Apocalypse Revealed # 284
284. "And we shall reign on the earth." This symbolically means, and they will dwell in His kingdom, He in them and they in Him.
To reign on the earth means nothing other than to be in the Lord's kingdom and to be united with Him in it, according to these words of the Lord:
...that all (those who believe in Me) may be one; (and one) as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us... The glory which You gave Me I have given to them, that they may be one as We are one, I in them, and You in Me..., that they also... may be with Me where I am... (John 17:20-24)
So then, since they are thus one with the Lord, and together with the Lord form the kingdom that is called the kingdom of God, it is apparent that nothing else is symbolically meant by reigning.
Reigning is mentioned because of the prior statement, "You have made us kings and priests;" and because kings symbolize people who are governed by wisdom springing from Divine truths from the Lord, and priests symbolize people who are governed by love springing from Divine good from Him (no. 20).
It is because of this that the Lord's kingdom is also called a kingdom of saints (Daniel 7:18, 27); and of the Apostles it is said that with the Lord they will judge the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28), even though it is the Lord alone who judges and reigns. For He judges and reigns from Divine good by means of Divine truth, which they have in them as well from Him. But anyone who believes that what they have from the Lord is something of their own, is expelled from the kingdom, that is, from heaven.
Reigning has the same symbolic meaning in the following places in the book of Revelation:
...they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6, cf. 20:4)
And of those who will come into the New Jerusalem, it is said:
(The Lamb) gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:5 [cf. Revelation 21:23])
Isaiah 24
1
Behold, Yahweh makes the earth empty, makes it waste, turns it upside down, and scatters its inhabitants.
2
It will be as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the creditor, so with the debtor; as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest.
3
The earth will be utterly emptied and utterly laid waste; for Yahweh has spoken this word.
4
The earth mourns and fades away. The world languishes and fades away. The lofty people of the earth languish.
5
The earth also is polluted under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant.
6
Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell therein are found guilty. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.
7
The new wine mourns. The vine languishes. All the merry-hearted sigh.
8
The mirth of tambourines ceases. The sound of those who rejoice ends. The joy of the harp ceases.
9
They will not drink wine with a song. Strong drink will be bitter to those who drink it.
10
The confused city is broken down. Every house is shut up, that no man may come in.
11
There is a crying in the streets because of the wine. All joy is darkened. The mirth of the land is gone.
12
The city is left in desolation, and the gate is struck with destruction.
13
For it will be so in the midst of the earth among the peoples, as the shaking of an olive tree, as the gleanings when the vintage is done.
14
These shall lift up their voice. They will shout for the majesty of Yahweh. They cry aloud from the sea.
15
Therefore glorify Yahweh in the east, even the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea!
16
From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs. Glory to the righteous! But I said, "I pine away! I pine away! woe is me!" The treacherous have dealt treacherously. Yes, the treacherous have dealt very treacherously.
17
Fear, the pit, and the snare, are on you who inhabitant the earth.
18
It will happen that he who flees from the noise of the fear will fall into the pit; and he who comes up out of the midst of the pit will be taken in the snare; for the windows on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble.
19
The earth is utterly broken. The earth is torn apart. The earth is shaken violently.
20
The earth will stagger like a drunken man, and will sway back and forth like a hammock. Its disobedience will be heavy on it, and it will fall and not rise again.
21
It shall happen in that day that Yahweh will punish the army of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth on the earth.
22
They shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison; and after many days shall they be visited.
23
Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for Yahweh of Armies will reign on Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem; and before his elders will be glory.
