944.启22:7.“看哪，我必快来！凡执守这书上预言之话的有福了”表主必定到来，将永生赐给那些遵守并行出如今被主打开的这书的教义真理或诫命之人。“看哪，我必快来”表示主必定到来；“快”表示必定（4，943节）；“来”表示祂将要降临，但不是人，而是以圣言降临，祂将在圣言中向所有将要属于其新教会的人显现；这就是祂驾着天上的云降临（参看24，642，820节）。“凡执守这书上预言之话的有福了”表示祂将永生赐给那些遵守并行出如今被主打开的这书的教义真理或诫命之人；“有福”的表示接受永生者（639，852节）；“遵守”表示遵守并行出真理或诫命；“话”是指真理和诫命；“这书上预言”表示如今被主打开的这书的教义；“预言”是指教义（8，133，943节）。
凡仔细考虑的人都能看出，意思不是说要“执守这书上预言之话”，所表示的乃是要执守，也就是遵守并行出如今在本书被打开并解释的教义真理或诫命。在启示录尚未得到解释时，能执守的事很少，因为它们都是此前不被理解的预言。例如以下这些事就无法被执守：第6章记载的关于从书卷中出来的马之事；第7章关于十二支派的事；第8和9章关于吹号的七位天使的事；第10章关于约翰所吃尽的小书卷的事；第11章关于被杀和复活的两个见证人的事；第12章关于妇人和龙的事；第13和14章关于两个兽的事；第15和16章关于掌管七灾的七位天使的事；第17和18章关于坐在朱红色兽上的妇人，和巴比伦的事；第19章关于白马和大筵席的事；第20章关于最后审判的事；第21章关于作为一座城的新耶路撒冷的事。从这些事明显可知，这句话的意思不是说执守这些预言之话的人有福了，因为这些话被封闭了，而是说执守，也就是遵守并行出包含在这些话中，如今被打开的教义真理或诫命的人有福了。这些真理或诫命皆源于主，这一点可见于序言。
944. 22:7 "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." This symbolically means that the Lord will surely come and give eternal life to people who keep and obey the doctrinal truths or precepts in this book, now laid open by the Lord.
"Behold, I am coming quickly!" means, symbolically, that the Lord will surely come. Quickly symbolically means surely (nos. 4, 943), and coming symbolically means that He will come - not in person, but in the Word, in which He will be visible to all those people who will be part of His New Church. This is the meaning of His coming in the clouds of heaven, as may be seen in nos. 24, 642, 820 above.
"Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book" means, symbolically, that the Lord will give eternal life to people who keep and obey the doctrinal truths or precepts in this book, now laid open by the Lord. One who is blessed symbolizes a person who receives eternal life (nos. 639, 852). To keep symbolically means to keep and obey truths or precepts. The words are truths and precepts. The prophecy of this book symbolizes the doctrine in this book now laid open by the Lord, prophecy being doctrine (nos. 8, 133, 943).
[2] Anyone who weighs the matter can see that to keep the words of the prophecy of this book does not mean to preserve them, but to maintain them, that is, to keep and obey the doctrinal truths or precepts in this book that are now explained and laid open. Indeed, if not explained, the book of Revelation contains few things that can be kept, as they are prophecies previously not understood. Take for example the following:
It is impossible to keep what is related in chapter 6 regarding the horses emerging from the book. In chapter 7 regarding the twelve tribes. In chapters 8, 9 regarding the seven angels sounding their trumpets. In chapter 10 regarding the little book that John ate. In chapter 11 regarding the two witnesses that were killed and lived again. In chapter 12 regarding the woman and the dragon. In chapters 13, 14 regarding the two beasts. In chapters 15, 16 regarding the seven angels having the seven plagues. In chapters 17, 18 regarding the woman sitting on a scarlet beast and regarding Babylon. In chapter 19 regarding the white horse and the great supper. In chapter 20 regarding the Last Judgment. And in chapter 21 regarding the New Jerusalem as a city.
It is apparent from this that the verse does not mean that those people are blessed who preserve the words of the prophecy, for the meanings of the words are hidden, but it means that those people are blessed who maintain them, that is, who keep and obey the doctrinal truths or precepts that are contained in those words and are now laid open. That the explanations originate from the Lord may be seen in the Preface.
944. [verse 7] 'Behold I am coming quickly, blessed is he who keeps the words of this prophecy' signifies that the Lord is certainly going to come, and will give eternal life to those who protect and do the truths or precepts of the doctrine of this book now opened by the Lord. 'Behold I am coming quickly' signifies that the Lord is certainly going to come; by 'quickly' is signified certainly (4, 943), and by 'to come' is signified that He is going to come, not in Person but in the Word, in which He will appear to all who will be of His New Church. That this is His Coming 'in the clouds of heaven' may be seen above (24, 642, 820). Blessed is he who keeps the words of this book' signifies that He is going to give eternal life to those who protect and do the truths or precepts of the doctrine of this book now opened by the Lord. By 'blessed' is signified one who accepts eternal life (639, 852). By 'to keep' is signified to protect and do the truths and precepts. 'The words' are the truths and precepts. By 'the prophecy of this book' is signified the doctrine of this book now opened by the Lord, 'prophecy' being doctrine (8, 133, 943).
