揭秘启示录
第十四章(612 - 655)
启示录14
1我又观看，看哪，羔羊站在锡安山上，和祂在一起的有十四万四千人，都有祂父的名写在他们额上。2我听见有声音从天上来，像众水的声音和大雷的声音；我听见竖琴师用竖琴弹奏的声音。3他们在宝座前，并在四活物和众长老前唱歌，仿佛是新歌；除了从地上买来的那十四万四千人以外，没有人能学这歌。4这些人是未曾沾染妇女的，因为他们是童身。这些人是跟随羔羊的，无论祂往哪里去。这些人是从世人当中买来的，作初熟的果子归与神和羔羊。5在他们口中找不出诡诈；因为他们在神的宝座前是没有瑕疵的。6我又看见另有一位天使飞在天空中间，有永远的福音要传给住在地上的人，就是各民族、支派、舌头、人民，7大声说，要敬畏神，把荣耀归给祂，因为祂审判的时刻到了；要敬拜那造天、地、海和众水泉源的。8又有一位天使接着说，那大城巴比伦倾倒了，倾倒了，因为她叫所有民族都喝了她淫乱烈怒的酒。9第三位天使接着他们，大声说，若有人拜兽和兽像，在额上，或在手上，受了印记，10他也必喝神烈怒的酒，此酒在神愤怒的杯中与纯一不杂的酒掺杂；他要在圣天使面前和羔羊面前，被火与硫磺折磨；11那折磨他们的烟往上冒，直到时代的时代；那些拜兽和兽像的，以及凡受他名之印记的，昼夜不得安宁。12圣徒的忍耐就在此；守神诫命，和耶稣信仰的也在此。13我听见从天上有声音对我说，你要写下，从今以后，在主里面而死的死人有福了；灵说，是的，他们息了自己的劳苦；因为他们的作为伴随着他们。14我又观看，见有一片白云，云上坐着一位好像人子，头上戴着金冠冕，手里拿着锋利的镰刀。15又有一位天使从殿中出来，向那坐在云上的大声喊着说，伸出你的镰刀来收割，因为为你收割的时候到了，地上的庄稼已经熟透了。16那坐在云上的，把镰刀扔在地上，地就被收割了。17另有一位天使从在天上的殿中出来，他也拿着锋利的镰刀；18又有一位天使从祭坛中出来，是有权柄管火的；他向拿着锋利镰刀的大声喊着说，伸出锋利的镰刀来，收取地上葡萄园的串串葡萄，因为她的葡萄熟透了。19那天使就把镰刀扔在地上，收取了地上的葡萄园，把它扔进神烈怒的大酒榨中。20那酒榨踹在城外；就有血从酒榨里流出来，直到马的嚼环，远有一千六百斯他丢。
灵义
整章内容
整章内容是关于新基督天堂的：对它的描述(1-5节)。主降临的宣告和那时的新教会(6, 7, 13节)。劝诫他们离弃当今教会的与仁分离之信(9-12节)。对这些人的检查，显明他们的作为是邪恶(14-20节)。
各节内容
启14:1.“我又观看，看哪，羔羊站在锡安山上，和祂在一起的有十四万四千人”表示现在主在由那些承认主是天地之神，处于通过圣言来自祂的教义真理的基督徒形成的新天堂中(612节)。“都有祂父的名写在他们额上”表示他们当中对主的神性和神性人身的承认(613节)。
启14:2.“我听见有声音从天上来，像众水的声音”表示主经由新天堂出于神性真理说话(614节)。“和大雷的声音”表示并出于神性之爱(615节)。“我听见竖琴师用竖琴弹奏的声音”表示低层天堂的属灵天使出于内心的喜乐对主的称谢(616节)。
启14:3.“他们在宝座前，并在四活物和众长老前唱歌，仿佛是新歌”表示在主和高层天堂天使面前对主的颂扬和荣耀(617节)。“除了那十四万四千人以外，没有人能学这歌”表示除了被主接入这新天堂的基督徒外，来自基督徒当中的其他人都不能理解，从而出于爱和信承认，唯独主是天地之神(618节)。“从地上买来的”表示他们就是那些能被主重生，因而能在世上被救赎的人(619节)。
启14:4.“这些人是未曾沾染妇女的，因为他们是童身”表示他们没有用信之虚假玷污或弄脏教会的真理，而是热爱真理，因为它们是真理(620节)。“这些人是跟随羔羊的，无论祂往哪里去”表示他们通过对主的爱和信而与主结合，因为他们照祂的诫命生活(621节)。“这些人是从世人当中买来的”在此处和前面所表相同(622节)。“作初熟的果子归与神和羔羊”表示基督天堂的初始，即：承认一位神，三位一体在祂里面，主就是这位神(623节)。
启14:5.“在他们口中找不出诡诈”表示他们不会出于狡猾和意图说话，并说服人们相信虚假和邪恶(624节)。“因为他们在神的宝座前是没有瑕疵的”表示因为他们处于来自主、源于良善的真理(625节)。
启14:6.“我又看见另有一位天使飞在天空中间，有永远的福音要传给住在地上的人”表示对主的降临和即将由祂那里从天而降的新教会的宣告(626节)。“就是各民族、支派、舌头、人民”表示向所有因宗教而处于良善，因教义而处于真理的人(627节)。
启14:7.“大声说，要敬畏神”表示告诫不要作恶，因为这违背主(628节)。“把荣耀归给祂，因祂审判的时刻到了”表示对一切圣言真理都来自主，各人将照这真理而受审判的承认和宣认(629节)。“要敬拜那造天、地、海和众水泉源的”表示唯独主将受到敬拜，因为唯独祂是创造者，救主和救赎主，天使天堂和教会，以及它们的一切都只来自祂(630节)。
启14:8.“又有一位天使接着说，那大城巴比伦倾倒了，倾倒了”表示现在就其信条和教义而言，天主教宗教被驱散了(631节)。“因为她叫所有民族都喝了她淫乱烈怒的酒”表示因为通过对圣言的亵渎，以及对教会的良善和真理的玷污，她已经迷惑了她所能统治的所有人(632节)。
启14:9.“第三位天使接着他们，大声说”表示关于那些处于与仁分离之信的人，来自主的进一步的启示(633节)。“若有人拜兽和兽像，在额上，或在手上，受了印记”表示凡承认并接受唯信称义和唯信得救的教义之人，都确认它，并照之生活(634节)。
启14:10, 11.“他也必喝神烈怒的酒，此酒在神愤怒的杯中与纯一不杂的酒掺杂”表示他们歪曲圣言的良善和真理，并使生命充满这些歪曲(635节)。“他要在圣天使面前和羔羊面前，被火与硫磺折磨；那折磨他们的烟往上冒，直到时代的时代”表示对自我和世界的爱，由此而来的欲望，以及源于这些的自我聪明的骄傲，并由于它们而在地狱所受的折磨(636节)。“那些拜兽和兽像的，以及凡受他名之印记的，昼夜不得安宁”表示对那些承认并接受这信仰，确认它，并照之生活的人来说，令人烦恼，或处于不快乐的事物的持续状态(637节)。
启14:12.“圣徒的忍耐就在此；守神诫命，和耶稣信仰的也在此”表示主的教会之人通过来自他们的试探而在他遵行圣言诫命的生活的品质和对主之信的品质上被检查(638节)。
启14:13.“我听见从天上有声音对我说，你要写下，从今以后，在主里面而死的死人有福了”表示关于那些将属于主的新教会之人死后的状态，来自主的预言，即：他们将拥有永生和幸福(639节)。“灵说，是的，他们息了自己的劳苦”表示圣言的神性真理教导说，那些苦待自己的灵魂，并因此将自己的肉体钉死在十字架上的人将在主里面得平安(640节)。“因为他们的作为伴随着他们”表示照着他们所爱和所信，因而所行和所言(641节)。
启14:14.“我又观看，见有一片白云，云上坐着一位好像人子”表示在圣言方面的主(642节)。“头上戴着金冠冕，手里拿着锋利的镰刀”表示源于主的神性之爱的神性智慧，和圣言的神性真理(643节)。
启14:15.“又有一位天使从殿中出来”表示天使天堂(644节)。“向那坐在云上的大声喊着说，伸出你的镰刀来收割。因为为你收割的时候到了，地上的庄稼已经熟透了”表示天堂天使向主祈求，求祂结束并施行审判，因为现在是教会的最后状态(645节)。
启14:16.“那坐在云上的，把镰刀扔在地上，地就被收割了”表示教会的结束，因为那里不再有任何神性真理(646节)。
启14:17.“另有一位天使从在天上的殿中出来，他也拿着锋利的镰刀”表示主的属灵国度的众天堂，和它们当中的圣言的神性真理(647节)。
启14:18.“又有一位天使从祭坛中出来，是有权柄管火的”表示主的属天国度的众天堂，它们处于来自主的爱之良善(648节)。“他向拿着锋利镰刀的大声喊着说，伸出锋利的镰刀来，收取地上葡萄园的串串葡萄”表示主出于其爱之良善通过其圣言的神性真理进入基督教会之人当中的仁和信的作为的运作(649节)。“因为她的葡萄熟透了”表示因为这是基督教会的最后状态(649b节)。
启14:19.“那天使就把镰刀扔在地上，收取了地上的葡萄园”表示当今基督教会的结束(650节)。“把它扔进神烈怒的大酒榨中”表示对他们作为的品质的检查，即：它们是邪恶(651节)。
启14:20.“那酒榨踹在城外”表示在从教会的信之教义中流出的作为的品质方面，从圣言的神性真理作出检查(652节)。“就有血从酒榨里流出来，直到马的嚼环”表示通过对真理的可怕歪曲向圣言所施的暴行，理解力由此被封闭，以至于人几乎不能再受教，从而被主通过神性真理引导(653节)。“远有一千六百斯他丢”表示纯粹的邪恶之虚假(654节)。
诠释
612、启14:1.“我又观看，看哪，羔羊站在锡安山上，和祂在一起的有十四万四千人”表示现在主在由基督教会中那些承认唯独主是天地之神，处于通过圣言从主那里所获得的源于爱之良善的教义真理的人聚集而成的新天堂中。“我观看”表示本章接下来的事；“羔羊”是指神性人身方面的主(AR 269, 271节)；“锡安山”表示天堂，就是那些处于对主之爱的人所在的地方，如稍后所看到的；“十四万四千”表示所有承认唯独主是天地之神，处于通过圣言从主所获得的源于爱之良善的教义真理的人(AR 348节等)。第七章论述了这些人；但在那里，他们“额上受了印”，从而与其余的人区别开来并分离；然而，现在他们合而为一，一个天堂由他们形成。
