808.启19:4.“那二十四位长老与四活物就俯伏敬拜坐宝座的神，说，阿们！哈利路亚”表高层天堂天使拜主为天地之神，宇宙的审判者，以及低层天堂天使对主感恩、称谢和颂扬的确认。“俯伏敬拜”表示谦卑和出于谦卑的崇拜，如前所述（370节）。“二十四位长老与四活物”表示高层天堂（369节）。“坐宝座的”是指作为天地之神和宇宙审判者的主；因为“宝座”表示天堂和那里的国度（14，221，222节），同样表示审判；在此表示审判，因为它论及之前临到巴比伦的审判。“坐宝座的”是指主，对此，可参看下文。“阿们！哈利路亚”表示低层天堂天使对主的感恩、称谢和颂扬的确认（803节）。“阿们”表示通过真理确认和赞同（23，28，61，371，375节）；“哈利路亚”表示对主的感恩、称谢和颂扬（803节）。这是低层天堂天使所发出来的，因为他们最先说出并颂扬主是天堂之神，判断者和伸冤者；说“哈利路亚”；这一点从1至2节经文，以及前面的解释（803-806节）明显可知。“阿们！哈利路亚”表示高层天堂天使对这些事的确认。
“坐宝座的”是指主，这一点从启示录（1:4；2:8；3:21；4:2-6，9；5:13；6:16；7:9-11；22:1，3）明显看出来；在这些地方，经上说“宝座上”的“神”和“羔羊”。在那里，“神”是指主的神性本身，被称为“父”；“羔羊”是指神性人，被称为“子”（269，291节），因而是指唯独主。这一点也可从第7章明显看出来，在那里，经上说：
宝座中间的羔羊必牧养他们。（启示录 7:17 ）
还可从马太福音明显看出来：
人子坐在祂荣耀的宝座上审判。（马太福音19:28）
当人子在祂荣耀里同着众天使降临的时候，要坐在祂荣耀的宝座上。（马太福音 25:31）
808. 19:4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen! Alleluia!" This symbolizes an adoration of the Lord as God of heaven and earth and judge of the universe by angels of the higher heavens, and an affirmation by them of the thanksgiving, confession and celebration of the Lord made by angels of the lower heavens.
To fall down and worship symbolizes humility, and worship as a result of that humility, as in no. 370 above. The twenty-four elders and four living creatures symbolize the higher heavens (no. 369). He who sat on the throne means the Lord as God of heaven and judge of the universe, since the throne symbolizes heaven and the government there (nos. 14, 221, 222), and also judgment - in this case judgment, because it refers to the judgment on the Roman Catholic religion, which is the subject of the preceding chapter. That He who sat on the throne is the Lord will be seen below. "Amen! Alleluia!" symbolizes an affirmation of the thanksgiving, confession and celebration of the Lord by angels of the lower heavens. "Amen" symbolizes an affirmation and agreement in response to truth (nos. 23, 28, 61, 371, 375), and "alleluia" symbolizes a thanksgiving, confession and celebration of the Lord (no. 803). These were made by angels of the lower heavens, because they spoke first and celebrated the Lord as God of heaven, and as judge and avenger, saying "Alleluia!" as is apparent from the first two verses of this chapter and the exposition in nos. 803-806 above. Affirmation of these by angels of the higher heavens is symbolized here by "Amen! Alleluia!"
[2] That He who sat on the throne is the Lord is apparent from Revelation 1:4; 3:21; 4:2-6, 9; 5:13; 6:16; 7:9-11; 22:1, 3. These verses tell us that God and the Lamb were on the throne. God there means the underlying Divinity of the Lord called the Father, and the Lamb the Divine humanity called the Son (nos. 269, 291). Thus it is the Lord alone. This, too, is apparent from chapter 7 where it says, "the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them" (Revelation 7:17). And in Matthew:
...when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory (i.e., ready to judge).... (Matthew 19:28)
When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the... angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. (Matthew 25:31)
808. [verse 4] 'And the twenty-four elders and the four animals fell down and adored God sitting upon the throne, saying, Amen Hallelujah' signifies the adoration of the Lord as the God of heaven and earth and as the Judge of the universe by the angels of the higher heavens, and the confirmation of the thanksgiving, confession and celebration of Him effected by the angels of the lower heavens. By 'to fall down and adore' is signified humiliation and adoration as the result of the humiliation, as above (370). By 'the twenty-four elders and the four animals' are signified the higher heavens (369). By 'the One sitting upon the throne' is understood the Lord as the God of heaven and as the Judge of the universe, since by 'the throne' is signified heaven and the kingdom there (14, 221-222) and also judgment. Here it is judgment because concerning the judgment upon Babel, already treated of. That 'the One sitting upon the throne' is the Lord will be seen below. By 'Amen Hallelujah' is signified the confirmation of the thanksgiving, confession and celebration effected by the angels of the lower heavens. By 'Amen' is signified the confirmation and agreement resulting from the truth (23, 28, 61, 371, 375), and by 'Hallelujah' is signified thanksgiving, confession and celebration of the Lord (803). That these things were done by the angels of the lower heavens is because they spoke first and were celebrating the Lord as the God of heaven, Judge and Avenger, and saying 'Hallelujah,' as is plain from verses 1-2 and from the exposition above (803-804). The confirmation thereof by the angels of the higher heavens is signified by 'Amen Hallelujah.