[2] He who considers can see that to keep the words of the prophecy of this book is not understood, but that what is signified is to keep, that is, to protect and do the truths or precepts of doctrine that have been opened in this book now expounded. For in the Apocalypse unexpounded there are few things that can be kept, for they are prophetical things not understood up to this time. Take these for example: the things cannot be kept that are recorded in chapter 6 concerning the horses going forth out of the book; in chapter 7 concerning the twelve tribes; in chapters 8 and 9 concerning the seven angels sounding [trumpets]; in chapter 10 concerning the little book eaten up by John; in chapter 11 concerning the two witnesses who, having been slain, revived; in chapter 12 concerning the woman and the dragon; in chapters 13 and 14 concerning the two beasts; in chapters 15 and 16 concerning the seven angels having the seven plagues; in chapters 17 and 18 concerning the woman sitting on the scarlet beast and concerning Babylon; in chapter 19 concerning the white horse and the great supper; in chapter 20 concerning the last judgment; and in chapter 21 concerning the New Jerusalem as a city. From these considerations it is plain that it is not understood that they are blessed who keep those words of prophecy, for they are closed, but that they are blessed who keep, that is, protect and do the truths or precepts of doctrine that are contained in them and have now been opened. That these [truths or precepts] are derived from the Lord may be seen in the Preface.
944. Verse 7 (Revelation 22:7). Behold, I come quickly; happy is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy of this book 1signifies that the Lord will certainly come, and give eternal life to those who keep and do the truths or precepts of doctrine of this book now opened by the Lord. "Behold, I come quickly," signifies that the Lord will certainly come; by "quickly" is signified certainly, (4, 943); and by "coming" is signified that He will come, not in Person but in the Word, in which He will appear to all who will be of His New Church; that this is His coming in the clouds of heaven, may be seen above, (24, 642, 820). "Happy is he that keepeth the words of this book," signifies that He will give life eternal to those who keep and do the truths or precepts of doctrine of this book now opened by the Lord; by "happy" is signified he who receives life eternal, (639, 852); to "keep" signifies to observe and do the truths or precepts; "words" are truths and precepts; by "the prophecy of this book" is signified the doctrine of this book now opened by the Lord; prophecy is doctrine, (8, 133, 943).
[2] He who considers may see that to keep the words of the prophecy of this book is not what is meant, but that what is signified, is to keep, that is, to observe and do the truths or precepts of doctrine, which are now opened and explained in this book. For in Revelation, when not explained, there are but few things that can be kept, for they are prophecies heretofore not understood. For example take the following: the things cannot be kept which are recorded in chapter 6 concerning the horses going forth from the book; in chapter 7 concerning the twelve tribes; in chapter 8, 9 concerning the seven angels that sounded their trumpets; in chapter 10 concerning the little book that was eaten up by John; in chapter 11 concerning the two witnesses which were slain and revived; in chapter 12 concerning the woman and the dragon; in chapter 13, 14 concerning the two beasts; in chapter 15, 16 concerning the seven angels that had the seven plagues; in chapter 17, 18 concerning the woman that sat upon the scarlet beast, and concerning Babylon; in chapter 19 concerning the white horse and the great supper; in chapter 20 concerning the last Judgment; and in chapter 21 concerning the New Jerusalem as a city. From these things it is evident that it is not meant that they are happy who keep those words of the prophecy, for they are closed, but that they are happy who keep, that is, observe and do the truths or precepts of doctrine, which are contained in them, and are now opened, which, that they are from the Lord, may be seen in the preface.
Footnotes:
1. The original Latin omits "book."
944. (Vers. 7.) "Ecce venio cito; beatus servans verba prophetiae (Libri) hujus," significat quod Dominus certe venturus sit, et daturus vitam aeternam illis qui custodiunt et faciunt vera seu praecepta doctrinae hujus Libri nunc a Domino aperti;" Ecce venio cito" significat quod Dominus certe venturus sit; per "cito" significetur certe (4, 943), et per "venire" significatur quod venturus sit, non in Persona sed in Verbo, in quo apparebit omnibus qui e Nova Ipsius Ecclesia erunt; quod hoc sit Adventus Ipsius in nubibus Caeli, videatur supra (24, 642, 820); "beatus qui servat verba (prophetiae) Libri hujus," significat quod daturus sit vitam aeternam illis qui custodiunt et faciunt vera seu praecepta doctrinae hujus Libri nunc a Domino aperti; 1per "beatum" significatur qui accipit vitam aeternam (639, 852) per "servare" significatur custodire et facere vera seu praecepta; "verba" sunt vera et praecepta: per "prophetiam Libri hujus" significatur doctrina hujus Libri nunc a Domino aperti; "prophetia" est doctrina (8, 133, 943). Qui expendit, potest videre quod non intelligatur servare verba prophetiae Libri hujus, sed quod significetur servare, hoc est, custodire et facere vera seu praecepta doctrinae, quae in hoc Libro nunc explicato aperta sunt; nam in Apocalypsi non explicata, pauca sunt quae servari possunt, sunt enim prophetica huc usque non intellecta. Pro exemplis sint haec: Non servari possunt quae in capite 6 memorantur de Equis exeuntibus ex libro; quae in 7 de duodecim Tribubus; quae in 8 et 9 de septem Angelis clangentibus; quae in 10 de Libello devorato a Johanne; quae in 11 de duobus Testibus qui occisi revixerunt; quae in 12 de Muliere et Dracone; quae in 13 et 14 de binis Bestiis; quae in 15 et 16 de septem Angelis habentibus septem Plagas; quae in 17 et 18 de Muliere sedente super Bestia Coccinea, et de Babylone; quae in 19 de Equo albo, et de Caena magna; quae in 20 de Ultimo Judicio; et quae in 21 de Nova Hierosolyma ut urbe. Ex quibus patet quod non intelligatur quod beati sint qui servant illa verba prophetiae, sunt enim occlusa; sed quod beati sint qui servant, hoc est, custodiunt et faciunt vera seu praecepta doctrinae quae in illis continentur, et nunc aperta sunt; quae quod sint ex Domino, videatur in Praefatione.
Footnotes:
1. aperti pro "saperti"