474.启10:5，6.“我所看见的那踏海踏地的天使向天举起右手来，指着那直活到永永远远的，起誓说”表主指着自己宣誓和证明。“那踏海踏地的天使”表示主（470节）；“向天举手”表示宣誓“不再有时日了”（第6节）；“起誓说”表示证明“在第七位天使发声的日子，神的奥秘就成全了”（第7节）；“活到永永远远的”表示主自己，如前所述（启示录1:18；4:9，10；5:14；但以理书4:34）。稍后会看到，主指着自己证明。综上所述，明显可知“我所看见的那踏海踏地的天使向天举起右手来，指着那直活到永永远远的起誓说”这句话表示主指着自己宣誓和证明。
耶和华指着自己宣誓，也就是证明。这一点从以下经文明显看出来：
我指着自己起誓，我口所出的话并不返回。（以赛亚书45:23）
我指着自己起誓，这宫殿必变为荒场。（耶利米书22:5）
耶和华指着自己的灵魂起誓。（耶利米书51:14；阿摩司书6:8）
耶和华指着自己的圣洁起誓。（阿摩司书4:2）
耶和华指着自己的右手和祂大力的膀臂起誓。（以赛亚书62:8）
看哪，我指着我的大名起誓。（耶利米书44:26）
耶和华，也就是主，“指着自己起誓”表示神性真理来证明，因为主就是神性真理本身，因而通过并凭它自己来证明。除此以外，“耶和华起誓”还可见于其它地方（以赛亚书14:24；54:9；诗篇89:3，35；95:11；110:4；132:11）。经上之所以说“耶和华起誓”，是因为建在以色列人当中的教会是一个代表性教会，主与该教会的结合因此以一个约来代表，就是诸如两个对着契约发誓的人之间所立的那种约；因此，誓言就是这个约的一部分，故经上说“耶和华起誓”；然而这句话的意思并不是说祂真的起誓了，而是说神性真理证明它。
一个誓言就是一个约的一部分，这一点从以下经文明显看出来：
我向你起了誓，立了约，你就成了我的。（以西结书16:8）
记念他的圣约，就是他所起的誓。（路加福音1:72-73；诗篇105:9；耶利米书11:5；32:22；申命记1:34；10:11；11:9，21；26:3，15；31:20；34:4）
由于约是主与教会，并教会与主相互结合的代表，还由于誓言是这约的一部分，人要通过、因而也凭其中的真理起誓，故以色列人被允许指着耶和华起誓，因而指着神性真理起誓（出埃及记20:7；利未记19:12；申命记6:13；10:20；以赛亚书48:1；65:16；耶利米书4:2；撒迦利亚书5:4）；不过，当教会的代表被废除后，立约的誓言也随之被主废除了（马太福音5:33-37；23:16-22）。
474. Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his hand to heaven and swore by Him who lives forever and ever. (10:6; 10:6) This symbolizes an attestation and testification of the Lord on His own authority.
The angel standing on the sea and on the land means the Lord (no. 470). Lifting up the hand to heaven symbolizes an attestation, here that there should be no more time (verse 6). Swearing symbolizes a testification, here that in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel the mystery of God would be concluded (verse 7). He who lives forever and ever means the Lord, as in Revelation 1:18; 4:9-10, and 5:14 above, and in Daniel 4:34. That the Lord swears on His own authority will be seen shortly.
It is apparent from this that the statement, "Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his hand to heaven and swore by Him who lives forever and ever," symbolizes an attestation and testification of the Lord on His own authority.
[2] That Jehovah swears or testifies on His own authority is clear from the following passages:
I have sworn by Myself; a word has gone out of My mouth (which) shall not return... (Isaiah 45:23)
I swear by Myself... that this house shall become a desolation. (Jeremiah 22:5)
Jehovah... has sworn by His soul. (Jeremiah 51:14, Amos 6:8)
...Jehovah has sworn by His holiness. (Amos 4:2)
Jehovah has sworn by His right hand and by the arm of His strength. (Isaiah 62:8)
Behold, I have sworn by My great name... (Jeremiah 44:26)
That Jehovah, which is to say, the Lord, swore by Himself or on His own authority means, symbolically, that Divine truth attests; for the Lord is Divine truth itself, and this attests of itself and on its own authority.
