CHAPTER 1, VERSE 4.—NUMBER 19.

church from eternity to eternity [n. 23]; "and from the seven spirits" signifies the Divine in heaven [n. 24]; "which are in sight of His throne" signifies presence and providence [n. 25].

5. "And from Jesus Christ" signifies from the Lord in respect to the Divine Human The concept that God became human in the person of Jesus Christ to make Himself visible and accessible to humanity. [n. 26]; "the faithful witness" signifies from whom is all truth in heaven [n. 27]; "the First-born of the dead" signifies from whom is all good in heaven [n. 28]; "and the Prince of the kings of the earth" signifies from whom is all truth from good in the church [n. 29]; "Unto Him that loveth us, and washeth us from our sins in His blood" signifies His love, and regeneration The spiritual process of being "born again" or reformed by God through living according to truths. by Him through truths that are from Him [n. 30].

6. "And hath made us kings and priests" signifies that from Him we are in His spiritual and celestial kingdom The "spiritual kingdom" consists of those motivated by truth and charity; the "celestial kingdom" consists of those motivated by direct love for the Lord. [n. 31]; "unto God and His Father" signifies by Divine truth and Divine good [n. 32]; "to Him be the glory and the might unto the ages of the ages" signifies that these things are from Him alone to eternity [n. 33]; "Amen" signifies Divine confirmation [n. 34].

19. [Verse 4.] "John" signifies the Lord in respect to doctrine The systematic body of teachings or principles of the church..

This is evident from the representation In this context, the idea that people or objects in the Bible symbolize specific spiritual qualities or realities. of "John," as meaning the good of love The spiritual quality of acting from a heart of love and kindness rather than just out of duty or habit. (of which above, n. 8). Because he represents the good of love, he also in the highest sense The most profound level of meaning, which describes the nature and activity of God Himself. represents the Lord, since all good of love is from the Lord. Man, spirits, and angels, are only recipients, and those who are recipients are said to signify that which is from the Lord.

It is the same with many others in the Word The Bible, viewed as a vessel containing deep spiritual wisdom., as with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Elijah, Elisha, John the Baptist, Peter, and the other apostles; each of whom signifies some good or truth of heaven and the church, yet all of them, in the highest sense, signify the Lord. For instance, "David," in the internal sense The deeper, spiritual meaning hidden beneath the literal stories of the Bible., signifies Divine truth The light or wisdom that flows from God into the human mind. in the spiritual kingdom, which is called the royalty of the Lord; for this reason, David in the highest sense signifies the Lord in respect to that truth and in respect to royalty; on which account it is said of David in the Word, that he is to come and reign over the sons of Israel (Ezekiel 37:24, 25; Hosea 3:5).

In like manner Elijah and Elisha, who, because in the internal sense they signify the Word, in the highest sense signify the Lord, from whom the Word is. (That "Elijah" and "Elisha" signify the Word, thus the Lord in respect to the Word, see Arcana Coelestia original: "A.C." — Swedenborg’s multi-volume work Heavenly Secrets, providing a verse-by-verse spiritual interpretation of the Bible., numbers 2762, 5247; likewise "John the Baptist," who is therefore called "Elijah," numbers 7643, 9372. That "Peter" signifies faith, therefore the Lord in respect to faith, because faith is from the Lord, see above, n. 9.) From this it can be seen why "John" signifies the Lord. He signifies the Lord in respect to doctrine because it is said, "John to the seven churches," and by "the seven churches," in the internal sense, are meant all who are in truths from good, or in faith from charity; for it is these that constitute the church; and doctrine is what teaches