383.启7:17.“因为宝座中间的羔羊必牧养他们”表唯独主将教导他们。“宝座中间的羔羊”表示主在至内层，因而在天堂全部事物里面的神性人；“在中间”是指在至内层，因而在全部事物里面（44节）；“宝座”表示天堂（14节）；“羔羊”是指主的神性人（269，291节）；唯独在至内层，因而在天堂全部事物里面的祂牧养，也就是教导所有人。若有人问，唯独祂如何能牧养所有人？要知道，这是因为祂是神，在整个天堂中如同灵魂在其身体中；事实上，天堂来自祂，如同一个人。“牧养”表示教导，因为在圣言中，教会被称为一个“羊群”，教会之人被称为“绵羊”和“羊羔”；因此，“牧养”表示教导，“牧人或牧者”表示教导者；这在多处有所提及，如：
当那日子，他们必在宽阔的草场牧养牲畜。（以赛亚书30:23）
他必像牧人牧养自己的羊群。（以赛亚书40:11）
他们必在路上放牧，他们的牧场必在一切山坡上。（以赛亚书49:9）
以色列必在迦密和巴珊放牧。（耶利米书50:19）
我必寻找我的羊，我必在美好的草场，也在以色列山肥美的草场牧养他们。（以西结书34:12-14）
伯利恒、以法他啊，将来必有一位从你那里出来，祂必倚靠耶和华的大能，牧养祂的羊群。（弥迦书5:2，4）
放牧你的民，容他们在巴珊和基列得食物。（弥迦书7:14）
以色列所剩下的或是牧放，或是休息。（西番雅书3:13）
耶和华是我的牧者，我必不至缺乏，祂使我躺卧在青草地上。（诗篇23:1，2）
主拣选大卫，牧养雅各和以色列，喂养他们。（诗篇78:70-72）
耶稣对彼得说，喂养我的小羊，第二次和第三次祂说，喂养我的羊。（约翰福音21:15-17）
383. "For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them." (7:17) This symbolically means that the Lord alone will teach them.
The Lamb in the midst of the throne symbolizes the Lord in respect to His Divine humanity in the inmost of heaven and thus in everything connected with it (no. 44). The throne is heaven (no. 14), and the Lamb is the Lord in respect to His Divine humanity (nos. 269, 291). And He who is in the inmost of heaven and thus in everything connected with it is the only one who shepherds all people, that is, who teaches them.
If a question is raised as to how He alone can shepherd all, be it known that it is because He is God, and because He is present in the whole of heaven like the soul in its body; for heaven, arising from Him, is like a single person.
To shepherd means to teach because in the Word the church is called a flock, and the people in the church are called sheep and lambs. Therefore to shepherd means, symbolically, to teach, and the shepherd one who teaches, and this in many places, as for example:
On that day your flocks will graze in a broad meadow. (Isaiah 33:23)
He will feed His flock like a shepherd. (Isaiah 40:11)
They shall graze along the roads, and have their pasture on all the hillsides. (Isaiah 49:9)
(Israel) shall graze on Carmel and Bashan. (Jeremiah 50:19)
...I will seek out My sheep... I will feed them in good pasture, and... in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. (Ezekiel 34:12-14)
You, Bethlehem Ephrathah, it is a small thing that you are among the thousands of Judah. Out of you shall come forth to Me One who will be Ruler in Israel... He shall stand and graze in the strength of Jehovah... (Micah 5:2, 4)
Feed Your people... Let them graze in Bashan and Gilead... (Micah 7:14)
The remnant of Israel... shall graze and lie down... (Zephaniah 3:13)
Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in pastures of tender grass. (Psalms 23:1-2)
(The Lord) chose David... to shepherd Jacob... and Israel... and he shepherded them... (Psalms 78:70-72)
Jesus said to Peter, "Feed My lambs." And a second and third time He said, "Feed my sheep." (John 21:15-17)
383. [verse 17] 'For the Lamb, Who is in the midst of the throne, shall feed (pascere) them' signifies that the Only Lord shall teach them. By 'the Lamb in the midst of the throne' is signified the Lord as to the Divine Human in the inmost and thus in all things of heaven; 'in the midst' is in the inmost and thus in all things (44); 'the throne' is heaven (14); and 'the Lamb' is the Lord as to the Divine Human (269, 291); and He Only Who is in the inmost and thus in all things of heaven feeds, that is, teaches all. If it be asked how the Only One can feed all, let it be known that it is because He is God, and because in the entire heaven He is as the soul in its own body, for heaven exists from Him as one Man. 'To feed' (pascere) is to teach, because the Church in the Word is called a 'flock,' and the men of the Church are called 'sheep' and 'lambs.' Consequently 'to feed' signifies to teach, and a 'shepherd' one teaching, and this in many places, as:
In that day they shall feed the flocks in a wide meadow. Isaiah 30:23.
He shall feed His flock like a shepherd, Isaiah 40:11.
They shall feed upon ways 1, and have their pasture on all the hillsides. Isaiah 49:9.
