of Jesus Christ" signifies predictions from the Lord concerning Himself and His Church, what the latter will be in its end, and what it will be afterwards, (2). "Which God gave unto Him to show unto His servants," signifies for those who are in faith from charity, (3[1-3]) things which must shortly come to pass," signifies that they will certainly be, lest the Church perish, (4). "And He signified, sending by His angel, to His servant John," signifies the things which are revealed by the Lord through heaven to those who are in the good of life from charity and its faith, (5).
Verse 2. "Who testified the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ," signifies, who from the heart and thus in the light receive Divine truth from the Word, and acknowledge the Lord's Human to be Divine, (6). "Whatsoever he saw," signifies their enlightenment in all the things which are in this Revelation, (7).
Verse 3. "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things written therein," signifies the communion of those with the angels of heaven, who live according to the Doctrine of the New Jerusalem, (8). "For the time is near," signifies that the state of the Church is such that it can no longer continue so as to have conjunction with the Lord, (9).
Verse 4. "John to the seven churches," signifies to all who are in the Christian world, where the Word is, and by it the Lord is known, and who draw near to the Church, (10). "Which are in Asia," signifies to those who are in the light of truth from the Word, (11). "Grace be unto you, and peace," signifies the Divine salutation, (12). "From Him who is, and who was, and who is to come," signifies from the Lord, who is eternal and infinite, and Jehovah, (13). "And from the seven spirits who are before His throne," signifies from the whole heaven, where the Lord is in His Divine truth, (14).
Verse 5. "From Jesus Christ," signifies the Divine Human, (15). "The faithful witness," signifies that He is the Divine truth itself, (16). "The first-born from the dead," signifies that He is also the Divine good itself, (17). "And the Prince 1of the earth," signifies from whom is all truth from good in the church, (18). "That loveth us, and washeth us from our sins," signifies who from love and mercy reforms and regenerates men by His Divine truths from the Word, (19).
Verse 6. "And He maketh us kings and priests," signifies who gives to those who are born of Him, that is, regenerated, to be in wisdom from Divine truths and in love from Divine goods, (20). "Unto God and His Father," signifies and thus images of His Divine wisdom and His Divine love, (21). "To Him be glory and might into the ages of ages," signifies who alone has Divine majesty and Divine omnipotence to eternity, (22). "Amen," signifies the Divine confirmation from truth, thus from Himself, (23).
Verse 7. "And He cometh with the clouds of heaven," signifies that the Lord will reveal Himself in the literal sense of the Word, and will open its spiritual sense, at the end of the church, (24). "And every eye shall see Him," signifies that all will acknowledge Him, who, from affection, are in the understanding of Divine truth, (25). "And they who pierced Him," signifies that they also will see, who are in falsities in the church, (26). "And all the tribes of the earth shall wail," signifies that this will be when there are no longer any goods and truths in the church, (27). "Even so, Amen," signifies the Divine confirmation that thus it will be, (28).
Verse 8. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," signifies Who is the Self-existing and the Only from firsts to ultimates, from Whom all things are; thus who is Love Itself and the Only Love, Wisdom Itself and the Only Wisdom, and Life Itself and the Only Life in Himself, and thus the Creator Himself and the only Creator, Saviour, and Enlightener from Himself, and thence the All in all of heaven and the church, (29). "Saith the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come," signifies who is eternal and infinite, and Jehovah, (30). "The Almighty," signifies who is, lives, and has power, from Himself, and who governs all things from firsts by ultimates, (31).
Verse 9. "I, John, who am your brother and companion," signifies those who are in the good of charity and thence in the truths of faith, (32). "In affliction, and in the kingdom, and the patient expectation of Jesus Christ," signifies who in the church are infested by evils and falsities, but these are to be removed by the Lord, when He comes, (33). "I was in the island called Patmos," signifies a state and place in which he could be enlightened, (34). "For the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ," signifies in order that the Divine truth from the Word may be received from the heart and thus in the light, and that the Lord's Human may be acknowledged to be Divine, (35).
