Apocalypse Explained # 97
97. He that walketh in the midst of the seven golden lampstands. That this signifies from whom is life to all in the New Heaven and the New Church, is evident from the signification of walking, as being to live; and when said of the Lord, as being life itself (concerning which more will be said in what follows); and from the signification of seven golden lampstands, as being all in the New Heaven and in the New Church (concerning which see above, n. 62). Hence it is clear that the reason why the Lord was seen in the midst of the lampstands, was, that the midst signifies the inmost; the lampstands signify heaven and the church, and walking signifies life, and to be in the midst, when said of the Lord, signifies to be in all things that are round about; therefore it was hereby represented that all the life of faith and of love in heaven and in the church is from Him (as may be seen above, n. 84. That the midst denotes the inmost and the centre from which is all influx, see Arcana Coelestia 1074, 2940, 2973, 7777. That the Lord is the common centre from whom is all direction and determination in heaven, see the work, Heaven and Hell 123, 124. That the propagation of the light of heaven, which is Divine truth proceeding from the Lord, from which the angels have intelligence and wisdom, takes place also from the midst into those who are round about, may be seen in the same, n. 43, 50, 189). That to walk signifies to live, and, when said of the Lord, life itself, is from appearances in the spiritual world, where all walk according to their life, the evil in those ways that lead to hell, but the good in those ways only that lead to heaven; therefore all spirits are known there from the ways wherein they walk. Ways are really seen, but by the evil only the ways that lead to hell, and by the good only the ways that lead to heaven; by this means every one is brought to his own society; it is from this circumstance that to walk signifies to live. (Concerning these ways, and concerning walking therein in the spiritual world, see what is said in the work, Heaven and Hell 195, 479, 534, 590; and in the small work, The Last Judgment 48.)
[2] That in the Word ways signify truths or falsities, and that to walk signifies to live, is evident from several passages therein: a few only shall here be adduced by way of confirmation. Thus in Isaiah:
We have sinned against Jehovah "nor would they walk in his ways, neither have they heard his law" (42:24).
And in Moses:
"If ye shall keep all these commandments, by loving Jehovah your God, by walking in all his ways" (Deuteronomy 11:22).
And again:
"Thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, by loving Jehovah thy God, and walking in his ways all the days" (Deuteronomy 19:9; 26:17).
Again:
"I will set my dwelling place in the midst of you, and I will walk in the midst of you, and I will be to you for a God" (Leviticus 26:11, 12).
Again:
"Jehovah thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, and therefore shall thy camp be holy" (Deuteronomy 23:14).
And in Isaiah:
"Remember now, Jehovah, that I have walked before thee in truth" (38:3).
Again:
"Entering into peace, walking in uprightness" (57:2).
And in Malachi:
"In peace and in uprightness hath he walked with me (2:6).
And in David:
"Thou hast delivered my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living" (Psalm 56:13).
And in John:
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (8:12).
In the same:
"Yet a little while the light is with you; walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you; for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have the light, believe in the light" (12:35, 36).
And in Mark:
"The Pharisees and Scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders?" (7:5.)
And in Moses:
"If ye walk contrary to me, and will not hearken unto me, I will also walk contrary to you" (Leviticus 26:21, 23, 24, 27).
And in Isaiah:
"The people that walk in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow [of death], upon them hath the light shined" (9:2).
And in Micah:
"All people walk in the name of their god, and we will walk in the name of Jehovah our God" (4:5).
And in Isaiah:
"Who among you feareth Jehovah? who walketh in darkness, and hath no light?" (50:10);
besides many other passages, as in Jeremiah 26:4; Ezekiel 5:6; 20:13, 16; Micah 4:5; Zechariah 10:12; Luke 1:6. From these passages it is evident that by walking, in the spiritual sense, is signified to live; and because it signifies to live, therefore, when said of the Lord, as in this passage, life itself is signified; for the Lord is life itself, and all others are recipients of life from Him (as may be seen above, n. 82, 84).
John 12
1
Then six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
2
So they made him a supper there. Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him.
3
Mary, therefore, took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.
4
Then Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, one of his disciples, who would betray him, said,
5
"Why wasn't this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?"
6
Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it.
7
But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial.
8
For you always have the poor with you, but you don't always have me."
9
A large crowd therefore of the Jews learned that he was there, and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
10
But the chief priests conspired to put Lazarus to death also,
11
because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
12
On the next day a great multitude had come to the feast. When they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13
they took the branches of the palm trees, and went out to meet him, and cried out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!"
14
Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat on it. As it is written,
15
"Don't be afraid, daughter of Zion. Behold, your King comes, sitting on a donkey's colt."
16
His disciples didn't understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him, and that they had done these things to him.
17
The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, was testifying about it.
18
For this cause also the multitude went and met him, because they heard that he had done this sign.
19
The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "See how you accomplish nothing. Behold, the world has gone after him."
20
Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast.
21
These, therefore, came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we want to see Jesus."
22
Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn, Andrew came with Philip, and they told Jesus.
23
Jesus answered them, "The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
24
Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.
25
He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life.
26
If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
27
"Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say? 'Father, save me from this time?' But for this cause I came to this time.
28
Father, glorify your name!" Then there came a voice out of the sky, saying, "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again."
29
The multitude therefore, who stood by and heard it, said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him."
30
Jesus answered, "This voice hasn't come for my sake, but for your sakes.
31
Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out.
32
And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."
33
But he said this, signifying by what kind of death he should die.
34
The multitude answered him, "We have heard out of the law that the Christ remains forever. How do you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up?' Who is this Son of Man?"
35
Jesus therefore said to them, "Yet a little while the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness doesn't overtake you. He who walks in the darkness doesn't know where he is going.
36
While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light." Jesus said these things, and he departed and hid himself from them.
37
But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they didn't believe in him,
38
that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, "Lord, who has believed our report? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
39
For this cause they couldn't believe, for Isaiah said again,
40
"He has blinded their eyes and he hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, and would turn, and I would heal them."
41
Isaiah said these things when he saw his glory, and spoke of him.
42
Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they didn't confess it, so that they wouldn't be put out of the synagogue,
43
for they loved men's praise more than God's praise.
44
Jesus cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me, believes not in me, but in him who sent me.
45
He who sees me sees him who sent me.
46
I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness.
47
If anyone listens to my sayings, and doesn't believe, I don't judge him. For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
48
He who rejects me, and doesn't receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke, the same will judge him in the last day.
49
For I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50
I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak."
