Apocalypse Explained # 482
482. Verse 17. For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, signifies that the Lord will instruct them out of heaven. This is evident from the signification of "the Lamb," as being the Lord in relation to Divine truth (of which see above, n. 297, 343, 464); also from the signification of "throne," as being heaven (of which also above, n. 253; "in the midst of the throne" signifies in the universal heaven, for "in the midst" signifies in each and every thing, that is, in the whole, see above, n. 213; also from the signification of "to feed" as being to instruct (of which presently). This makes evident that "the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shall feed them" signifies that the Lord will instruct them out of heaven. It is here said, "the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shall feed them," and above, "He who sitteth on the throne shall dwell over them" which makes it very clear that it is the Lord who is meant both by "He who sitteth on the throne," and by "the Lamb in the midst of the throne," but "He who sitteth on the throne" means the Lord in relation to Divine good, and "the Lamb in the midst of the throne" means the Lord in relation to Divine truth; for "to dwell," which is said of Him that sitteth upon the throne, is predicated of good (See above, n. 470); and "to feed," which is said of the Lamb, is predicated of truths; for "to feed" signifies to instruct in truths.
[2] In the Word of the Old Testament mention is frequently made of "Jehovah" and "God," also of "Jehovah" and "the Holy One of Israel," and both mean the Lord alone, "Jehovah" the Lord in relation to Divine good, and "God" and "the Holy One of Israel" the Lord in relation to Divine truth; it is thus said because of the marriage of Divine good and Divine truth in every particular of the Word. That "to feed" signifies to instruct can be seen without further explanation, since it is a custom derived from the Word to call those who teach "pastors" (or feeders), and those who are instructed "a flock;" but why they are so called is not yet known, and shall therefore be told. In heaven where all things that appear before the eyes are representative, representing under a natural appearance the spiritual things that angels think and by which they are affected; thus are their thoughts and affections presented before their eyes in such forms as exist in the world, that is, in forms similar to natural things, and this by virtue of the correspondence that is established by the Lord between spiritual things and natural. (This correspondence has been treated of in many places; also in the work Heaven and Hell, n. 87-102, and 103-115.) It is from this correspondence that in heaven flocks of sheep, lambs, and goats appear feeding in green pastures, and also in gardens; and these appearances spring from the thoughts of those who are in the goods and truths of the church, and who from these think intelligently and wisely. It is from this that mention is so often made in the Word of "flock," "pasture," as also of "feeding," and "feeder" (or shepherd); for the Word in the letter consists of such things as appear in heaven before the eyes, and these signify correspondent spiritual things.
[3] As it is known in the church that "to feed" signifies to instruct, "pasture" instruction, and "shepherd" an instructor, a few passages only in which "feeding" and "pasture" are mentioned shall be quoted without further explanation. In Isaiah:
In that day shall thy cattle feed in a broad meadow (Isaiah 30:23).
He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs into His arm, and shall gently lead them that give suck (Isaiah 40:11).
He shall say to the bound, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Reveal yourselves. They shall feed upon the ways, and in all the bare hills shall be their pasture (Isaiah 49:9).
In Jeremiah:
Against the shepherds that feed My people, ye have scattered My flock. Because of cursing the land mourneth; the pastures of the desert are dried up (Jeremiah 23:2, 10).
He shall feed Israel on Carmel and Bashan (Jeremiah 50:19).
In Ezekiel:
I will seek My flock and I will search them out. I will feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited places of the land. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the mountains of the height of Israel shall their sheepcote be; there shall they lie down in a good sheepcote, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel (Ezekiel 34:11, 13, 14).
In Hosea:
I did know thee 1 in the wilderness, in a land of drought; where they had pasture (Hosea 13:5, 6).
In Joel:
The droves of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; and the droves of sheep are made desolate (Joel 1:18).
In Micah:
Out of Bethlehem of Ephrathah shall go forth one who shall stand and feed in the strength of Jehovah (Micah 5:2, 4).
Feed Thy people with Thy rod, the flock of Thine heritage; they shall feed in Bashan and Gilead (Micah 7:14).
In Zephaniah:
The remnants of Israel shall feed and lie down (Zephaniah 3:13).
In David:
Jehovah is my Shepherd, I shall not want; He will make me to lie down in pastures of herbage (Psalms 23:1, 2).
The Lord chose David; from following the ewes giving suck He brought him to feed Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance; and he fed them in the integrity of his heart (Psalms 78:70-72).
Jehovah hath made us His people, and the flock of His pasture [keri]. Therefore we are His people and the flock of His pasture (Psalms 100:3).
In John:
Jesus said to Peter, Lovest thou Me? He said that he loved Him. He said unto him, Feed My lambs. He said a second time, Feed My sheep. Again He said a third time, Feed My sheep (John 21:15-17).
Also in many other passages, in which "to feed" signifies to instruct in truths, and "pasture" truths in which they are instructed.