In addition to these passages, that Jehovah swore may be seen in Isaiah 14:24; 54:9, Psalms 89:3, 35; 95:11; 110:4; 132:11.
We are told that Jehovah swore because the church established with the children of Israel was a representational church, and the conjunction of the Lord with the church was represented by a covenant, like one made between two parties who swear to their compact. Therefore, because an oath was a part of any covenant, we are told that Jehovah swore. Still, this does not mean that He swore, but that Divine truth attests to something.
[3] That an oath was a part of any covenant is apparent from the following:
I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, so that you became Mine... (Ezekiel 16:8)
...to remember His covenant, the oath which He swore... (Luke 1:72-73; cf. Psalms 105:9, Jeremiah 11:5; 32:22, Deuteronomy 1:34; 10:11; 11:9, 21; 26:3, 15; 31:20; 34:4)
Because the covenant was representative of the conjunction of the Lord with the church, and reciprocally of the church with the Lord, and because an oath was a part of any covenant and was to be sworn on the ground of the truth in it, being sworn thus also in appeal to that truth, therefore the children of Israel were permitted to swear by Jehovah, and so in appeal to Divine truth (Exodus 20:7, Leviticus 19:12, Deuteronomy 6:13; 10:20, Isaiah 48:1; 65:16, Jeremiah 4:2, Zechariah 5:4).
After the representative constituents of the church were abrogated, however, the Lord also abrogated oaths to covenants (Matthew 5:33-37; 23:16-22).
474. [verse 5] 'And the angel whom I saw standing upon the sea and the land lifted up his hand into heaven [verse 6] and swore by the One living for ages of ages' signifies the Lord's attestation and testification by His Very Self.
By 'the angel standing upon the sea and land' is understood the Lord (470); by 'to lift up the hand into heaven' is signified the attestation 'that time shall not be any more' (verse 6); by 'to swear' is signified the testification that 'in the days of the voice of the seventh angel the mystery of God shall be accomplished' (verse 7); by 'the One living for ages of ages' is understood the Lord Himself, as above (chapters 1:18; 4:9-10; 5:14) [and] Daniel 4:34. That the Lord testifies by His Very Self will be seen presently. In consequence of these things it is plain that by these words 'And the angel, whom I saw standing upon sea and land, lifted up his hand into heaven and swore by the One living for ages of ages' is signified the Lord's attestation and testification by His Very Self.
[2] That Jehovah swears, that is, testifies by His Very Self is plain from these places:
By Me have I sworn, there has gone forth out of My mouth the word that shall not be called back. Isaiah 45:23.
By Me have I sworn that this house is going to become a desolation. Jeremiah 22:5.
Jehovah has sworn by His Soul. Jeremiah 51:14; Amos 6:8.
Jehovah has sworn by His Holiness, Amos 4:2.
Jehovah has sworn by His right hand, and by the arm of His strength. Isaiah 62:8.
Behold I have sworn by My great Name. Jeremiah 44:26.
That Jehovah, that is, the Lord, 'swears by His Very Self' signifies that Divine Truth testifies, for He is the Divine Truth Itself and this testifies from itself and by itself. Besides which, it may be seen that 'Jehovah has sworn' (Isaiah 14:24; 54:9; Psalms 89:3, 35 [H.B. 4, 36]; 95:11; 110:4; 132:11). It is said that 'Jehovah has sworn' because the Church instituted with the sons of Israel was a representative Church, and consequently it represented the Lord's conjunction with the Church by a covenant such as is made between two who swear to their contract; and therefore because there was an oath of the covenant it is said that 'Jehovah has sworn.' By this, however, is not understood that He has sworn, but that Divine Truth testifies it.