此处论述的天堂是由主在世上的时代以来的基督徒聚集而成的天堂，就是由其中那些唯独靠近主，通过避恶如反对神的罪而照祂在圣言中的诫命生活的人形成的天堂。该天堂就是新天堂，圣耶路撒冷，即地上的新教会，将从该天堂降下(启示录21:1, 2)。但主降临之前所形成的众天堂在该天堂之上，被称为古天堂；古天堂中的所有人同样承认唯独主是天地之神。这些天堂通过流注与这个新天堂相通。
众所周知，“迦南地”表示教会，因为圣言在那里，主通过圣言被认识；还因为锡安城就在迦南地中间，锡安城下面是耶路撒冷城，两座城都在山上。因此，“锡安”和“耶路撒冷”表示教会的至内在事物；由于天堂里的教会与地上的教会构成一体，所以“锡安”和“耶路撒冷”是指这两个地方的教会；不过，“锡安”是指爱方面的教会，“耶路撒冷”是指来自爱的教义方面的教会。这山被称为“锡安山”，是因为“山”表示爱(AR 336节)。
“锡安山”表示天堂和教会，就是唯独敬拜主的地方，这一点可从以下经文明显看出来；诗篇：
我已经在锡安膏立我的君王；我要传圣旨，你是我的儿子，我今日生你；我要将列族赐你为产业；当亲吻儿子，免得祂发怒，你们便灭亡；凡投靠祂的，都是有福的。(诗篇2:6-8, 12)
以赛亚书：
报好信息的锡安哪，你要登高山；说，看哪，主耶和华必以力量来到。(以赛亚书40:9-10)
撒迦利亚书：
锡安的女子哪，应当大大喜乐；看哪，你的王，就是公义和救主，来到你这里。(撒迦利亚书9:9; 马太福音21:2, 4, 5; 约翰福音12:14, 15)
以赛亚书：
锡安的居民哪，当喊叫欢呼；因为在你们中间的以色列圣者是伟大的。(以赛亚书12:6)
又：
耶和华救赎的人必唱着歌回到锡安。(以赛亚书35:10)
撒迦利亚书：
锡安的女子啊，应当欢呼快乐，看哪，我来要住在你中间。(撒迦利亚书2:10, 11)
诗篇：
谁要在锡安赐下以色列的救恩？(诗篇14:7; 53:6)
以赛亚书：
主耶和华要在锡安放一块试验石，你们与死亡所立的约必然废掉。(以赛亚书28:16-18)
又：
我的救恩必不迟延，我要在锡安施行拯救。(以赛亚书46:13)
又：
那时，必有一位救赎主来到锡安。(以赛亚书59:20)
又：
万军之耶和华必在锡安山掌权。(以赛亚书24:23)
诗篇：
耶和华爱锡安的城门，胜于爱雅各一切的住处；神的城啊，有荣耀的事乃指着你说的；这一个生在那里；我所有的泉源都在你里面。(诗篇87:2-3, 6-7)
又：
耶和华拣选了锡安，愿意把它当作自己的座位；这是我永远安息之所，我要住在这里。(诗篇132:13-14)
又：
愿锡安的儿子因他们的王快乐。(诗篇149:2)
又：
耶和华必起来怜恤锡安，所定的日期已经到了；耶和华的名要传扬在锡安，就是万民聚集和列国侍奉耶和华的时候。(诗篇102:13-16, 21-22)
又：
神必从锡安发出光来；我们的神要来，呼唤上天下地，招聚我的圣徒到我这里来。(诗篇50:2-5)
此外还有其它地方(如以赛亚书1:27; 4:2, 5; 31:4, 9; 33:5, 20; 37:22; 52:1; 64:10; 耶利米书6:2; 耶利米哀歌4:2; 阿摩司书1:2; 弥迦书3:10, 12; 4:1-3, 7-8; 西番雅书3:14, 16; 约珥书3:16-17, 21; 撒迦利亚书8:3; 诗篇20:2; 48:2-3, 11-14; 76:2; 78:68; 110:1-2; 125:1; 126:1; 128:5-6; 134:3; 135:21; 146:10; 149:2, 4)。在许多地方，经上都提到“锡安的童女(或处女)和女子(或女儿)”，她们不是指那里的童女(或处女)和女子(或女儿)，而是指对良善和真理的情感方面的教会；“羔羊的新妇”也是如此(启示录21:2, 9; 22:17)。在这些经文中(即以赛亚书1:8; 3:16-26; 4:4; 10:32; 16:1; 37:22; 52:2; 62:11; 耶利米书4:31; 6:2, 23; 耶利米哀歌1:6; 2:1, 4, 8, 10, 13, 18; 4:22; 弥迦书1:13; 4:8, 10, 13; 西番雅书3:14; 撒迦利亚书2:10; 9:9; 诗篇9:14等)，“锡安的童女(或处女)和女子(或女儿)”表示主的教会。
612. REVELATION: CHAPTER 14
1. Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads.
2. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.
3. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and before the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.
4. These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
5. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
6. Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth - to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people -
7. saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."
8. And another angel followed, saying, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her licentiousness."
9. Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and its image, and receives its mark on his forehead or on his hand,
10. he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed with pure wine in the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
11. And the smoke of their torment will ascend forever and ever; and they will have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name."
12. Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus (Christ.)
13. Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' " "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their works follow them."
14. Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.
15. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the hour has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth has dried."
16. So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
17. Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
18. And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are ripe."
19. So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vintage of the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
20. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses' bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.
THE SPIRITUAL MEANING
The Contents of the Whole Chapter
The New Christian Heaven, described in verses 1-5. The gospel concerning the Lord's advent preached, and a new church then, verses 6, 7, 13. An exhortation for people to forsake the faith divorced from charity that grips today's church, verses 9-12. An examination and exposure of those people, revealing that their works are evil, verses 14-20.
