Spiritual Meaning of REVELATION 1:13
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AR 44. Verse 13. And in the midst of the seven lampstands One like unto the Son of man, signifies the Lord as to the Word, from whom that church is. It is known from the Word, that the Lord called Himself "the Son of God," and also "the Son of man;" that by "the Son of God" He meant Himself as to the Divine Human, and by the "Son of man," Himself as to the Word, is fully demonstrated in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem concerning the Lord (L n. 19-28); and as it is there fully confirmed from the Word, it is unnecessary to add any further confirmation here. Now, because the Lord represented Himself before John as the Word, therefore as seen by him, He is called "the Son of man." He represented Himself as the Word, because the New Church is treated of, which is a church from the Word, and according to the understanding of it. That the church is from the Word, and that such as its understanding of the Word is, such is the church, may be seen in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem concerning the Sacred Scripture (Sacred n. 76-79). As the church is a church from the Lord through the Word, therefore the Son of man was seen in the midst of the lampstands; "in the midst" signifies in the inmost, from which the things which are round about, or which are without, derive their essence, here, their light or intelligence. That the inmost is the all in the things which are round about, or without, is shown in many places in The Angelic Wisdom concerning the Divine Love and the Divine Wisdom; it is like light and flame in the midst, from which all the circumferences receive light and heat. "In the midst," has the same signification in the following passages in the Word:--

"The name of Jehovah" is all the Divine; "in the midst," is in the inmost, and thence in everything of it. "The midst" also signifies the inmost, and thence the all, in many other passages in the Word, where evils are also treated of, as in (Isa. 24:13; Jer. 23:9; Ps. 5:9; Jer. 9:4, 5; Ps. 36:1; 55:4; 62:4). These passages are adduced in order to show, that "in the midst of the lampstands" signifies in the inmost, from which the church and everything of it is derived; for the church and everything of it is from the Lord through the Word. That "lampstands" signify the New Church, may be seen in (n. 43).

AR 45. Clothed with a garment down to the foot, signifies the proceeding Divine, which is the Divine truth. The reason why "a garment down to the foot" signifies the proceeding Divine, which is the Divine truth, is, because garments in the Word, signify truths, thence "a garment down to the foot" (talaris), which is an outer garment, when the Lord is treated of, signifies the proceeding Divine truth. That garments in the Word signify truths is because in heaven they are clothed according to the truths proceeding from their good, concerning which see in the work on Heaven and Hell, published in London in the year 1758 (HH n. 177-182). In what follows it will also be seen, that nothing else is meant by garments in the Word in its spiritual sense; therefore that nothing else is meant by the Lord‘s garments, when He was transfigured, which appeared white as the light (Matt. 17:1-4; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36). Nor is anything else meant by the Lord’s garments which the soldiers divided (John 19:23, 24). That similar things are represented, and thence signified, by the garments of Aaron, see in The Arcana Coelestia, published at London (AC n. 9814, 10068); particularly what is signified by "the ephod" (AC n. 9477, 9824, 10005); what by "the robe" (AC n. 9825, 10005); what by "the tunic" (AC n. 9826, 9942); and what by "the miter" (AC n. 9827): for Aaron represented the priestly office of the Lord. Concerning the signification of garments from the Word, see below (n. 166, 328).

AR 46. And girt about the paps with a golden girdle, signifies the proceeding, and, at the same time, the conjoining Divine, which is the Divine good. That "a golden girdle" has this signification, is, because by "the Lord‘s breast," and especially by "the paps," His Divine love is signified; thence, by "the golden girdle" which girded them, is signified the proceeding and at the same time the conjoining Divine, which is the Divine good of the Divine love: moreover "gold" signifies good; see below (n. 913). "A zone" or "girdle," in the Word, also signifies the common bond, whereby all things are held together in order and connection; as in Isaiah:--

"The rod going forth out of the stem of Jesse" is the Lord. That the girdle of the ephod and the belt of Aaron’s coat, signified conjunction, see (AC n. 9837, 9944). Since "a girdle" signifies the bond conjoining the goods and truths of the church, therefore when the church with the sons of Israel was destroyed, Jeremiah the prophet was commanded:--

By this was represented that at that time there was no good in the church, and thence that truths were dissipated. The like is signified by "girdle" in Isaiah:--

and elsewhere. That by the "paps" or "breasts" the Divine love is signified, is evident from those passages in the Word where they are named, as also from their correspondence with love.

Author:  E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design:  I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.

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