Verse 10. "I became in the Spirit on the Lord's day," signifies a spiritual state at that time from Divine influx, (36). "And I heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet," signifies the manifest perception of Divine truth revealed from heaven, (37).
Verse 11. "Saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," signifies who is the Self-existing and the Only from firsts to ultimates, from whom all things are; and more as above, (38). ["What thou seest write in a book"] 2signifies that they might be revealed to posterity, (39). "And send unto the churches that are in Asia," signifies for those in the Christian world who are in the light of truth from the Word, (40). "Unto Ephesus and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia and unto Laodicea," signifies in particular according to the state of each one's reception, (41).
Verse 12. "And I turned to see the voice which was speaking with me," signifies the inversion of the state of those who are in the good of life as to the perception of truth in the Word, when they turn themselves to the Lord, (42). "And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands," signifies the New Church which will be in enlightenment from the Lord out of the Word, (43).
Verse 13. "And in the midst of the seven lampstands One like unto the Son of Man," signifies the Lord as to the Word, from whom is that church, (44[1-2]). "Clothed with a garment down to the foot," signifies the proceeding Divine, which is the Divine truth, (45). "And girded at the paps with a golden girdle," signifies the proceeding and at the same time conjoining Divine, which is the Divine good, (46).
Verse 14. "And His head and hairs were white 3as wool, like snow," signifies the Divine love of the Divine wisdom in firsts and in ultimates, (47). "And His eyes as a flame of fire," signifies the Divine wisdom of the Divine love, (48).
Verse 15. "And His feet like unto fine brass, as if glowing in a furnace," signifies the Divine good natural, (49[1-8]) and His voice as the voice of many waters," signifies the Divine truth natural, (50).
Verse 16. "And having in His right hand seven stars," signifies all the knowledges of good and truth in the Word from Him, (51). "And out of His mouth a sharp two-edged sword going forth," signifies the dispersion of falsities by the Lord through the Word and through doctrine therefrom, (52). "And His face was as the sun shining in power," signifies the Divine love and the Divine wisdom, which are Himself, and proceed from Him, (53).
Verse 17. "And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead," signifies the failing of his own life from such presence of the Lord, (54). "And He laid His right hand upon me," signifies life then inspired from Him, (55). "Saying unto me, Fear not," signifies resuscitation, and adoration then from the deepest humiliation, (56). "I am the First and the Last," signifies that He is Eternal and Infinite, and thus the Only God, (57).
Verse 18. "And am He that is living," signifies who alone is life, and from whom alone life is, (58). "And was dead," signifies that He was neglected in the church, and His Divine Human not acknowledged, (59). "And behold, I am alive for ages of ages," signifies that He is life eternal, (60). "Amen," signifies the Divine confirmation that it is the truth, (61). "And I have the keys of Hell and of death," signifies that He alone can save, (62).
Verse 19. "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter," signifies in order that all the things which are now revealed may be for posterity, (63).
Verse 20. "The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands," signifies arcana in the visions concerning the New Heaven and the New Church, (64). "The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches," signifies the New Church in the heavens, which is the New Heaven, (65). "And the seven lampstands which thou sawest are the seven churches," signifies the New Church on earth, which is the New Jerusalem descending from the Lord out of the New Heaven.
Footnotes:
1. In the original Latin "of the kings" is omitted.
2. The clause in brackets is omitted in the Latin, but appears in the explanation below, (39).
3. In the original Latin "white" is omitted, but is in the text of the chapter.
THE EXPLANATION
What the spiritual sense is, has been hitherto unknown. That there is such a sense in every particular of the Word, and that without it, the Word in many places cannot be understood, has been shown in t he Doctrine of the New Jerusalem concerning the Sacred Scripture. (Doctrine of Sacred Scripture 5-26). This sense does not appear in the literal sense, for it is in it as the soul in its body. It is known that there is the spiritual and the natural, and that the spiritual flows into the natural, and presents itself to be seen and felt in the forms which fall under the sight and touch, and that the spiritual, without such forms, is not perceived otherwise than as affection and thought, or as love and wisdom which are of the mind. That affection and thought, or love whose property it is to be affected, and wisdom whose property it is to think, are spiritual, is acknowledged. That these two faculties of the soul present themselves in the body in forms which are called the organs of sense and motion, is known; also, that they make one, and such a one as that when the mind thinks, the mouth in an instant speaks, and when the mind wills, the body in an instant acts; hence it is evident, that there is a perfect union of things spiritual and natural with man.