The Contents of the Individual Verses:
| Verse Contents | Spiritual Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1. Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, | The Lord now present in a new heaven formed of Christians who acknowledged Him as God of heaven and earth, and had doctrinal truths received from Him through the Word. |
| having His Father's name written on their foreheads. | The acknowledgment among them of the Lord's Divinity and of His Divine humanity. |
| 2. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, | The Lord speaking through the new heaven with Divine truths, |
| and like the voice of loud thunder. | and out of Divine love. |
| And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. | A confession of the Lord from a glad heart by spiritual angels in the lower heavens. |
| 3. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and before the elders; | A celebration and glorification of the Lord in His presence and in the presence of the angels of the higher heavens. |
| and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand | No other Christians could understand and so acknowledge out of love and faith that the Lord alone is God of heaven and earth but those received by the Lord into this new heaven. |
| who were redeemed from the earth. | They are people who could be regenerated by the Lord and so be redeemed in the world. |
| 4. These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. | They did not adulterate the church's truths or defile them with the falsities of their faith, but loved the truths because they are true. |
| These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. | They are conjoined with the Lord through love and through faith in Him, because they lived in accordance with His commandments. |
| These were redeemed from among men, | The same here as before [verse 3] . |
| being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. | The commencement of a Christian heaven that acknowledges one God in whom is the Trinity, and acknowledges that the Lord is that God. |
| 5. And in their mouth was found no deceit, | They do not speak with cunning or with a purpose to persuade people of falsity and evil, |
| for they are without blemish before the throne of God. | because they are governed by truths springing from goodness from the Lord. |
| 6. Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth | An announcement of the Lord's advent, and of a new church to descend from Him out of heaven, |
| - to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people - | to all people who, owing to religion, are prompted by goods, and owing to doctrine are guided by truths. |
| 7. saying with a loud voice, "Fear God | An admonition not to do evil, because it is to act against the Lord. |
| and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; | An acknowledgment and confession that all the Word's truth comes from the Lord, and that everyone will be judged in accordance with it, |
| and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water." | and that the Lord alone is to be worshiped, because He alone is the Creator, Savior, and Redeemer, and because the angelic heaven and the church and everything in them originate from Him alone. |
| 8. And another angel followed, saying, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, | The Roman Catholic religion has now been dispelled with respect to its dogmas and doctrines, |
| because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her licentiousness." | because by profanations of the Word and adulterations of the church's goodness and truth, it has led astray all the people it was able to bring under its dominion. |
| 9. Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, | Still more from the Lord concerning people caught up in faith divorced from charity. |
| "If anyone worships the beast and its image, and receives its mark on his forehead or on his hand, | People who acknowledge and accept the doctrine of justification and salvation by faith alone, affirm it, and live in accordance with it, |
| 10. he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed with pure wine in the cup of His indignation. | falsify the Word's goods and truths and steep themselves in a life in accordance with their falsification of them. |
| He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11. And the smoke of their torment will ascend forever and ever; | Their love of self and the world and the ensuing lusts, and stemming from these a conceit in their own intelligence, and torment in hell because of them. |
| and they will have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name." | The continuing state of vexations in people who acknowledge and accept that faith, affirm it, and live in accordance with it. |
| 12. Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. | By temptations or trials induced by vexations, a person belonging to the Lord's church is explored as to his character in respect to his life in accordance with the Word's commandments and to his faith in the Lord. |
| 13. Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'�" | A prediction by the Lord concerning the state of people after death who will belong to His New Church, that they will have eternal life and happiness. |
| "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, | The Word's Divine truth teaches that people who afflict their soul therefore and crucify their flesh will have peace in the Lord, |
| for their works follow them." | according as they have loved and believed and so have done and spoken. |
| 14. Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, | The Lord in relation to the Word. |
| having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. | The Divine wisdom emanating from His Divine love, and the Divine truth in the Word. |
| 15. And another angel came out of the temple, | The angelic heaven. |
| crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the hour has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth has dried." | A supplication by angels in heaven to the Lord to bring things to an end and execute judgment, because the church had now reached its last state. |
| 16. So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. | The end of the church, because it no longer had any Divine truth in it. |
| 17. Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. | The heavens of the Lord's spiritual kingdom, and the Word's Divine truth in them. |
| 18. And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, | The heavens of the Lord's celestial kingdom, which are prompted by the goodness of love received from the Lord. |
| and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes of the vine of the earth, | The Lord's operation from the goodness of His love through the Word's Divine truth into the works of charity and faith among people belonging to the Christian Church, |
| for her grapes are ripe." | because the Christian Church has reached its last state. |
| 19. So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vintage of the vine of the earth, | The end of the present Christian Church. |
| and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. | An examination of the character of the people's works, revealing that their works were evil. |
| 20. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, | The examination was made in accordance with Divine truths in the Word, to discover the character of the works that flowed from their church's doctrine regarding faith. |
| and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses' bridles, | The violence done to the Word by their dreadful falsifications of truth, and the consequent understanding of it so closed up that it was scarcely possible for anyone any longer to be taught by it, and so to be led by the Lord through Divine truths, |
| for one thousand six hundred furlongs. | being nothing but the falsities accompanying evil. |
THE EXPOSITION
14:1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand. This symbolizes the Lord now present in a new heaven composed of people in the Christian churches who acknowledged the Lord alone as God of heaven and earth, and had doctrinal truths springing from the goodness of love received from Him through the Word.
This and the rest of what is said in this chapter is symbolically meant by "I saw." The Lamb means the Lord in respect to His Divine humanity (no. 269). Mount Zion symbolizes a heaven where the inhabitants are people impelled by love toward the Lord, as described below. One hundred and forty-four thousand symbolizes all those people who acknowledge the Lord alone as God of heaven and earth and have doctrinal truths springing from the goodness of love received from Him through the Word (nos. 348ff.).
We described these people in chapter 7, but there we were told that they were sealed on their foreheads, being thus distinguished and separated from the rest. Here we are now told that they were gathered together and a new heaven formed of them.
[2] The heaven that is the subject here is a heaven composed of Christians from the time the Lord was in the world, and formed of those who approached the Lord alone and lived in accordance with His commandments in the Word by shunning evils as sins against God.
This heaven is the new heaven from which the holy Jerusalem, or New Church, will descend on earth (Revelation 21:1-2). The heavens that existed before the Lord's advent are above it and are called the ancient heavens. The people in them also all acknowledge the Lord alone as God of heaven and earth. Those heavens communicate with this new heaven through influx.
[3] People know that the land of Canaan symbolizes the church, because the Word existed there, and by it the Lord was known. Moreover, in the middle of it was the city of Zion, and below it the city of Jerusalem, both situated on the mountain. Zion and Jerusalem symbolized, therefore, the innermost elements of the church. And because the church in the heavens goes hand in hand with the church on earth, therefore the church in both places is meant by Zion and Jerusalem - Zion meaning the church as to love, and Jerusalem the church as to its accompanying doctrine.
The mountain is called Zion, because a mountain symbolizes love (no. 336).
[4] That Mount Zion symbolizes heaven and the church where the Lord is worshiped can be seen from the following passages:
I have anointed My King on... Zion. I will declare the decree: ..."You are My Son, today I have begotten You. ...I will give You the nations for Your inheritance...." ...Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish... Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. (Psalms 2:6-8, 12).
Get up into the high mountain, O Zion, you who bring good tidings... Say..., "Behold, the Lord Jehovih is coming with might...." (Isaiah 40:9-10)
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! ...Behold, your King is coming to you, just and having salvation... (Zechariah 9:9, cf. Matthew 21:2, 4-5)
Cry out and exult, O inhabitant of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst! (Isaiah 12:6)
The redeemed of Jehovah shall return... to Zion with singing... (Isaiah 35:10)
Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! ...behold, I am coming to dwell in your midst... (Zechariah 2:10-11)
Who shall give in Zion the salvation of Israel? (Psalms 14:7; 53:6)
(The Lord Jehovih will) lay in Zion a testing stone... And (then) your covenant with death will be annulled... (Isaiah 28:16-18)
My salvation shall not linger. I will give salvation in Zion... (Isaiah 46:13)
He will come to Zion, a Redeemer... (Isaiah 59:20)
...Jehovah Zebaoth will reign on Mount Zion... (Isaiah 24:23)
Jehovah loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things shall be proclaimed in you, O city of God! ..."This one was born there." ..."All my springs are in you." (Psalms 87:2-3, 6-7)
...Jehovah has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place. "This is My resting place forever; there I will dwell...." (Psalms 132:13-14)
Let the children of Zion exult in their King. (Psalms 149:2-3)
(Arise, O Jehovah) and have mercy on Zion; ...the set time has come... (Declared shall be) the name of Jehovah in Zion..., when the peoples are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve Jehovah. (Psalms 102:13-16, 22-23)
Out of Zion... God will shine forth. Our God shall come, and... He shall call to heaven above, and to the earth...: "Gather My saints together to Me...." (Psalms 50:2-5)
And so on elsewhere, as Isaiah 1:27; 4:3-5; 31:4, 9; 33:5, 20; 37:22; 52:1; 64:10; Jeremiah 6:2; Lamentations 4:2; Amos 1:2; Micah 3:10, 12; 4:1-3, 7-8.
Many passages mention the daughter, or virgin, of Zion, which does not mean some daughter or virgin there, but the church in respect to its affection for goodness and truth, like the bride of the Lamb (Revelation 21:2, 9; 22:17).
The daughter, or virgin, of Zion symbolizes the Lord's church in the following places: Isaiah 1:8; 3:16-26; 4:4; 10:32; 16:1; 37:22; 52:2; 62:11; Psalms 9:14; and elsewhere.
612. THE FOURTEENTH CHAPTER
1. And I saw, and behold the Lamb standing upon Mount Zion, and with Him the hundred and forty-four thousand having His Father's Name written on their foreheads.
2. And I heard a voice out of heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of loud thunder, and I heard the voice of harpers playing on their harps.
3. And they were singing as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four animals, and the elders; and no one was able to learn the song except the hundred and forty-four thousand bought from the earth.
4. These are they who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins; these are they who are following the Lamb wherever He goes; these have been bought from among men, the first-fruits to God and the Lamb.
5. And in their mouth is found no deceit, for they are spotless before the throne of God.
6. And I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the eternal gospel to declare (evangelizare) to those dwelling upon the land, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people,
7. Saying with a great voice, Fear God and give glory to Him, because the hour of His judgment has come, and adore Him Who has made the heaven and the land and the sea and the fountains of waters.
8. And another angel followed, saying, It has fallen, that great city Babylon has fallen, because she has made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her whoredom.
9. And a third angel followed them, saying with a great voice, If anyone adores the beast, and his image, and accepts a mark upon his forehead and hand,
10. He also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, mixed with undiluted wine in the cup of his growing anger, and shall be tormented with fire and sulphur before the holy angels and before the Lamb.
11. And the smoke of their torment shall go up for ages of ages, and they shall not have rest day and night adoring the beast and his image, and if anyone accepts the mark of his name.
12. Here 1is the patience of the saints; here are those keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ. 2
13. And I heard a voice out of heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead dying in the Lord from henceforth. Yes indeed, says the spirit, that they may rest from their labours, for their works follow with them.
14. And I saw, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud One sitting like the Son of Man, having upon His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.
15. And another angel went out of the temple, crying with a great voice to the One sitting upon the cloud, Put forth Thy sickle and reap, for the hour of reaping has come to Thee, because the harvest of the land has dried up.
16. And the One sitting upon the cloud put forth His sickle upon the land, and the land was reaped.
17. And another angel went out of the temple that is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
18. And another angel went out of the altar, having power over fire, and he cried with a great cry to the one having the sharp sickle, saying, Put forth thy sharp sickle, and gather the vintage of the clusters of the vineyard of the land, for the grapes thereof have ripened.
