Spiritual Meaning of REVELATION 15:3
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AR 662. Verse 3. And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, signifies confession from charity, thus from the life according to the commandments of the Law, which is the Decalogue, and from faith in the Divinity of the Lord’s Human. That "to sing a new song" is to confess, from joy of heart and from affection, that the Lord alone is the Saviour, the Redeemer, and the God of heaven and earth, may be seen above (n. 279, 617). Here, however, it is not called "a new song," but "the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb," and by "the song of Moses" is signified confession from life according to the commandments of the Law, which is the Decalogue, thus from charity, and by "the song of the Lamb," confession from faith concerning the Divinity of the Lord‘s Human; for by "the Lamb" is meant the Lord as to the Divine Human (n. 269, 291, 595), and by "Moses" is meant, in a wide sense, all the Law written in his five books, and in a restricted sense, the Law which is called the Decalogue. And because this serves man for life, it is called "the song of Moses, the servant of God," for by "a servant," in the Word, is meant one who serves and that which serves (n. 380), here for life. The reason why by "Moses," in a wide sense, is meant the Law, is because his five books are called "the Law." That all the commandments, judgments, and statutes given by him in his five books are called "the Law," may be seen above (n. 417). That everything written in those hooks is called "the Law of Moses," and also "Moses," may appear from the following passages:--

Philip said, We have found Jesus, of whom Moses in the Law, and the Prophets, did write (John 1:45).

In the Law Moses commanded that such should be stoned (John 8:5).

The days of their purification, according to the Law of Moses, were fulfilled (Luke 2:22).

All things must be fulfilled which are written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets concerning Me (Luke 24:27, 44).

Did not Moses give you the Law? Moses gave circumcision; that the Law of Moses should not be broken (John 7:19, 22, 23).

Abraham said to the rich man in hell, They have Moses and the Prophets, let them hear them; if they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rose from the dead (Luke 16:29, 31).

The curse is poured upon us and the oath that is written in the Law of Moses the servant of God; as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this evil hath come upon us (Dan. 9:11, 13).

Remember the Law of Moses the servant of God, which I commanded him (Mal. 4:4).

Jehovah said unto Moses, Behold, I will come unto thee in the mist of a cloud, that the people may hear when I shall speak unto thee, and may also believe in thee forever (Exod. 19:9).

It may be evident from these passages, that by "Moses" in the wide sense is meant the Word that was written by him, which is called the Law. It follows from this, that the Law which is the Decalogue is meant by "Moses"; and the more so, because Moses hewed out the tables after he had broken the former ones (Exod. 34:1, 4); and when he carried them down, his face was radiant (Exod. 34:29-35): on which account Moses is represented in pictures holding these tables in his hand. It is also said in Mark:--

Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother (Mark 7:10).

And Joshua wrote a copy of the Law of Moses upon the stones of the altar (Josh. 8:32).

That Law was the Decalogue. From these things it may be seen, that nothing else is here meant by "the song of Moses the servant of God," but confession from charity, and thus from life according to the commandments of the Law, which are the Decalogue.

AR 663. Saying, Great and marvellous are Thy works, O Lord God Almighty, signifies that all things of the world, of heaven, and of the church, were created and made by the Lord from His Divine love by His Divine wisdom. By "the works of the Lord" are signified all thing which were created and made by Him, these being in general all things of the world, all things of heaven, and all things of the church, which it is not possible to enumerate particularly. They are called "great and marvellous," because "great" is said of love, and "marvellous" of wisdom, as above (n. 656). The Lord is also in the Word called "Lord" from the Divine good of the Divine love, and "God" from the Divine truth of the Divine wisdom. That the Lord is called "Almighty" because He is, lives, and does all things from Himself, and also rules all things from Himself, may be seen above (n. 31). Hence it is, that by "great and marvellous are Thy works, O Lord God Almighty," in the universal sense, is signified that all things of the world, of heaven, and of the church, were created and made by the Lord from His Divine love by His Divine wisdom.

AR 664. Because just and true are Thy ways, O King of saints, signifies that all things which proceed from Him are just and true, because He is the Divine good and the Divine truth itself in heaven and in the church. By "ways" are signified truths leading to good (n. 176), and by "King," when speaking of the Lord, is signified the Divine truth, and by "King of saints," the Divine truth in heaven and in the church from Him for by "saints" are signified they who are in Divine truths from the Lord (n. 173, 586). Hence by "just and true are Thy ways, O King of saints," is signified that all things which proceed from the Lord are just and true, because He is the Divine truth itself in heaven and in the church. The Lord is called "King" in His Divine Human, because this is the Messiah, the Anointed the Christ, the Son of God; that "Messiah" in the Hebrew language is "Christ" in the Greek, and that "the Messiah" or "Christ" is the Son of God, may be seen above (n. 520); that "Messiah" signifies both King and Anointed in the Hebrew language, is known. The reason why the Lord, as King, is the Divine truth, is because this is signified by "a king" (n. 20, 483). Hence it is that by "kings" are signified they who are in Divine truths from the Lord (Apoc. 1:6; 5:10). It is on this account that heaven and the church are called His "kingdom." Then His coming into the world is called the gospel of the kingdom. Heaven and the church are called "His kingdom" (Dan. 2:44; 7:13, 14, 27; Matt. 12:28; 16:28; Mark 1:14, 15; 9:1; 15:43; Luke 1:33; 4:43; 8:1, 10; 9:2, 11, 27; 10:11; 16:16; 19:11; 21:31; 22:18; 23:51). And His coming is called, "the Gospel of the kingdom" (Matt. 4:23; 9:35; 24:14). But more may be seen on this subject in the Doctrine of’ the New Jerusalem concerning the Lord. That the Lord is called King is evident from the following passages:--

They shall make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb shall overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings (Apoc. 17:14).

He that sitteth upon the white horse is called the Word, and His name is Lord of lords and King of kings (Apoc. 19:13, 16; Dan. 2:47).

Nathanael said, Thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel (John 1:49).

When the Son of man shall come in His glory, He shall sit upon the throne of His glory, and the King shall say to them that are on His right hand and on His left (Matt. 25:31, 34, 41).

They cried, Hosanna, blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel (John 12:13).

Pilate asked Jesus whether He was a king: Jesus answered, I am a king; for this I was born, and for this I came into the world (John 18:37).

Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty; Jehovah is our King, He will save us (Isa. 33:17, 22).

I Jehovah am your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King (Isa. 43:15).

Thus said Jehovah the King of Israel, and His Redeemer Jehovah of Hosts, I am the First and the Last, and besides Me there is no God (Isa. 44:6).

Jehovah shall be King over the whole earth (Zech. 14:9; Ps. 47:2, 6-8).

Lift up your heads, O ye gates, that the King of glory may come in: Jehovah of Hosts, He is the King of glory (Ps. 24:7-10).

I will raise up unto David a just Branch, who shall reign King, and shall do judgment and justice in the earth (Jer. 23:5; 33:15; Isa. 6:5; 52:7; Jer. 10:7, 10; 46:18; Ezek. 37:22, 24; Zeph. 3:15; Ps. 20:9; 45:11, 13, 15; 68:24; 74:12).

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Author:  E. Swedenborg (1688-1772). Design:  I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002. www.BibleMeanings.info