[2] It is similar in each and everything in the world; there is in them the spiritual, which is the inmost of the cause, and there is the natural, which is its effect, and these two make one; and the spiritual does not appear in the natural, because it is in it as the soul in the body, and as the inmost of the cause in the effect, as was said before. It is similar with the Word; that this in its bosom is spiritual, because it is Divine, can be denied by no one; but as the spiritual does not appear in the sense of the letter, which is natural, therefore the spiritual sense has been hitherto unknown; nor could it have been known before genuine truths were revealed by the Lord, for that sense is in these. For this reason Revelation has not been understood before. But lest there should be doubt that such things are within it, the particulars must be explained, and demonstrated by similar passages elsewhere in the Word. The explanation and demonstration now follow.
APOCALYPSIS, CAPUT I.
1. REVELATIO JESU CHRISTI, quam dedit Illi Deus indicare servis Suis, quae oportet fieri cito, et significavit mittens per Angelum Suum servo Suo Johanni.
2. Qui testatus est Verbum Dei, et testimonium Jesu Christi, quaecunque vidit.
3. Beatus legens, et audientes Verba prophetiae et servantes quae in ea scripta, quia tempus prope.
4. Johannes septem Ecclesiis quae in Asia, Gratia vobis et pax ab Ipso Qui Est et Qui Fuit et Qui Venturus; et a septem Spiritibus, qui sunt in conspectu Throni Ipsius.
5. Et a Jesu Christo, Ipse Testis fidelis, Ipse Primogenitus ex mortuis, et Ipse Princeps regum terrae, amante nos et lavante nos a peccatis nostris in sanguine Suo.
6. Et facit nos reges et sacerdotes Deo et Patri Suo: Ipsi gloria et robur in saecula saeculorum (Amen).
7. Ecce venit cum nubibus, et videbit Ipsum Omnis Oculus, et qui Ipsum transfixerunt, et plangent super Ipsum Omnes Tribus terrae, etiam, Amen.
8. Ego sum Alpha et Omega, Principium et Finis, dicit Dominus, Qui Est et Qui Fuit et Qui Venturus, Qui Omnipotens.
9. Ego Johannes, qui et frater Vester, et consocius in afflictione, et in regno et patiente exspectatione Jesu Christi. Eram in Insula Vocata Patmos propter verbum Dei, et propter testimonium Jesu Christi.
10. Factus sum in Spiritu in Dominica die, et audivi post me vocem magnam tanquam tubae,
11. Dicentem, Ego sum Alpha et Omega, Primus et Ultimus; quod Vides scribe in libro, et mitte Ecclesiis, illis in Asia, Ephesum, et Smyrnam, et Pergamum, et Thyatira, et Sardes, et Philadelphiam, et Laodiceam.
12. Et conversus videre vocem quae loquebatur mecum, et conversus vidi septem Candelabra aurea.
13. Et in medio septem Candelabrorum Similem Filio Hominis, indutum talari, et praecinctum ad mamillas zona aurea.
14. Et Caput Ipsius, et Capilli candidi tanquam lana candida, tanquam nix, et Oculi Ipsius tanquam flamma ignis.
15. Et Pedes Ipsius similes chalcolibano, tanquam in camino igniti, et vox Ipsius tanquam vox aquam multarum.
16. Et habens in dextra Sua manu Stellas Septem, et ex ore Ipsius romphaea anceps acuta exiens; et Facies Ipsius tanquam Sol lucet in potentia sua.
17. Et Cum vidi Ipsum, cecidi ad pedes Ipsius tanquam mortuus, et imposuit dextram Suam manum super me, dicens mihi, Ne time, Ego sum Primus et Ultimus.