19. And the angel put forth his sickle into the land, and gathered the vintage of the vineyard of the land, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
20. And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood went out of the winepress even up to the horses' bridles, for a thousand six hundred stadia. 3
THE SPIRITUAL SENSE
THE CONTENTS OF THE WHOLE CHAPTER
Concerning the Christian New Heaven: it is described (verses 1-5).
Declaration (evangelizatio) concerning the Lord's coming, and the New Church at that time (verses 6-7, 13).
An exhortation for them to depart from the faith separated from charity in which the present Church is (verses 9-12).
The examination of these, and making manifest that their works are evil (verses 14-20).
THE CONTENTS OF EACH OF THE VERSES
1. And I saw and behold the Lamb standing upon Mount Zion, and with Him the hundred and forty-four thousand, signifies the Lord now in the New Heaven of Christians who have acknowledged Him as being the God of heaven and earth, and have been in the truths of doctrine from Him by means of the Word.
Having His Father's Name [written] upon their foreheads, signifies the acknowledgment of the Divine and of the Lord's Divine Human with them.
2. And I heard a voice out of heaven as the voice of many waters, signifies the Lord speaking through the New Heaven out of Divine Truths.
And as the voice of loud thunder, signifies and out of Divine Love.
And I heard the voice of harpers playing on their harps, signifies a confession of the Lord out of gladness of heart by the spiritual angels in the lower heavens.
3. And they were singing as it were a new song before the throne and before the four animals and before the elders, signifies a celebration and glorification of the Lord in His presence and in the presence of the angels of the higher heavens.
And no one was able to learn the song, except the hundred and forty-four thousand, signifies that no others from among Christians have been able to understand, and thus to acknowledge out of love and faith, that the Lord Only is the God of heaven and earth, except those who have been received into this New Heaven by the Lord.
Bought from the earth, signifies that they are those who were able to be regenerated by the Lord and thus redeemed in the world.
4. These are they who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins, signifies that they have not adulterated the truths of the Church and defiled them with untruths of faith, but they have loved truths because they are true.
These are they who are following the Lamb wherever He goes, signifies that they have been conjoined to the Lord through love and faith directed to Him, because they have lived in accordance with His precepts.
And have been bought from among men, signifies here as before.
The first-fruits of God and the Lamb, signifies the initiament of the Christian heaven, acknowledging the One God in Whom is the Trinity, and the Lord as being that God.
5. And in their mouth is found no deceit, signifies that they do not from cunning and intention speak and persuade to what is untrue and evil.
For they are spotless before the throne of God, signifies because they are in truths derived from good from the Lord.
6. And I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven having the eternal gospel to declare (evange1izare) to those dwelling upon the land, signifies the announcement of the Lord's coming, and of the New Church going to come down out of heaven from Him.
And to every nation and tribe and tongue and people, signifies to all who are in goods as the result of religion, and in truths as the result of doctrine.
7. Saying with a great voice, Fear God, signifies a warning not to do evils, because this is against the Lord.
And give glory to Him, because the hour of His judgment has Come, signifies the acknowledgment and confession that all the truth of the Word is from the Lord, in accordance with which every man will be judged.
And adore Him Who has made the heaven and the land and the sea and the fountains of waters, signifies that the Lord Only ought to be worshipped, because He Only is the Creator, Saviour and Redeemer, and from Him Only do the angelic heaven and the Church and all the things thereof exist.
8. And another angel followed saying, It has fallen, that great city Babylon has fallen, signifies that the Roman Catholic form of religion as to its dogmas and doctrinal tenets has now been dispersed.
Because she has made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her whoredom, signifies because by profanations of the Word and by adulterations of the good and truth of the Church it has led astray all whom it has been able to bring under its dominion.
9. And a third angel followed them, saying with a great voice, signifies something further from the Lord concerning those who are in faith separated from charity.
If anyone adores the beast and his image, and accepts a mark upon his forehead and hand, signifies [that] he who acknowledges and receives the doctrine concerning justification and salvation by faith alone confirms it and lives in accordance with it.
10. He also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God mixed with undiluted wine in the cup of his growing anger, signifies that they falsify the goods and truths of the Word, and imbue their life with the same when falsified.
11. And shall be tormented with fire and sulphur before the holy angels and the Lamb, and the smoke of their torment shall go up for ages of ages, signifies the love of self and the world and the derivative lusts, and the pride of self-intelligence derived therefrom, and torment in hell as the result thereof.
And they shall not have rest day and night adoring the beast and his image, and if anyone accepts the mark of his name, signifies a perpetual state in things undelightful in the case of those who acknowledge and receive that faith, confirm it, and live in accordance therewith.
12. Here is the patience of the saints, here 4are those keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, signifies that the man of the Lord's Church is examined by means of temptations from those [in faith separated from charity] as to the quality of his life in accordance with the precepts of the Word and as to faith directed to the Lord.
13. And I heard a voice out of heaven saying unto me, [Write,] Blessed are the dead dying in the Lord from henceforth, signifies a prediction from the Lord concerning the state after death of those who will belong to His New Church (e Nova Ecclesia Ipsius erunt), that they will have eternal life and happiness.
Yes indeed, says the spirit, that they may rest from their labours, signifies that the Divine Truth of the Word teaches that those who afflict their soul and crucify the flesh on account of this are going to have peace in the Lord.
For their works follow with them, signifies according as they have loved and believed and thence done and spoken.
14. And I saw and behold a white cloud, and One sitting like the Son of Man Upon the cloud, signifies the Lord as to the Word.
Having upon His head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle, signifies the Divine Wisdom out of Divine Love, and the Divine Truth of the Word.
15. And another angel went out of the temple, signifies the angelic heaven.
Crying with a great voice to the One sitting upon the cloud, Put forth Thy sickle and reap, for the hour of reaping has come to Thee, because the harvest of the land has dried up, signifies the supplication of the angels of heaven to the Lord, that He may make an end and execute judgment because it is now the last state of the Church.
16. And the One sitting upon the cloud put forth His sickle, and the land was reaped, signifies the end of the Church because Divine Truth is not there any longer.
17. And another angel went out of the temple that is in heaven heal so having a sharp sickle, signifies the heavens of the Lord's Spiritual kingdom and the Divine Truth of the Word will] them
18. And another angel went out of the altar, having power over fire, signifies the heavens of the Lord's celestial kingdom which are in the good of love from the Lord.
And he cried with a great cry to the one having the sharp sickle, saying Put forth thy sharp sickle and gather the vintage of the clusters of the vineyard of the land, signifies the Lord's operation out of the good of His love by means of the Divine Truth of His Word into the works of charity and faith that are with the men of the Christian Church
For the grapes thereof have ripened, signifies because it is the last state of the Christian Church.
19. And the angel put forth his sickle into the land, and gathered the vintage of the vineyard of the land, signifies the end of the present Christian Church.
And cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God, signifies an examination of the quality of their works that they were evil.
20. And the winepress was trodden outside the city, signifies that the examination was made from (ex) the Divine Truths of the Word [to discover] what the works flowing forth from the Church's doctrine of faith were like.
And blood went out of the winepress even up to the horses' bridles, signifies the violence inflicted on the Word by means of dreadful falsifications of truth and the understanding so closed up thereby that a man can scarcely any longer be taught, and thus be led by means of Divine Truths by the Lord.
For a thousand six hundred stadia, signifies nothing but untruths of evil.
THE EXPOSITION
[verse 1] 'And 'saw and behold the Lamb standing Upon Mount Zion, and with Him the hundred and forty-four thousand' signifies the Lord now in the New Heaven gathered together out of those in the Christian Churches who have acknowledged the Lord Only as being the God of heaven and earth, and have been in truths of doctrine out of the good of love from Him by means of the Word. By 'I saw' these things are signified also the things that follow in this chapter. By 'the Lamb' is understood the Lord as to the Divine Human (269, 271). By 'Mount Zion' is signifies the heaven where those are who are in love directed to the Lord, concerning which [something] follows. By 'the hundred and forty-four thousand' are signified all who acknowledge the Only Lord as being the God of heaven and earth, and are in truths of doctrine out of the good of love from Him by means of the Word (348 seq.). These things were treated of in chapter 7, but there, that they were 'sealed upon their foreheads and thus distinguished and separated from the rest; here now [it teaches] they have been gathered together into a unit, and that there is a heaven [formed] out of them.
[2] The heaven of which it treats here is the heaven gathered together out of the Christians from the time of the Lord's being in the world, and from such of them as have approached the Only Lord and lived in accordance with His precepts in the Word, fleeing from evils as sins against God. This heaven is the New Heaven, out of which the Holy Jerusalem, that is, the New Church on earth, will come down (Revelation 21:1-2). But the heavens [formed] before the Lord's coming are above it, and are called the ancient heavens. In these also they all acknowledge the Only Lord as being the God of heaven and earth. These heavens communicate with this New Heaven by influx.
[3] It is known that by 'the land of Canaan' the Church is signified, because the Word was there and by its means the Lord was known. It is also known that in the midst of that [land] was the city of Zion, and below it the city of , Jerusalem, both upon a mountain. Consequently by 'Zion' and 'Jerusalem' the inmost things of the Church were signified; and because the Church in the heavens makes one with the Church on earth (in terris), therefore by 'Zion' and 'Jerusalem' is understood the Church in both worlds (utrobivis), but by 'Zion' the Church as to love and by 'Jerusalem' the Church as to doctrine therefrom. It is termed 'Mount Zion' because by 'a mountain' is signified love (336).