[2] That 'the One sitting upon the Throne' is the Lord is plain from the Apocalypse (chapters 1:4; 3:21; 4:2-6, 9; 5:13; 6:16; 7:9-11; 22:1, 3); in which places it is said 'God' and 'the Lamb' upon the throne. By 'God' there is understood the Lord's Divine Itself that is called 'the Father,' and by 'the Lamb' the Divine Human that is called 'the Son' (269, 291), thus the Only Lord. This is plain also from chapter 7 where it is said:
The Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne shall feed them (verse 17); and in Matthew:
When the Son of Man shall sit upon the throne of His glory about to Judge. 19:28.
When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He shall sit upon the throne of His glory. 25:31.
808. Verse 4. And the twenty-four elders and the four animals fell down and adored God who sitteth upon the throne, saying, Amen. Alleluia signifies adoration of the Lord as the God of heaven and earth and as the Judge of the universe by the angels of the higher heavens, and the confirmation of the thanksgiving, confession, and celebration of Him made by the angels of the lower heavens. By "falling down and adoring" is signified humiliation, and from the humiliation adoration, as above, (370). By "the twenty-four elders and the four animals" the higher heavens are signified, (369). By "Him that sitteth upon the throne" is meant the Lord as the God of heaven, and as the Judge of the universe; since by "the throne" is signified heaven and the kingdom there, (14, 221, 222), and likewise judgment; here judgment, because it is concerning the judgment upon Babel, which precedes. That "He that sitteth upon the throne" is the Lord, may be seen below. By "Amen. Alleluia," is signified the confirmation of the thanksgiving, confession, and celebration made by the angels of the lower heavens. By "Amen" is signified confirmation and consent from the truth, (23, 28, 61, 371, 375); and by "Alleluia" is signified thanksgiving, confession, and celebration of the Lord, (803). That it is those which were made by the angels of the lower heavens, is because they first spoke, and celebrated the Lord as the God of heaven, the Judge, and the Avenger; and said "Alleluia;" as is manifest from verses 1, 2, and from the explanation above, (803, 804). The confirmation of these things by the angels of the higher heavens is signified by "Amen. Alleluia."
[2] That "He that sitteth upon the throne" is the Lord, is manifest from Revelation (chapter 1:4; 2:8; 3:21; 4:2-6, 9; 5:13; 6:16; 7:9-11; 22:1, 3); in which places it is said, "God" and "Lamb" "upon the throne." By "God" there the Divine Itself of the Lord is meant, which is called the Father; and by "the Lamb" the Divine Human, which is called the Son, (269, 291), thus the Lord alone. This is also manifest from chapter 7 where it is said:
The Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, (Revelation 7:17),
And in Matthew:
When the Son of man shall sit upon the throne of His glory, He shall judge, (Matthew 19:28).
When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory, (Matthew 25:31).
808. (Vers. 4.) "Et prociderunt Seniores viginti quatuor et quatuor Animalia, et adoraverunt Deum Sedentem super Throno, dicentes; Amen, Alleluja," significat adorationem Domini ut Dei Caeli et Terrae, ac ut Judicis universi, ab Angelis superiorum Caelorum, et confirmationem gratiarum actionis, confessionis et celebrationis Ipsius ab Angelis inferiorum Caelorum factarum. - Per "procidere et adorare" significatur humiliatio et ex humilatione adoratio, ut supra (370); per "viginti quatuor Seniores et quatuor Animalia" significantur Caeli superiores (369); per "Sedentem super Throno" intelligitur Dominus ut Deus Caeli, ac ut Judex universi, quoniam per "Thronum" significatur Caelum et regnum ibi (14, 221, 222), et quoque judicium; hic judicium, quia de judicio super Babele, de quo praecedit: quod "Sedens super Throno" sit Dominus, videbitur infra: per "Amen, Alleluja" significatur confirmatio gratiarum actionis, confessionis et celebrationis ab Angelis inferiorum Caelorum factarum; per "Amen" significatur confirmatio et consensus ex veritate (23, 28, 61, 371, 375) 1, et per "Alleluja" significatur gratiarum actio, confessio et celebratio Domini (803); quod sint quae ab Angelis inferiorum Caelorum factae sunt, est quia illi primum locuti sunt et celebrabant Dominum ut Deum Caeli, Judicem et Vindicem, et dicebant "Alleluja," ut patet a vers. 1 et 2, et ab explicatione supra (803, 804); confirmatio illorum ab Angelis superiorum Caelorum significatur per "Amen, Alleluja."
Quod "Sedens super Throno" sit Dominus, patet ex Apocalypsi 1:4; 2:8; 3:21; 4:2-6, 9; 5:13; 6:16; 7:9-11; 22:1, 3);
in quibus locis dicitur "Deus" et "Agnus" "super Throno;" per "Deum" ibi intelligitur Ipsum Divinum Domini quod Pater vocatur, et per "Agnum" Divinum Humanum quod Filius vocatur (269, 291), ita Solus Dominus; hoc etiam patet a cap. 7, ubi dicitur,
"Agnus Qui in medio Throni pascet illos," (vers. 17);
et apud Matthaeum,
"Quando sedebit Filius Hominis super Throno gloriae Suae," judicaturus, (19:28);
"Quando venerit Filius Hominis in gloria Sua, et omnes Angeli cum Ipso, tunc sedebit super Throno gloriae Suae," (25:31).
Footnotes:
1. 61, 371, 375 pro "31, 61, 371, 375"