18. Et Qui Vivens, et factus sum mortuus, et ecce Vivens sum in saecula saeculorum, amen: et habeo claves inferni et mortis.
19. Scribe quae vidisti, et quae Sunt, et quae futura sunt posthac.
20. Mysterium septem Stellarum quas vidisti in dextra Mea, et septem Candelabra aurea: Septem Stellae Angeli septem Ecclesiarum sunt, et Septem Candelabra quae vidisti septem Ecclesiae Sunt.
SENSUS SPIRITUALIS.
CONTENTUM TOTIUS CAPITIS.
QUOD REVELATIO HAEC SIT A SOLO DOMINO, ET QUOD ILLA RECIPIATUR AB ILLIS QUI IN NOVA IPSIUS ECCLESIA, QUAE EST NOVA HIEROSOLYMAE, ERUNT, ET DOMINUM PRO DEO CAELI ET TERRAE AGNOSCUNT: DESCRIBITUR ETIAM DOMINUS QUOAD VERBUM.
CONTENTA SINGULORUM VERSUUM.
1. "Revelatio Jesu Christi," significat praedictiones a Domino de Ipso deque Ipsius Ecclesia, qualis haec erit in fine suo, et qualis postea futura est (2); "quam dedit Illi Deus indicare servis Suis," significat pro illis qui in fide ex charitate sunt (3); "quae oportet fieri cito," significat quod certe futura sint ne pereat Ecclesia (4); "et significavit, mittens per Angelum Suum servo Suo Johanni," significat quae a Domino revelata sunt per Caelum illis qui in bono vitae sunt ex charitate et ejus fide (5).
2. "Qui testatus est Verbum Dei et testimonium Jesu Christi," significat qui ex corde et sic in luce recipiunt Divinum Verum ex Verbo, et agnoscunt Humanum Domini esse Divinum (6); quaecunque vidit," significat illustrationem illorum in omnibus quae in hac Revelatione sunt (7).
3. "Beatus legens, et audientes verba prophetiae, et servantes quae in ea scripta sunt," significat communionem illorum cum Angelis Caeli, qui vivunt secundum doctrinam Novae Hierosolymae (8); "quia tempus prope," significat quod status Ecclesiae sit, ut diutius non possit persistere, ut ejus conjunctio sit cum Domino (9).
4. "Johannes septem Ecclesiis," significat ad omnes qui in Christiano Orbe sunt, ubi Verbum et per id Dominus notus est, et accedunt ad Ecclesiam (10); "quae in Asia," significat ad illos qui ex Verbo in luce veritatis sunt (11); "gratia vobis et pax," significat salutationem Divinam (12); "ab Ipso Qui Est et Qui Fuit et Qui Venturus," significat a Domino Qui est Aeternus ac Infinitus, et Jehovah (13); "et a septem spiritibus, qui sunt in conspectu Throni," significat ab universo Caelo, ubi Dominus in Divino Suo Vero est (14).
5. "A Jesu Christo," significat Divinum Humanum (15); "Ipse Testis fidelis," significat quod est Ipsum Divinum Verum (16); "Primogenitus ex mortuis," significat et quod est Ipsum Divinum Bonum (17); "et Ipse Princeps (regum) terrae," significat ex Quo omne verum ex bono in Ecclesia [n. 18]; "amante nos et lavante nos a peccatis nostris (in sanguine Suo)," significat Qui ex Amore et Misericordia reformat et regenerat homines per Sua Divina vera ex Verbo (19).
6. "Et facit nos reges et sacerdotes," significat Qui dat ut illi qui nati sunt ab Ipso, hoc est, regenerati, in sapientia ex Divinis veris, et in amore ex Divinis bonis sint (20); "Deo et Patri Suo," significat ita imagines Divinae Suae Sapientiae et Divini Sui Amoris (21); "Ipsi gloria et robur in saecula saeculorum," significat Cui Soli Divina Majestas et Divina Omnipotentia in aeternum (22); "amen," significat confirmationem Divinam ex Veritate, ita ex Se Ipso (23).