[4] That by 'Mount Zion' is signified heaven and the Church where the Only Lord is worshipped can be established from the following passages:
I have anointed My King upon Zion; I will announce in a decree, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee I will give the nations [for] Thine inheritance. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish; blessed are all trusting in Him. Psalms 2:6-8, 12.
Go up upon the high mountain, O Zion declaring good tidings (Evangelizatrix); say, Behold the Lord Jehovih comes in strength. Isaiah 40:9-10.
Exult greatly, O daughter of Zion, behold thy King comes unto thee, a Just One and a Saviour, Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:2, 4-5; John 12:14-15.
Cry out and shout, O inhabitress of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. Isaiah 12:6.
The redeemed of Jehovah shall return to Zion with a song. Isaiah 35:10.
Shout and be glad, O daughter of Zion, behold I am coming that I may dwell in the midst of thee, Zechariah 2:10-11 [H.B. 14-15].
Who will give the salvation of Israel in Zion? Psalms 14:7; 53:6 [H.B. 7].
The Lord Jehovih will found in Zion a stone of proving, and then shall your covenant with death be abolished. Isaiah 28:16-18.
My salvation shall not tarry, I will give salvation in Zion. Isaiah 46:13.
Then shall the Redeemer come to Zion. Isaiah 59:20.
Jehovah Zebaoth shall reign in Mount Zion. Isaiah 24:23.
Jehovah loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob, glorious things are to be proclaimed in thee, O city of God. This one was born there, all my springs are in thee. Psalms 87:2-3, 5-7.
Jehovah has chosen Zion, He has desired it for His seat; this is my rest for ever, there will I dwell. Psalms 132:13-14.
Let the sons of Zion exult in their King. Psalms 149:2-3.
O Jehovah arise, and have mercy on Zion, the set time has come; the Name of Jehovah shall be declared in Zion, when the peoples shall be gathered together, and the kingdom to serve Jehovah. Psalms 102:13-16, 21-22 [H.B. 14-17, 22-23].
Out of Zion God shall shine, our God is coming and shall call to the heaven above, and to the earth, Gather My saints together unto Me, Psalms 11:5; besides elsewhere, as Isaiah 1:27; 4:3-5; 31:4, 9; 33:5, 20; 37:22; 52:1; 64:10 [H.B. 9]; Jeremiah 6:2; Lamentations 4:2; Amos 1:2; Micah 3:10, 12; 4:1-3, 7-8; Zephaniah 3:14, 16; Joel 3:[H.B. 4], 16-17, 21; Zechariah 8:3; Psalms 20:2, 5 [H.B. 3, 6]; 48:2-3, 11-14 [H.B. 3-4, 12-15]; 76:2 [H.B. 3]; 78:68; 110:1-2; 125:1; 126:1; 128:5-6; 134:3; 135:21; 146:10. In many places mention is made of the VIRGIN AND DAUGHTER OF ZION, by which is not understood any virgin or daughter there, but the Church as to the affection of good and truth, like what is understood by 'the Bride of the Lamb' (Revelation 21:2, 9; 22:17). 'The virgin and daughter of Zion' signifies the Lord's Church, in these places: Isaiah 1:8; 3:16-26; 4:4; 10:32; 16:1; 37:22; 52:2; 62:11; Jeremiah 4:31; 6:2, 23; Lamentations 1:6; 2:1, 4, 8, 10, 13, 18; 4:22; Micah 1:13; 4:8, 10, 13; Zephaniah 3:14; Zechariah 2:7, 10 [H.B. 10, 14]; 9:9; Psalms 9:14; [H.B. 15]; and elsewhere.
Footnotes:
1. Reading Hic (here) instead of Haec (this).
2. The word 'Christ' is omitted elsewhere (593, 638).
3. Plural of stadium=approx. one-eighth of a mile.
4. Reading hic (here) instead of hi (these).
612. Revelation 14
1. And I saw, and behold a Lamb standing on the Mount Zion, and with Him a hundred forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written upon their foreheads.
2. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of great thunder; and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps.
3. And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four animals, and the elders; and no one was able to learn the song but the hundred forty-four thousand bought from the earth.
4. These are they who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins; these are they who follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth: these were bought from among men, the firstfruits to God and the Lamb.
5. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are spotless before the throne of God.
6. And I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the eternal gospel to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth, and unto every nation and tribe and tongue and people;
7. Saying with a great voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment is come; and adore Him that made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
8. And another angel followed, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the anger of her whoredom.
9. And a third angel followed them, saying with a great voice, if anyone hath adored the beast, and his image, and hath received his mark upon his forehead or upon his hand,
10. He also shall drink of the wine of the anger of God mixed with unmixed wine in the cup of His wrath, and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone before the holy angels and before the Lamb.
11. And the smoke of their torment shall go up for ages of ages; and they shall have no rest day and night that adore the beast and his image, and if anyone shall have received the mark of his name.
12. Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ. 1
13. And I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Write, Happy are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.
14. And I saw, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud One sitting like unto the Son of man, having upon His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.
15. And another angel went out from the temple, crying with a great voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Send Thy sickle, and reap; for the hour for Thee to reap is come, for the harvest of the earth is dried up.
16. And He that sat upon the cloud sent His sickle upon the earth, and the earth was reaped.
17. And another angel went out from the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
18. And another angel went out from the altar, having authority over fire; and he cried with a great cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Send thy sharp sickle, and gather the vintage, the clusters of the vineyard of the earth; for her grapes are ripened.
19. And the angel sent his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vineyard of the earth, and he cast it into the great winepress of the anger of God.
20. And the winepress was trodden without the city; and there went out blood from the winepress even unto the bridles of the horses, for a thousand six hundred stadia.
THE SPIRITUAL SENSE
The contents of the whole chapter
Concerning the New Christian Heaven: it is described (verses 1-5). The proclamation of the Lord's coming, and then the New Church (verses 6-7, 13). An exhortation to recede from faith separated from charity, in which is the church at the present day (verses 9-12). The exploration of these, and the manifestation that their works are evil (verses 14-20).
The contents of each verse
Verse 1. "And I saw, and behold a Lamb standing on the Mount Zion, and with Him a hundred forty-four 2thousand," signifies the Lord now in the New Heaven from Christians, who acknowledged Him as the God of heaven and earth, and were in truths of doctrine from Him through the Word, (612). "Having His Father's name in their foreheads," signifies acknowledgment of the Lord's Divine and the Divine Human with them, (613).
Verse 2. "And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters," signifies the Lord speaking through the New Heaven from Divine truths, (614). "And as the voice of great thunder," signifies and from the Divine love, (615). "And I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps," signifies confession of the Lord from gladness of heart by the spiritual angels in the lower heavens, (616).
Verse 3. "And they sung as it were a new song before the throne and before the four animals and before the elders," signifies celebration and glorification of the Lord before Him and before the angels of the higher heavens, (617). "And no one was able to learn the song but the hundred forty-four thousand," signifies that no others from among Christians could understand, and thus from love and faith acknowledge, that the Lord alone is the God of heaven and earth, but they who were received by the Lord into this New Heaven, (618). "Bought from the earth," signifies that they are those who could be regenerated by the Lord and thus be redeemed in the world, (619). Vers, (Revelation 14:4) e 4. "These are they who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins," signifies that they did not adulterate the truths of the church, and defile them with falsities of faith, but that they loved truths because they are truths, (620). "These are they who follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth," signifies that they are conjoined with the Lord by love and faith in Him, because they have lived according to His commandments, (621). "And were bought from among men," signifies here as before, (622). "Firstfruits unto God and the Lamb," signifies the first beginning of the Christian heaven, that acknowledges one God in whom is the Trinity, and that the Lord is He, (623).
Verse 5. "And in their mouth was found no deceit," signifies that they do not from cunning and design speak and persuade to falsity and evil, (624). "For they are spotless before the throne of God," signifies because they are in truths from good from the Lord, (625).
Verse 6. "And I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven having the eternal gospel to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth," signifies the annunciation of the Lord's coming, and of the New Church that is to come down out of heaven from Him, (626). "And to every nation and tribe and tongue and people," signifies to all who are in goods from religion, and in truths from doctrine, (627).
Verse 7. "Saying with a great voice, Fear God," signifies admonition not to do evils, because this is against the Lord, (628). "And give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment is come," signifies the acknowledgment and confession that all the truth of the Word is from the Lord, according to which every man will be judged, (629[1-2]); "and adore Him who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and the fountains of waters," signifies that the Lord alone is to be worshiped, because He alone is the Creator, Saviour, and Redeemer, and from Him alone are the angelic heaven and the church and all things of them, (630).
Verse 8. (Revelation 14:8) "And another angel followed, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city," signifies that the Roman Catholic religion, as to its dogmas and doctrinals, is now dispersed, (631). "Because she made all nations drink of the wine of the anger of her whoredom," signifies because by profanations of the Word and adulterations of the good and truth of the church, she has seduced all whom she could subject to her dominion, (632).
