838. To give them a mark on their right hand, or on their foreheads. That this signifies a testification of acknowledgment that they belong to the church, and are in the truths and goods, so called, of that faith, is evident from the signification of a mark, as denoting a sign or witness of acknowledgment, in this case that they belong to that church; and from the signification of the right hand, as denoting the truth of faith in its power (concerning which see above, n. 298); and from the signification of forehead, as denoting the good of love (concerning which see also above, n. 427). In this case, therefore, by the right hand and forehead are signified the truths and goods, so called, of that faith, which, nevertheless, are either not truths and goods, or falsities and evils. The acknowledgment of them, however, as being truths and goods, is signified by giving and receiving a mark upon their right hands and upon their foreheads.

A mark also signifies a sign of acknowledgment in the following passages in the Apocalypse (14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4); the meaning of mark is similar to that of

"The sign" set by Jehovah upon Cain (Genesis 4:15).

Also

"The sign" which the prophet was commanded to set upon the foreheads of the men in the city of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 9:4).

As also by "the sign" in Moses:

"Thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might; thou shalt bind these words for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes" (Deuteronomy 6:5, 8; 11:18).

6. Which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants. That this signifies for those who are in truths from good, is evident from the signification of giving the revelation to Him to show, as denoting to declare predictions, or, what is the same thing, predictions for those persons; and from the signification of His servants, as denoting those who are in truths from good. The reason why such are meant by servants of God, is, that, in the Word, those who hearken to and obey God are called servants of God. Hearkening and obedience exist only with those who are in truths from good, but not with those who are in truths alone, or in truths without good; for the latter have truths in the memory only, but not in the life; whereas those who are in truths from good, have truths in the life, and those who have truths in the life do them from the heart, that is, from love. It should be known that no truth ever enters into the life of a man unless he is in good, for good belongs to love, and love constitutes the whole man; thus a man receives into his life all the truths which agree with his love. This is quite evident from the fact that a man appropriates to himself whatever he loves, rejecting and holding in aversion everything else. By good is meant here the good of love to the Lord and the good of love towards the neighbour, this being the only spiritual good, with which the truths of faith agree.