7. "Et venit cum nubibus" caeli, significat quod Dominus Se revelaturus sit in sensu literae Verbi, et aperiturus sensum spiritualem ejus in fine Ecclesiae (24); "et videbit Ipsum omnis oculus," significat quod agnituri omnes qui ex affectione in intellectu Divini Veri sunt (25); "et qui Ipsum transfixerunt," significat quod etiam visuri qui in Ecclesia in falsis sunt (26); "et plangent omnes Tribus terrae," significat quod hoc erit quando nulla bona et vera in Ecclesia amplius sunt (27); "etiam, amen," significat confirmationem Divinam quod ita futurum sit (28).
8. "Et Ego sum Alpha et Omega, Principium et Finis," significat Qui est Ipsum et Unicum a Primis ad Ultima, ex Quo omnia; ita Qui est Ipse et Unicus Amor, Ipsa et Unica Sapientia, et ipsa et Unica Vita in Se, et sic Ipse et Unicus Creator, Salvator et Illustrator a Se, et inde Omne in omnibus Caeli et Ecclesiae (29); "dicit Dominus, Qui Est et Qui Fuit et Qui Venturus," significat Qui est Aeternus et Infinitus, ac Jehovah (30); "et Omnipotens" significat Qui est, vivit et potest ex Se Ipso, et Qui ratiocinia ex prius per ultima (31).
9. "Ego Johannes qui et 1frater vester et consocius," significat illos qui in bono charitatis et inde veris fidei sunt (32); "in afflictione, et in regno, et patiente exspectatio Jesu Christi," significat quae in Ecclesia sunt infestata a malis et falsis, at quae a Domino, cum venturus est, removenda sunt (33). "Eram in insula vocata Patmos," significat statum et locum in quo illustrari potuit (34); "propter Verbum Dei et testimonium Jesu Christi," significat ut ex corde et sic in luce recipiatur Divinum Verum ex Verbo, et agnoscatur Humanum Domini esse Divinum (35).
10. "Factus sum in spiritu (in) Dominica die," significat statum spiritualem tunc ex Divino influxu (36); "et audivi post me vocem magnam tanquam tubae," significat perceptionem manifestam Divini Veri e Caelo revelati (37).
11. "Dicentem, Ego sum Alpha et Omega, Primus et Ultimus," significat Qui est Ipsum et Unicum a primis ad ultima ex Quo omnia, et plura ut supra (38); ("quod vides, scribe in Libro," significat ut revelata sint posteritati 2(39); "et mitte Ecclesiis, illis in Asia," significat pro illis In Christiano Orbe qui in luce veritatis ex Verbo sunt (40); "Ephesum, et Smyrnam, et Pergamum, et Thyatira, et Sardes, et Philadelphiam, et Laodiceam," significat in specie secundum statum receptionis cujusvis (41).
12. "Et conversus videre vocem quae mecum loquebatur," 3significat inversionem status eorum, qui in bono vitae sunt, Quoad perceptionem veri in Verbo, dum se convertunt ad Dominum (42); "et conversus vidi septem Candelabra aurea," significat Novam Ecclesiam, quae in illustratione a Domino ex Verbo erit, (11, 43).
13. "Et in medio septem Candelabrorum similem Filio Hominis," significat Dominum quoad Verbum, a Quo illa (44); "indutum talari," significat Divinum procedens quod est Divinum Verum (45); "et praecinctum ad mamillas Zona aurea," significat Divinum procedens et simul conjungens, quod est Divinum Bonum (46).
14. "Et Caput Ipsius, et Capilli candidi tanquam lana (candida,) tanquam nix," significat Divinum Amorem Divinae Sapientiae in primis et in ultimis (47); "et Oculi Ipsius tanquam flamma ignis," significat Divinam Sapientiam Divini Amoris (48).
15. "Et Pedes Ipsius similes chalcolibano tanquam in camino igniti," significat Divinum Bonum naturale (49); "et Vox Ipsius tanquam vox aquarum multarum," significat Divinum Verum naturale (50).