Verse 9. (Revelation 14:9) "And a third angel followed them, saying with a great voice," signifies further revelation from the Lord concerning those who are in faith separated from charity, (633). "If anyone hath adored the beast and his image, and hath received his mark upon his forehead and upon his hand," signifies whoever acknowledges and receives the doctrine concerning justification and salvation by faith alone, confirms it, and lives according to it, (634).
Verse 10. "He also shall drink of the wine of the anger of God mixed with unmixed wine in the cup of His wrath," signifies that they falsify the goods and truths of the Word, and imbue their life from those falsified things, (635). "And he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone before the holy angels and the Lamb (verse 11), and the smoke of their torment shall go up for ages of ages," signifies the love of self and the world and the lusts therefrom, and from these the pride of their own intelligence, and thence torment in hell, (636). "And they shall have no rest day and night that adore the beast and his image, and if anyone shall have received the mark of his name," signifies a perpetual state in undelightful things with those who acknowledge and receive that faith, confirm it, and live according to it, (637).
Verse 12. "Here is the patience of the saints, here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus," signifies that the man of the Lord's church is explored by temptations from them, as to the quality of his life according to the commandments of the Word and of his faith in the Lord, (638).
Verse 13. "And I heard a voice from heaven, saying to me, Write, 3Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth," signifies a prediction from the Lord concerning the state of those after death who will be of His New Church, that they will have eternal life and happiness, (639). "Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors," signifies that the Divine truth of the Word teaches that they who afflict their soul and crucify their flesh for the sake of those things, will have peace in the Lord, (640). "For their works follow with them," signifies according as they have loved and believed, and thence have done and spoken, (641).
Verse 14. "And I saw, and behold, a white cloud, and upon the cloud One sitting like unto the Son of man," signifies the Lord as to the Word, (642). "Having upon His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle," signifies the Divine wisdom from His Divine love, and the Divine truth of the Word, (643).
Verse 15. "And another angel went out from the temple," signifies the angelic heaven, (644). "Crying with a great voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Send Thy sickle, and reap, for the hour for Thee to reap is come, for the harvest of the earth is dried up," signifies the supplication of the angels of heaven to the Lord, that He would make an end and execute judgment, because now is the last state of the church, (645).
Verse 16. "And He that sat upon the cloud sent His sickle, and the earth was reaped," signifies the end of the church, because there is no longer any Divine truth there, (646).
Verse 17. "And another angel went out from the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle," signifies the heavens of the Lord's spiritual kingdom, and the Divine truth of the Word with them, (647).
Verse 18. "And another angel went out from the altar, having authority over fire," signifies the heavens of the Lord's celestial kingdom, which are in the good of love from the Lord, (648). "And he cried with a great cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Send thy sharp sickle, and gather the vintage, the clusters of the vineyard of the earth," signifies the Lord's operation from the good of His love by the Divine truth of His Word into the works of charity and faith, with the men of the Christian church, (649). "For her grapes are ripened," signifies because it is the last state of the Christian church, (649b). Verse 19. "And the angel sent his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vineyard of the earth," signifies the end of the present Christian church, (650). "And he cast it into the great winepress of the anger of God," signifies exploration of the quality of their works, that they were evil, (651).
Verse 20. "And the winepress was trodden without the city," signifies that exploration was made from the Divine truths of the Word as to the quality of the works which flow forth from the doctrine of faith of the church, (652). "And there went out blood from the winepress even unto the bridles of the horses," signifies violence done to the Word by dreadful falsifications of the truth, and the understanding so closed up thereby, that man can scarcely be taught any longer, and thus be led of the Lord by Divine truths, (653). "For a thousand six hundred stadia," signifies mere falsities of evil, (654).
THE EXPLANATION
Verse 1. And I saw, and behold a Lamb standing on the Mount Zion, and with Him a hundred forty-four thousand, signifies the Lord now in the New Heaven collected out of those in the Christian churches who have acknowledged the Lord alone to be the God of heaven and earth, and have been in the truths of doctrine from the good of love from Him by the Word. By "I saw," are signified the things which follow in this chapter; by "a Lamb" is meant the Lord as to the Divine Human, (269, 271); by "mount Zion" is signified heaven, where they are who are in love to the Lord, as will be seen presently; by "a hundred forty-four thousand" are signified all who acknowledge the Lord alone to be the God of heaven and earth, and who are in the truths of doctrine from the good of love from Him through the Word, (348). These were treated of in chapter 7; but there, that "they were sealed on their foreheads," and thus were distinguished and separated from the rest; now however that they were collected together into one, and that a heaven was from them.
[2] The heaven here treated of, is the heaven collected from Christians, from the time the Lord was in the world, and from such of them as approached the Lord alone, and lived according to His precepts in the Word, by shunning evils as sins against God. This heaven is the New Heaven, from which the Holy Jerusalem, that is, the New Church upon earth, will descend, (Revelation 21:1-2). But the heavens which were formed before the Lord's coming are above this heaven, and are called the ancient heavens; in which likewise all acknowledge the Lord alone to be the God of heaven and earth. These heavens communicate with this New Heaven by influx.
[3] It is known, that by "the land of Canaan" is signified the church, because the Word was there, and by it the Lord was known; also because in the midst of it was the city Zion, and under it the city Jerusalem, both upon a mountain. Hence by "Zion" and "Jerusalem" are signified the inmost things of the church; and as the church in the heavens makes one with the church on earth, therefore by "Zion" and "Jerusalem" is meant the church everywhere, but by "Zion" the church as to love, and by "Jerusalem" the church as to doctrine from love. It is called "Mount Zion" because by "a mountain" is signified love, (336[1-4]).
[4] That by "Mount Zion" is signified heaven and the church where the Lord alone is worshiped, may appear from the following passages:
I have anointed My King upon Zion; I will announce concerning the statute, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee; I will give the nations for Thy inheritance; Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish; happy are all that trust in Him, (Psalms 2:6-8, 12).
O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; say, Behold the Lord Jehovah will come in strength, (Isaiah 40:9-10).
Exult greatly, O daughter of Zion; behold thy King cometh unto thee Just and a Savior, (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:2, 4-5; John 12:14-15).
Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee, (Isaiah 12:6).
The redeemed of Jehovah shall return to Zion with a song, (Isaiah 35:10).
Shout and be glad, O daughter of Zion, behold I come that I may dwell in the midst of thee, (Zechariah 2:10-11).
Who will give the salvation of Israel in Zion, (Psalms 14:7; 53:6).
The Lord Jehovih will found in Zion a tried stone, and then shall your covenant with death be abolished, (Isaiah 28:16-18).
My salvation shall not tarry, I will give salvation in Zion, (Isaiah 46:13).
Then the Redeemer shall come to Zion, (Isaiah 59:20).
Jehovah of Hosts shall reign in Mount Zion, (Isaiah 24:23).
Jehovah loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob; glorious things are to be proclaimed in thee, O city of God; this one was born there; all my fountains are in thee, (Psalms 87:2-3, 6-7).
Jehovah hath chosen Zion, He hath desired it for His seat; this is my rest forever, there will I dwell, (Psalms 132:13-14).
Let the sons of Zion exult in their King, (Psalms 149:2).
O Jehovah arise, and have mercy on Zion, the set time is come; the name of Jehovah shall be declared in Zion, when the peoples are gathered together, and the kingdoms to serve Jehovah, (Psalms 102:13-16, 21-22).
Out of Zion God shall shine; our God cometh, and shall call to the heaven above, and to the earth, Gather My saints together unto Me, (Psalms 50:2-5). Besides other places, as Isaiah 1:27; 4:2, 5; 31:4, 31:9; 33:5, 20; 37:22; 52:1; 64:10; Jeremiah 6:2; Lamentations 4:2; Amos 1:2; Micah 3:10, 12; 4:1-3, 7-8; Zephaniah 3:14, 16; Joel 3:16-17, 21; Zechariah 8:3; Psalms 20:2; 48:2-3, 11-14; 76:2; 78:68; 110:1-2; (149:2, 4); 125:1; 126:1; 128:5-6; 134:3; 135:21; 146:10; In many places it is said "the virgin and the daughter of Zion;" by whom is not meant any virgin or daughter there, but the church as to the affection of good and truth; the same as by "the Bride of the Lamb" (Revelation 21:2, 9; 22:17). "The virgin and the daughter of Zion" signifies the Lord's Church in these passages:Isaiah 1:8; 3:16-26; 4:4; 10:32; 16:1; 37:22; 52:2; 62:11; Jeremiah 4:31; Jeremiah 6:(2,) 23; Lamentations 1:6; 2:1, 4, 8, 10, 13, 18; 4:22; Micah 1:13; 4:8, 10, 13; Zephaniah 3:14; Zechariah 2:10; 9:9; Psalms 9:14.
Footnotes:
1. The Greek has "the faith of Jesus."
2. The original Latin omits, (Revelation 14:1) "four."
3. The original Latin omits "Write."
612. CAPUT XIV.
ET Vidi, et ecce Agnus stans super Monte Sion, et cum Ipso centum quadraginta quatuor millia, habentes nomen Patris Ipsius Scriptum Super frontibus Suis.
2. Et audivi vocem e Caelo, tanquam vocem aquarum multarum, et tanquam vocem tonitrui magni, et vocem audivi citharaedorum pulsantium citharis suis.
3. Et canebant tanquam Canticum novum coram Throno, et coram quatuor Animalibus, et Senioribus; et nemo potuit discere Canticum, nisi quam illi centum quadraginta quatuor millia, empti de terra.
