Apocalypse Revealed # 527
527. "And those who fear Your name, small and great." This symbolizes people who love things having to do with the Lord, in a lesser or greater degree.
To fear the Lord's name means, symbolically, to love things having to do with the Lord. To fear means, symbolically, to love, and the Lord's name symbolizes everything by which He is worshiped (no. 81). People small and great symbolize people who fear the Lord in a lesser or greater degree.
To fear here means, symbolically, to love because everyone who loves another is afraid of injuring the one he loves. There is no genuine love without that fear. Accordingly, someone who loves the Lord is afraid of doing evil, because evils go counter to the Lord, as they go counter to His Divine laws in the Word - the Word that originates from the Lord and thus embodies Him. Indeed, they go counter to His Divine essence, which is to will the salvation of all. For He is a savior. But He cannot save a person unless the person lives in accordance with the Lord's laws and commandments. What is more, someone who loves evils also desires to injure the Lord, indeed to crucify Him. This desire is inmostly present in every evil, even in people who in the world acknowledge Him with the lips. The reality of this is something unknown to people, but well known to angels.
[2] That to fear God means, symbolically, to love things having to do with God, by doing them and refusing to do things which go counter to Him, is apparent from the following passages:
...what does Jehovah your God require of you, but to fear Jehovah your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him... (Deuteronomy 10:12)
You shall walk after Jehovah your God and fear Him, that you may keep His commandments... (Deuteronomy 13:4)
You shall fear Jehovah your God; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast... (Deuteronomy 10:20. Cf. 6:2, 6:13-14, 6:24; 8:6; 17:19; 28:58; 31:12)
Who will grant them to have a heart to fear Me and keep... My commandments... (Deuteronomy 5:29)
Teach me Your way, O Jehovah...; unite my heart to a fear of Your name. (Psalms 86:11)
Blessed is he who fears Jehovah, who walks in His ways. (Psalms 128:1, cf. 112:1, Jeremiah 44:10)
If I am a Father, where is My honor? If I am Lord, where is the fear of Me? (Malachi 1:6, cf. 2:5, Isaiah 11:2-3)
I will give them one heart, and one way, to fear Me... and I will put fear of Me in their hearts so that they do not turn away from Me. (Jeremiah 32:39-40)
The beginning of wisdom is fear of Jehovah... (Psalms 111:10)
And so on elsewhere, as in Isaiah 8:13; 25:3; 29:13; 50:10; Jeremiah 33:9; Psalms 22:23; 33:8, 18; 34:7, 9; 55:19; 115:11, 13; 147:11; Revelation 14:7; Luke 1:50.
A fear of God in evil people, on the other hand, is not love, but a fear of hell.
Psalms 34
1
I will bless Yahweh at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth.
2
My soul shall boast in Yahweh. The humble shall hear of it, and be glad.
3
Oh magnify Yahweh with me. Let us exalt his name together.
4
I sought Yahweh, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5
They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame.
6
This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7
The angel of Yahweh encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8
Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9
Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints, for there is no lack with those who fear him.
10
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek Yahweh shall not lack any good thing.
11
Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh.
12
Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?
13
Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies.
14
Depart from evil, and do good. seek peace, and pursue it.
15
Yahweh's eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry.
16
Yahweh's face is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17
The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18
Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
19
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all.
20
He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken.
21
Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22
Yahweh redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned. By David.