16. "Et habens in dextra Sua manu Stellas septem," significat omnes cognitiones boni et veri in Verbo ex Ipso (51); "et ex ore Ipsius romphaea anceps acuta exiens," significat dispersionem falsorum per Verbum et per doctrinam inde a Domino (52); "et Facies Ipsius tanquam sol, lucens in potentia (sua)," significat Divinum Amorem et Divinam Sapientiam, quae sunt Ipse, et procedunt ab Ipso (53).
17. "Et cum vidi Ipsum, cecidi ad pedes Ipsius tanquam mortuus," significat ex tali praesentia Domini defectum vitae propriae (54); "et imposuit dextram Suam manum super me," significat vitam ab Ipso tunc inspiratam (55); "dicens mihi, Ne time," significat resuscitationem, et tunc ex summa humiliatione adorationem (56); "Ego sum Primus et Ultimus," significat quod sit Aeternus a Infinitus, ita Solus Deus (57).
18. "Et Qui sum Vivens," significat Qui Solus est Vita, et a Quo Solo Vita (58); "et tactus mortuus," significat quod in Ecclesia neglectus, et Divinum Humanum Ipsius non agnitum (59); "et ecce Vivens sum in saecula saeculorum," significat Quod sit Vita aeterna (60); "amen," significat confirmationem Divinam quod sit veritas (61); "et habeo claves inferni et mortis," significat quod Solus salvare possit (62).
19. "Scribe quae vidisti, et quae sunt, et quae futura posthac," significat ut omnia quae nunc revelantur sint posteritati, (51, 63).
20. "Mysterium septem stellarum quas vidisti in dextra Mea, et septem candelabra aurea," significat arcana in visionibus de novo Caelo, et de nova Ecclesia (64); "septem stellae Angeli septem Ecclesiarum sunt," significat novam Ecclesiam in Caelis, quae est novum Caelum (65); "et septem candelabra quae vidisti, septem Ecclesiae sunt," significat novam Ecclesiam in terris, quae est nova Hierosolyma, descendens a Domino e novo Caelo (66).
EXPLICATIO.
QUID Sensus Spiritualis, hactenus ignotum fuit; quod ille sit in singulis Verbi, in Doctrina Novae Hierosolymae de Scriptura Sacra 5-26, ostensum est, et quod Verbum absque illo in multis locis non possit intelligi: ille Sensus non apparet in sensu literae, inest enim ei Sicut anima corpori. Notum est, quod Sit Spirituale et Naturale, et quod Spirituale influat in Naturale, et se sistat videndum et sentiendum in formis quae cadunt in visum et tactum, et quod Spirituale absque illis non percipiatur aliter quam sicut Affectio et Cogitatio, aut sicut Amor et Sapientia, quae sunt mentis; quod Affectio et Cogitatio, seu Amor cujus est affici, et Sapientia cujus est cogitare, sint spirituales, agnoscitur; quod illae binae animae facultates se sistant in formis in corpore, quae vocantur organa sensoria et motoria, notum est; tum etiam quod unum faciant, ac ita unum, ut dum mens cogitat, id os in instanti eloquatur, et dum mens vult, id corpus in instanti agat; inde patet, quod sit perfecta unio spiritualium et naturalium apud hominem. Simile est in omnibus et singulis mundi; est ibi spirituale quod est intimum causae, et est naturale quod est ejus effectus, et illa duo unum faciunt; et in naturali non apparet spirituale, quia hoc illi inest sicut anima corpori, ac sicut intimum causae effectui, ut dictum est. Simile est cum Verbo; quod hoc sit spirituale in suo sinu, quia est Divinum, a nemine negari potest; sed quia spirituale non apparet in sensu literae, qui est naturalis, ideo Sensus Spiritualis hactenus ignotus fuit; nec potuit notus fieri prius quam dum genuina vera a Domino revelata sunt, nam in his est ille sensus. Inde est, quod Apocalypsis hactenus non intellecta fuerit. Verum ne dubium sit quin talia insint, explicanda sunt singula, et demonstranda per similia alibi in Verbo. Explicatio et demonstratio nunc sequitur.
Footnotes:
1. et pro "est"
2. Verba in uncis inclusa videantur infra (39).
3. loquebatur pro "loquetur"