[3] That the oath was [part] of the covenant, is plain from these passages:
I have sworn unto thee, and entered into a covenant so that thou couldst be Mine. Ezekiel 16:8.
For the remembering of the covenant, the oath that He has sworn. Luke 1:72-73.
[Also]. Psalms 105:9; Jeremiah 11:5; 32:22; Deuteronomy 1:34-35; 10:11; 11:9, 21; 26:3, 15; 31:20; 34:4. Because the covenant was a representative of the Lord's conjunction with the Church, and reciprocally of the Church with the Lord, and the oath was [part] of the covenant, and the oath was derived from a thing true in itself, thus also by that means, therefore the sons of Israel had permission to swear by Jehovah, and thus by the Divine Truth (Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 19:12; Deuteronomy 6:13; 10:20; Isaiah 48:1; 65:16; Jeremiah 4:2; Zechariah 5:4); but after the representatives of the Church were done away with, oaths of a covenant were also done away with by the Lord (Matthew 5:33-37; 23:16-22).
474. Verse 5. And the angel whom I saw standing upon the sea and the earth, lifted up his hand to heaven, (verse 6), and swore by Him that liveth for ages of ages, signifies the attestation and testification of the Lord by Himself. By "the angel standing upon the sea and the earth" is meant the Lord, (470); by "lifting his hand up to heaven" is signified this attestation, that "there should be time no longer" (verse 6); by "swearing" is signified this testification, that "in the days of the voice of the seventh angel the mystery of God should be finished (verse 7); by "Him that liveth for ages of ages" is meant the Lord Himself, as above, (Revelation 1:18; 4:9-10; 5:14; Daniel 4:34). That the Lord testifies by himself will be seen presently. From what has been said, it is evident, that by these words, "and the angel whom I saw standing upon the sea and the earth, lifted up his hand to heaven, and swore by Him that liveth for ages of ages" is signified the attestation and testification of the Lord by himself.
[2] That Jehovah swears, that is, testifies, by Himself is evident from these passages:
I have sworn by Myself, the word hath gone out of My mouth which shall not be recalled, (Isaiah 45:23).
I have sworn by Myself, that this house shall be a desolation, (Jeremiah 22:5).
Jehovah hath sworn by His soul, (Jeremiah 51:14; Amos 6:8).
Jehovah hath sworn by His holiness, (Amos 4:2).
Jehovah hath sworn by His right hand, and by the arm of His strength, (Isaiah 62:8).
Behold, I have sworn by My great name, (Jeremiah 44:26).
Jehovah, that is, the Lord, "swearing by Himself" signifies that the Divine truth testifies, for He is the Divine truth itself, and thus testifies from itself and by itself. Besides which, that "Jehovah swears" may also be seen in Isaiah 14:24; 54:9; Psalms 89:3, 35; 95:11; 110:4; 132:11. It is said that "Jehovah hath sworn" because the church instituted among the sons of Israel was a representative church, and the Lord's conjunction with the church was thence represented by a covenant, such as is made between two who swear to their compact; therefore, because an oath was a part of the covenant, it is said that "Jehovah swore;" by which, nevertheless, it is not meant that He swore, but that the Divine truth testifies it.
[3] That an oath was a part of a covenant, appears from these passages:
I have sworn unto thee, and entered into a covenant, and thou shouldest be Mine, (Ezekiel 16:8).
To remember the covenant, the oath which he swore, (Luke 1:72-73; Psalms 105:9; Jeremiah 11:5; 32:22; Deuteronomy 1:34; 10:11; 11:9, 21; 26:3, 15; 31:20; 34:4).
As a covenant was a representative of the conjunction of the Lord with the church, and, reciprocally, of the church with the Lord; and as the oath was a part of the covenant, and man was to swear from the truth therein, thus also by it, therefore the sons of Israel were permitted to swear by Jehovah, and thus by the Divine truth, (Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 19:12; Deuteronomy 6:13; 10:20; Isaiah 48:1; 65:16; Jeremiah 4:2; Zechariah 5:4); but after the representatives of the church were abrogated, the oaths of a covenant were also abrogated by the Lord, (Matthew 5:33-37; 23:16-22).