4. Hi Sunt qui cum mulieribus non sunt inquinati, Virgines enim sunt; hi Sunt qui, sequentes Agnum quocunque vadit: hi empti sunt de hominibus, primitiae Deo et Agno.
5. Et in ore illorum non est inventus dolus, immaculati enim Sunt coram Throno Dei.
6. Et vidi alium Angelum volantem in medio Caeli, habentem Evangelium aeternum evangelizare habitantibus super terra, et omni genti et tribui et linguae et populo;
7. Dicentem voce magna, Timete Deum, et date Ipsi gloriam, quia venit hora judicii Ipsius, et adorate Ipsum Qui fecit Caelum et Terram et Mare et Fontes aquarum.
8. Et alius Angelus secutus est, dicens, Cecidit, cecidit Babylon, urbs illa magna, quia ex vino irae scortationis Suae potavit omnes gentes.
9. Et tertius Angelus secutus est illos, dicens voce magna. Si quis Bestiam adoraverit, et imaginem ejus, et acceperit characterem super fronte sua et super manu sua,
10. Et ille bibet ex vino irae Dei mixto mero in poculo excandescentiae Ipsius, et cruciabitur igne et sulphure coram sanctis Angelis et coram Agno.
11. Et fumus cruciatus illorum ascendet in saecula saeculorum, et non habebunt requiem diu et noctu adorantes Bestiam et imaginem ejus, et si quis acceperit characterem nominis ejus.
12. Hic 1patientia sanctorum est, hic custodientes mandata Dei et fidem Jesu Christi.
13. Et audivi vocem e Caelo dicentem mihi, Scribe, Beati mortui in Domino morientes a nunc; imo dicit Spiritus, ut requiescant ex laboribus suis, opera enim illorum sequuntur cum illis.
14. Et vidi, et ecce nubes alba, et super nube Sedens similis Filio Hominis, habens super capite Suo coronam auream, et in manu Sua falcem acutam.
15. Et alius Angelus exivit e Templo, clamans magna voce Sedenti super nube, Mitte falcem Tuam et mete, quia venit Tibi hora metendi, quia aruit messis terrae.
16. Et misit Sedens super nube falcem Suam super terram, et demessa est terra.
17. Et alius Angelus exivit e Templo quod in Caelo, habens et ille falcem acutam.
18. Et alius Angelus exivit ex Altari, habens potestatem super ignem, et clamavit clamore magno habenti falcem acutam, dicens, Mitte tuam falcem acutam, et vindemia botros Vineae terrae, quia maturuerunt uvae ejus.
19. Et misit Angelus falcem suam in terram, et vindemiavit vineam terrae, et conjecit in torcular irae Dei magnum.
20. Et calcatum est torcular extra urbem, et exivit Sanguis e torculari usque ad frena equorum, a stadiis mille sexcenti.
SENSUS SPIRITUALIS.
CONTENTUM TOTIUS CAPITIS.
DE NOVO CAELO CHRISTIANO (describitur vers. 1-5);
EVANGELIZATIO DE ADVENTU DOMINI, ET TUNC NOVA ECCLESIA (vers. 6, 7, 13);
EXHORTATIO UT RECEDANT A FIDE SEPARATA A CHARITATE, IN QUA EST HODIERNA ECCLESIA (9-12);
EXPLORATIO HORUM, ET MANIFESTATIO, QUOD OPERA ILLORUM SINT MALA (vers. 14-20).
CONTENTA SINGULORUM VERSUUM.
1. "Et vidi, et ecce Agnus stans super Monte Sion, et cum Ipso centum quadraginta (quatuor) millia," significat Dominum nunc in Novo Caelo ex Christianis, qui Ipsum pro Deo Caeli et Terrae agnoverunt, et in veris doctrinae ab Ipso per Verbum fuerunt (612); "habentes Nomen Patris Ipsius in frontibus suis," significat agnitionem Divini et Divini Humani Domini apud illos (613).
2. "Et audivi vocem e Caelo, tanquam vocem aquarum multarum," significat Dominum loquentem per Novum Caelum ex Divinis Veris (614); "et tanquam vocem tonitrui magni," significat et ex Divino Amore (615); "et vocem audivi citharaedorum pulsantium citharis suis," significat confessionem Domini ex laetitia cordis ab Angelis spiritualium inferioribus Caelis (616).
3. "Et canebant tanquam Canticum novum coram Throno et coram quatuor Animalibus et coram Senioribus," significat celebrationem et glorificationem Domini coram Ipso et coram, Angelis superiorum Caelorum (617); "et nemo potuit discere Canticum, nisi quam illi centum quadraginta quatuor millia," significat quod non alii ex Christianis potuerint intelligere, et sic ex amore et fide agnoscere, quod Dominus Solus sit Deus Caeli et Terrae, quam qui a Domino in Novum hoc Caelum recepti sunt (618); "empti de terra," significat quod illi sint qui a Domino potuerunt regenerari et sic redimi in mundo (619).
4. "Hi sunt qui cum mulieribus non sunt inquinati, virgines enim sunt, significat quod non adulteraverint vera Ecclesiae, et conspurcaverint illa falsis fidei, sed quod amaverint vera quia sunt vera (620); "hi sunt qui sequuntur Agnum quocunque vadit," significat quod conjuncti sint Domino per amorem et fidem in Ipsum, quia vixerunt secundum praecepta Ipsius (621); "et empti sunt de hominibus," significat hic ut prius, (11, 622); "primitiae Deo et Agno," significat initiamentum Caeli Christiani agnoscentis Deum unum in quo Trinitas, et Dominum esse Illum (623).
5. "Et in ore illorum non est inventus dolus," significat quod non ex astu et proposito loquantur et persuadeant falsum et malum (624); "immaculati enim sunt coram Throno Dei," significat quia sunt in veris ex bono a Domino (625).
6.Et vidi alium Angelum volantem in medio Caeli, habentem Evangelium aeternum evangelizare habitantibus super terra," significat annuntiationem Adventus Domini, et Novae Ecclesiae descensurae e Caelo ab Ipso (626); "et omni genti et tribui et linguae et populo," significat cunctis qui ex religione in bonis sunt, et ex doctrina in veris, (11, 627).
7. "Dicentem voce magna, Timete Deum," significat admonitionem ut non faciant mala, quia hoc contra Dominum est (628); et date Ipsi gloriam, quia venit hora judicii Ipsius," significat agnitionem et confessionem quod omne Verum Verbi sit a Domino, secundum quod omnis homo judicabitur (629); "et adorate Ipsum Qui fecit Caelum et Terram et Mare et Fontes aquarum," significat quod Dominus Solus colendus sit, quia Ipse Solus Creator, Salvator et Redemptor est, et ab Ipso Solo Caelum angelicum et Ecclesia et omnia illorum sunt, (11, 630).
8. "Et alius Angelus secutus est dicens, Cecidit, cecidit Babylon, urbs illa magna," significat quod nunc Religiosum Catholico Romanum quoad sua dogmata et doctrinalia dispersum sit, (11, 631); "quia ex vino irae scortationis suae potavit omnes gentes," significat quia per prophanationes Verbi, et per adulterationes boni et veri Ecclesiae, seduxit omnes quos dominio suo subjicere potuit, (11, 632).
9. "Et tertius Angelus secutus est illos, dicens voce magna," significat adhuc a Domino de illis qui in Fide separata a Charitate (633); "Si quis Bestiam adoraverit et imaginem ejus, et acceperit characterem super fronte et super manu sua," significat qui agnoscit et recipit doctrinam de justificatione et salvatione per solam Fidem, confirmat illam, et vivit secundum illam (634)
10, 11. "Et ille bibet ex vino irae Dei mixto mero in poculo excandescentiae Ipsius," significat quod illi falsificent bona et vera Verbi, et imbuant vitam ex illis falsificatis (635); "et cruciabitur igne et sulphure coram sanctis Angelis et Agno, et fumus cruciatus eorum ascendet in saecula saeculorum," significat amorem sui et mundi et cupiditates inde, et ex his fastum propriae intelligentiae, ac cruciatum in Inferno ex illis (636); "et non habebunt requiem diu et noctu adorantes Bestiam et imaginem ejus, et si quis acceperit characterem nominis ejus," significat statum perpetuum in injucundis apud illos qui agnoscunt et recipiunt illam fidem, confirmant illam, et vivunt secundum illam (637).
12. "Hic patientia sanctorum est, hic 2custodientes mandata Dei et fidem Jesu," significat quod homo Ecclesiae Domini, per tentationes ab illis exploretur qualis est quoad 3vitam secundum praecepta Verbi et quoad fidem in Dominum (638).
13. "Et audivi vocem e Caelo dicentem mihi, (Scribe,) Beati mortui in Domino morientes a nunc," significat praedictionem a Domino de statu illorum post mortem, qui e Nova Ecclesia Ipsius erunt, quod illis vita et felicitas aeterna (639); "imo dicit 4Spiritus. ut requiescant ex laboribus suis," significat quod Divinum Verum Verbi doceat, quod qui affligunt animam et crucifigunt carnem propterea, habituri sint pacem in Domino (640); "opera enim illorum sequuntur cum Illis," significat sicut amaverunt et crediderunt, et inde fecerunt et locuti sunt (641).