Israel shall feed in Carmel and Bashan. Jeremiah 50:19.
I will seek My flock, I will feed them in a good pasture, and in a fat pasture upon the mountains of Israel [Ezekiel 34:2, 13-14. Out of Bethlehem Ephratah shall He go forth, Who shall stand and feed in the strength of Jehovah]. Micah 5:2, 4 [H.B. 1, 3].
Feed thy people, let them feed in Bashan and Gilead. Micah 7:14.
The remnants of Israel shall feed, and rest, Zephaniah 3:13.
Jehovah is my Shepherd, I shall not want, in pastures of herb He will make me to lie down. Psalms 23:1-2.
The Lord has chosen David to feed Jacob and Israel, and has fed them. Psalms 78:70-72.
Jesus said to Peter, Feed My lambs, the second and third time He said, Feed My sheep. John 21:15-17.
Footnotes:
1. Reading viis (ways) as in Hebrew and Apocalypse Explained 482[3] instead of clivis (hillsides).
383. Verse 17. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, signifies that the Lord alone will teach them. By "the Lamb in the midst of the throne," is signified the Lord as to His Divine Human in the inmost, and thus in all things of heaven; "in the midst" is in the inmost, and thus in all things, (44[1-2]); "the throne" is heaven, (14); and "the Lamb" is the Lord as to His Divine Human, (269, 291); and He who is in the inmost, and thus in all things of heaven, alone feeds, that is, teaches all. If it be asked, how He alone can feed all, be it known that it is because He is God, and because in the whole heaven He is as the soul in its body, for heaven is from Him as one man. "To feed" is to teach, because the church, in the Word, is called "a flock" and the men of the church are called "sheep" and "lambs," hence "to feed" signifies to teach, and "the shepherd" one that teaches; and this in many places, as:
In that day they shall feed the flocks in a wide meadow, (Isaiah 30:23).
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, (Isaiah 40:11).
They shall feed in the ways 1and their pastures shall be in all hillsides, (Isaiah 49:9).
Israel shall feed in Carmel and Bashan, (Jeremiah 50:19).
I will seek my flock, I will feed them in a good pasture, and in a fat pasture upon the mountains of Israel, (Ezekiel 34:12-14).
Feed thy people, let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, (Micah 7:14).
The remnant of Israel shall feed, and they shall rest, (Zephaniah 3:13).
Jehovah is my Shepherd, I shall not want, He maketh me to lie down in the pastures of herb, (Psalms 23:1-2).
The Lord hath chosen David to feed Jacob and Israel, and he fed them, (Psalms 78:70-72).
Jesus said to Peter, Feed My lambs, the second and third time He said, Feed My sheep, (John 21:15-17).
Footnotes:
1. The original Latin has "clivis" for "viis;" the Hebrew is "ways" ("viis").
383. (Vers. 17.) "Quoniam Agnus, Qui in medio Throni, pascet illos," significat quod Solus Dominus illos docebit. - Per "Agnum in medio Throni" significatur Dominus quoad Divinum Humanum in intimo, et sic in omnibus Caeli; "in medio" est in intimo et sic in omnibus (44); "Thronus" est Caelum (14); et "Agnus" est Dominus quoad Divinum Humanum (269, 291); et Qui in intimo est, et sic in omnibus Caeli, Ille Solus pascit (hoc est, docet) omnes. Si quaeritur, quomodo Solus potest pascere omnes, sciatur quod quia est Deus, et quia in universo Caelo est sicut Anima in suo Corpore; est enim Caelum ab Ipso sicut unus Homo. Quod "pascere" sit docere, est quia Ecclesia in Verbo vocatur "Grex," et homines Ecclesiae vocantur "Oves" et "Agni;" inde "pascere" significat docere, et "Pastor" docentem, et hoc in multis locis; ut,
"Pascent greges in die illo in prato lato," (Esaias 30:23);
"Ut Pastor gregum Suum pascet," (Esaias 40:11);
"Super viis 1Pascent, et in omnibus clivis Pascuum eorum," (Esaias 49:9);
"Pascet Israel in Carmele et Baschane," (Jeremias 1:19);
"Ego quaeram gregem Meum, Pascam eos in Pascuo bono, et in Pascuo pingui super montibus Israelis," (Ezechiel 34:12-14); 2
"Pasce populum tuum, Pascant in Baschane et Gileade," (Micham 7:14);
"Reliquiae Israelis Pascent, et requiescent," (Zephanias 3:13);
"Jehovah Pastor meus, non carebo; in Pascuis herbae cubare faciet me," (Psalm 23:1-2);
"Dominus elegit Davidem ad Pascendum Jacobum et Israelem, et Pavit illos," (Psalm 78:70-72);
"Jesus dixit Petro, Pasce agnos Meos;" secundo et tertio dixit, "Pasce oves Meas," (Johannes 21:15-17).
Footnotes:
1. viis pro "clivis"
2. Ezechiel 34:12-14 pro "Micham 5:1, 3"