474. (Vers. 5.) "Et Angelus Quem vidi stantem super mari et terra, sustulit manum Suam in caelum," (Vers. 6.) "et juravit per Viventem in saecula saeculorum," significat contestationem et testificationem Domini per Se Ipsum. Per "Angelum stantem super mari et terra" intelligitur Dominus (470); per "tollere manum in Caelum" significatur contestatio, haec, quod "tempus non erit amplius (vers. 6); per "jurare" significatur testificatio, haec, quod "in diebus vocis Septimi Angeli consummabitur mysterium Dei," (vers. 7); per "Viventem in saecula saeculorum," intelligitur Ipse Dominus, ut supra, (1:18; 4:9-10; 5:14; Daniel 4:31 (B.A. 34)); quod Dominus testificetur per Se Ipsum, videbitur mox. Ex his patet, quod per haec, "Et Angelus, Quem vidi stantem super mari et terra, sustulit manum Suam in Caelum, et juravit per Viventem in saecula saeculorum," significetur contestatio et testificatio Domini per Se Ipsum. Quod Jehovah juret, hoc est, testificetur per Se Ipsum, constat ex his locis:
"Per Me Juravi, exivit ex ore Meo Verbum quod non revocabitur," (Esaias 45:23);
"Per Me Juravi, quod in desolationem futura sit domus haec," (Jeremias 22:5);
"Juravit Jehovah per Animam Suam," (Jeremias 51:14; Amos 6:8);
"Juravit Jehovah per Sanctitatem Suam," (Amos 4:2); 1
"Juravit Jehovah per Dextram Suam, et per Brachium roboris Sui," (Esaias 62:8);
"Ecce Ego Juravi per Nomen Meum magnum," (Jeremias 44:26).
Quod Jehovah, hoc est, Dominus "juraverit per Se Ipsum," significat quod Divinum Verum testetur, est enim Ipse Divinum Verum, et hoc testatur a se et per se.
(Praeter illa, quod "Jehovah juraverit," videatur Esaias 14:24; 54:9; Psalm 89:4, 36 (B.A. 3, 35); Psalm 95:11; Psalm 110:4; Psalm 132:11).
Quod dicatur quod "Jehovah juraverit," est quia Ecclesia apud filios Israelis instituta fuit Ecclesia repraesentativa, et inde repraesentata est conjunctio Domini cum Ecclesia per foedus, qualiter fit inter duos, qui pacta sua jurant; quare quia juramentum fuit foederis, dicitur quod "Jehovah juraverit;" per quod tamen non intelligitur quod juraverit, sed quod Divinum Verum id testetur. Quod juramentum fuerit foederis, patet ex his:
"Juravi tibi, et inii foedus ut esses Mihi," (Ezechiel 16:8);
"Ad recordandum foederis, Juramenti quod Juravit," (Luca 1:72-73).
(Psalm 105:9; Jeremias 11:5; 32:22; Deuteronomius 1:34; 210:11; 11:9, 21; 26:3, 15; 31:20; 34:4).
Quia foedus erat repraesentativum conjunctionis Domini cum Ecclesia, et reciproce Ecclesiae cum Domino, ac juramentum erat foederis, ac jurandum erat ex vero in se, ita quoque per illud, ideo permissum fuit filiis Israelis jurare per Jehovam, et sic per Divinum Verum, (Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 19:12; Deuteronomius 6:13; 10:20; Esaias 48:1; 65:16; Jeremias 4:2; Sacharias 5:4); sed postquam repraesentativa Ecclesiae abrogata sunt, etiam juramenta foederis a Domino abrogata sunt, (Matthaeus 5:33-37; 23:16-22).
Footnotes:
1. 2 pro "1"
2. 34 pro "32"