14. "Et vidi, et ecce nubes alba, et super nube Sedens similis Filio Hominis," significat Dominum quoad Verbum (642); "habens super capite Suo coronam auream, et in manu Sua falcem acutam," significat Divinam Sapientiam ex Divino Amore Ipsius, ac Divinum Verum Verbi (643).
15. "Et alius Angelus ex ivit e Templo," significat Caelum angelicum (644); "clamans magna voce Sedenti super nube, Mitte falcem Tuam et mete, quia venit Tibi hora metendi, quia aruit messis terrae," significat supplicationem Angelorum Caeli ad Dominum, ut finem imponat, et judicium faciat, quia nunc ultimus status Ecclesiae (645).
16 "Et misit Sedens super nube falcem Suam, et demessa est terra," significat finem Ecclesiae, quia non amplius Divinum Verum ibi, (11, 646).
17. "Et alius Angelus exivit e Templo quod in Caelo, habens et ille falcem acutam," significat Caelos Regni spiritualis Domini, et Divinum Verum Verbi apud illos (647).
18. "Et alius Angelus exivit ex Altare, habens potestatem super ignem," significat caelos Regni caelestis Domini, qui in bono amoris a Domino sunt (648); "et clamavit clamore magno habenti falcem acutam, dicens, Mitte tuam falcem acutam, et vindemia botros vineae terrae," significat operationem Homini ex bono amoris Super Divinum Verum Verbi Sui in opera charitatis et fidei, quae apud homines Ecclesiae Christianae sunt (649(b)); "quia maturuerunt uvae ejus," significat quia ultimus status Ecclesiae Christianae est (649(a)).
19. "Et misit Angelus falcem suam in terram, et vindemiavit vineam terrae," significat finem Ecclesiae hodiernae Christianae (650); "et conjecit in torcular irae Dei magnum," significat exploratione" qualia erant opera illorum, quod essent mala (651).
20. "Et calcatum est torcular extra urbem", significat quod exploratio facta sit ex Divinis Veris Verbi qualia essent opera profluentia ex doctrina fidei Ecclesiae (652); "et exivit sanguis e torculari usque ad frena equorum," significat violentiam illatam Verbo per diras falsificationes veri, et inde intellectum ita obturatum ut homo vix doceri possit amplius, et sic duci per Divina vera a Domino (653); "a stadiis mille sexcentis," significat mere falsa mali, (11, 654).
EXPLICATIO.
(Vers. 1) "Et vidi, et ecce Agnus stans Super Monte Sion et cum Ipso centum quadraginta quatuor millia" significat Dominum nunc in Novo Caelo collecto ex illis in Ecclesiis Christianis qui Dominum Solum pro Deo Caeli et Terrae agnoverunt, et in veris doctrinae ex bono amoris ab Ipso per Verbum fuerunt - Per "vidi" significantur haec et quae in hoc capite sequuntur; per "Agnum" intelligitur Dominus quoad Divinum Humanum (269, 271); per "Montem Zionis" significatur Caelum, ubi illi qui in amore in Dominum sunt, de quo sequitur; 'per "centum quadraginta quatuor millia" significantur omnes qui Solum Dominum pro Deo Caeli et Terrae agnoscunt, et in veris doctrinae ex bono amoris ab Ipso per Verbum sunt (348, seq.). De his actum est in capite 7; sed ibi, quod "signati fuerint super frontibus," ita distincti et separati a reliquis; hic nunc, quod collecti in unum, et quod ex illis Caelum. Caelum de quo hic agitur, est Caelum collectum ex Christianis a tempore Domini in mundo, et ab illis inde qui Solum Dominum adiverunt, et vixerunt secundum praecepta Ipsius in Verbo, fugiendo mala ut peccata contra Deum: hoc Caelum est Caelum Novum, ex quo Sancta Hierosolyma, hoc est, Nova Ecclesia in terris descendet, (Apocalypsis 21:1-2). Caeli autem ante Adventum Domini sunt supra illud, et vocantur Caeli antiqui; in quibus etiam omnes agnoscunt Solum Dominum pro Deo Caeli et Terrae: hi Caeli cum Novo hoc Caelo communicant per influxum. Notum est, quod per "Terram Canaanem" significetur Ecclesia, quia ibi fuit Verbum, et per id Dominus notus; tum quod in medio ejus fuerit urbs Zion et sub illa urbs Hierosolyma, utraque super monte; inde per "Sionem" et "Hierosolymam" significata sunt intima Ecclesiae; et quia Ecclesia in Caelis facit unum cum Ecclesia in terris, ideo per "Sionem" et "Hierosolymam" intelligitur Ecclesia utrobivis, sed per "Sionem" Ecclesia quoad amorem, et per "Hierosolymam" Ecclesia quoad doctrinam inde. Dicitur "Mons Zion," quia per "montem" significatur amor (336). Quod per "Montem Zionem" significetur Caelum et Ecclesia, ubi Solus Dominus colitur, constare potest a sequentibus locis:
"Ego unxi Regem Meum super Sionem; annuntiabo de statuto, Filius Meus Tu, Ego hodie genui Te; dabo gentes haereditatem Tuam: osculamini Filium, ne irascatur et pereatis; beati omnes confidentes in Ipsum," (Psalm 2:6-8, 12);
"Super Montem altum ascende Evangelizatrix Sion; dic, Ecce Dominus Jehovih in forti venit," (Esaias 40:9-10);
"Exulta valde, Filia Sionis; ecce Rex tuus tibi venit Justus et Salvator," (Sacharias 9:9; Matthaeus 21:2, 4-5; Johannes 12:14-15);
"Exclama et jubila Habitatrix Sionis, quia magnus in medio tui Sanctus Israelis," (Esaias 12:6);
"Redempti Jehovae revertentur Sionem cum cantu," (Esaias 35:10);
Jubila et laetare Filia Sionis: ecce Ego veniens ut habitem in medio tui," (Sacharias 2:14, 15 (B.A. 10-11));
"Quis dabit in Sione salutem Israelis," (Psalm 14:7; Psalm 53:7 (B.A. 6));
"Fundabit Dominus Jehovih in Sione lapidem probationis, et tunc abolebitur foedus vestrum cum morte," (Esaias 28:16-18);
"Salus Mea non morabitur, dabo in Sione salutem," (Esaias 46:13)
"Tunc veniet Sioni Redemptor," (Esaias 59:20);
"Regnabit Jehovah Zebaoth in Monte Sionis," (Esaias 24:23);
"Amat Jehovah portas Sionis prae omnibus habitaculis Jacobi; gloriosa praedicanda in te, Urbs Dei; hic natus est ibi; omnes fontes mei in te," (Psalm 87:2-3, 6-7); 5
"Elegit Jehovah Sionem, desideravit in sedem Sibi; haec requies Mea in aeternum, ibi habitabo," (Psalm 132:13-14);
"Filii Sionis exultent in Rege suo," (Psalm 149:2); 6
"Jehovah surge, et miserearis Sionis: venit tempus statutum; annuntiabitur in Sione Nomen Jehovae, quando congregabuntur Populi una, et Regna ad serviendum Jehovae," (Psalm 102:14-17, 22-23 (B.A. 13-16, 21-22));
"E Sione Deus effulgebit, venit Deus noster et clamabit ad Caelum sursum, et ad terram, colligite Mihi sanctos Meos," (Psalm 50:2-5). 7
(Praeter alibi, ut Esaias 1:27; 4:2, 5; 31:4, 9; 33:5, 20; 37:22; 52:1; 64:9 (B.A. 10); Jeremias 6:2; Threni 4:2; Amos 1:2; Micham 3:10, 12; 4:1-3, 7-8; Zephanias 3:14, 16; 8Joel 4:16, 17, 21 (B.A. 3:16-17, 21); Sacharias 8:3; Psalm 20:3 (B.A. 2); 9Psalm 48:3-4, 12-15 (B.A. 2-3, 11-14); Psalm 76:3 (B.A. 2); Psalm 78:68; Psalm 110:1-2; Psalm 149:2, 4; Psalm 125:1; 10Psalm 126:1; Psalm 128:5-6; Psalm 134:3; Psalm 135:21; 11Psalm 146:10).
Multis in locis dicitur "Virgo et Filia Zionis," per quam non intelligitur aliqua virgo aut filia ibi, sed Ecclesia quoad affectionem boni et veri, simile quod per "Sponsam Agni," (Apocalypsis 21:2, 9; 22:17). "Virgo et Filia Zionis" Ecclesiam Domini significat in his locis: Esaias 1:8; 3:16-26; 124:4; 10:32; 16:1; 37:22; 52:2; 62:11; 13Jeremias 4:31; 6:2, 23; Threni 1:6; 2:1, 4, 8, 10, 13, 18; 4:22; Micham 1:13; 4:8, 10, 13; Zephanias 3:14; 14Sacharias 2:14 (B.A. 10); 159:9; Psalm 9:15 (B.A. 14); et alibi.
Footnotes:
1. Hic pro "Haec"
2. hic pro "hi"
3. quoad pro "quod"
4. dicit pro "dixit"
5. 2, 3, 6, 7 pro "1, 2, 5, 6, 7"
6. 2 pro "2, 3"
7. 2-5 pro "1 ad 5"
8. 16 pro "15"
9. 3 pro "3, 6"
10. 125:1 pro "119:2, 4"
11. 21 pro "20"
12. 16-26 pro "16, 17, 16 ad 26"
13. xxxvii. pro "xxvii."
14. 14 pro "24"
15. 14 pro "10"