18、“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。这一点从前文可以推知，因为“忠信作见证的”表示神性真理方面的主，“头生的”表示神性良善方面的主。因此，“地上(诸王)元首”表示在教会中，源于良善的一切真理都来自祂。“地上诸王元首”之所以表示这一点，是因为在圣言的灵义上，“王”是指那些处于源于良善的真理之人，抽象地说，是指源于良善的真理；“地”是指教会。这就是“王”和“地”的含义(可参看AR 20, 285节)。
18. And the ruler of the kings of the earth. This symbolically means, from whom originates all truth from good in the church.
This follows from the preceding, because "a faithful witness" symbolizes the Lord in respect to Divine truth, and "the firstborn" the Lord in respect to Divine good. Thus "the ruler of the kings of the earth" means, symbolically, that from Him originates all truth from good in the church. This is symbolically meant by "the ruler of the kings of the earth" because in the spiritual sense of the Word, kings mean people who possess truths from good, and abstractly, truths from good themselves, and the earth means the church.
That these are the symbolic meanings of kings and earth may be seen in nos. 20 and 285 below.
18. 'And Himself the Prince of the kings of the land' signifies from Whom is everything true derived from good in the Church. This follows from earlier statements, since by 'the Faithful Witness' is signified the Lord as to Divine Truth, and by 'the First-born' Himself as to Divine Good. In the same manner by 'the Prince [of the kings] of the land' is signified everything true derived from good in the Church from Himself. This is signified by 'the Prince of the kings of the land' because by 'kings' in the spiritual sense of the Word are understood those who are in truths derived from good, and abstractly truths derived from good, and by 'the land' the Church is understood. That these things are signified by 'kings' and 'the land' may be seen below (20, 285).
18. And the prince of the kings of the earth, signifies from whom is all truth from good in the church. This follows from what has gone before, because by faithful witness, the Lord as to the Divine truth is signified; and by first-born the Lord as to the Divine good; therefore by "the prince of the earth," is signified, that all truth from good in the church is from Him. The reason why this is signified by "the prince of the kings of the earth," is, that by "kings" in the spiritual sense of the Word, are meant those that are in truths from good, and abstractly, truths from good; and by "earth" is meant the church. That this is the signification of "kings" and "earth," may be seen below, (20, 285).
18. "Et Ipse Princeps regum terrae," significat ex Quo omne verum ex bono in Ecclesia. -Hoc sequitur ex antecedentibus, quia per Testem fidelem significatur Dominus quoad Divinum Verum, et per Primogenitum Ipse quoad Divinum Bonum, ita per "Principem (regum) terrae," significatur ab Ipso omne Verum ex Bono in Ecclesia; quod hoc per "Principem regum terrae" significetur, est quia per "Reges" in Sensu spirituali Verbi intelliguntur qui in veris ex bono sunt, et abstracte vera ex bono, et per "terram" intelligitur Ecclesia: quod illi ac illa per "reges" et "terram" significentur, videatur infra (20, 285).