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Esra 2
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Und dies sind die Kinder der Landschaft Juda, welche aus der Gefangenschaft der Weggeführten, die Nebukadnezar, der König von Babel, nach Babel weggeführt hatte, hinaufzogen, und die nach Jerusalem und Juda zurückkehrten, ein jeder in seine Stadt,
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welche kamen mit Serubbabel, Jeschua, Nehemia, Seraja, Reelaja, Mordokai, Bilschan, Mispar, Bigwai, Rechum, Baana. Zahl der Männer des Volkes Israel:
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Die Söhne Parhosch', zweitausend einhundertzweiundsiebzig.
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Die Söhne Schephatjas, dreihundertzweiundsiebzig;
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die Söhne Arachs, siebenhundertfünfundsiebzig;
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die Söhne Pachath-Moabs, von den Söhnen Jeschuas und Joabs, zweitausend achthundertzwölf;
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die Söhne Elams, tausend zweihundertvierundfünfzig;
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die Söhne Sattus, neunhundertfünfundvierzig;
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die Söhne Sakkais, siebenhundertsechzig;
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die Söhne Banis, sechshundertzweiundvierzig;
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die Söhne Bebais, sechshundertdreiundzwanzig;
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die Söhne Asgads, tausend zweihundertzweiundzwanzig;
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die Söhne Adonikams, sechshundertsechsundsechzig;
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die Söhne Bigwais, zweitausend sechsundfünfzig;
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die Söhne Adins, vierhundertvierundfünfzig;
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die Söhne Aters, von Jehiskia, achtundneunzig;
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die Söhne Bezais, dreihundertdreiundzwanzig;
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die Söhne Jorahs, hundertzwölf;
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die Söhne Haschums, zweihundertdreiundzwanzig;
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die Söhne Gibbars, fünfundneunzig;
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die Söhne Bethlehems, hundertdreiundzwanzig;
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die Männer von Netopha, sechsundfünfzig;
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die Männer von Anathoth, hundertachtundzwanzig;
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die Söhne Asmaweths, zweiundvierzig;
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die Söhne Kirjath-Arims, Kephiras und Beeroths, siebenhundertdreiundvierzig;
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die Söhne Ramas und Gebas, sechshunderteinundzwanzig;
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die Männer von Mikmas, hundertzweiundzwanzig;
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die Männer von Bethel und Ai, zweihundertdreiundzwanzig;
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die Söhne Nebos, zweiundfünfzig;
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die Söhne Magbisch', hundertsechsundfünfzig;
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die Söhne des anderen Elam, tausend zweihundertvierundfünfzig;
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die Söhne Harims, dreihundertzwanzig;
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die Söhne Lods, Hadids und Onos, siebenhundertfünfundzwanzig;
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die Söhne Jerechos, dreihundertfünfundvierzig;
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die Söhne Senaas, dreitausend sechshundertdreißig.
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Die Priester: die Söhne Jedajas, vom Hause Jeschua, neunhundertdreiundsiebzig;
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die Söhne Immers, tausend zweiundfünfzig;
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die Söhne Paschchurs, tausend zweihundertsiebenundvierzig;
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die Söhne Harims, tausend und siebzehn.
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Die Leviten: die Söhne Jeschuas und Kadmiels, von den Söhnen Hodawjas, vierundsiebzig. -
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Die Sänger: die Söhne Asaphs, hundertachtundzwanzig. -
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Die Söhne der Torhüter: die Söhne Schallums, die Söhne Aters, die Söhne Talmons, die Söhne Akkubs, die Söhne Hatitas, die Söhne Schobais, allesamt hundertneununddreißig.
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Die Nethinim: die Söhne Zichas, die Söhne Hasuphas, die Söhne Tabbaoths,
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die Söhne Keros', die Söhne Siahas, die Söhne Padons,
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die Söhne Lebanas, die Söhne Hagabas, die Söhne Akkubs,
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die Söhne Hagabs, die Söhne Schalmais, die Söhne Hanans,
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die Söhne Giddels, die Söhne Gachars, die Söhne Reajas,
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die Söhne Rezins, die Söhne Nekodas, die Söhne Gassams,
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die Söhne Ussas, die Söhne Paseachs, die Söhne Besais,
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die Söhne Asnas, die Söhne der Meunim, die Söhne der Nephisim,
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die Söhne Bakbuks, die Söhne Hakuphas, die Söhne Harchurs,
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die Söhne Bazluths, die Söhne Mechidas, die Söhne Harschas,
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die Söhne Barkos', die Söhne Siseras, die Söhne Tamachs,
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die Söhne Neziachs, die Söhne Hatiphas.
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Die Söhne der Knechte Salomos: die Söhne Sotais, die Söhne Sophereths, die Söhne Perudas,
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die Söhne Jaalas, die Söhne Darkons, die Söhne Giddels,
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die Söhne Schephatjas, die Söhne Hattils, die Söhne Pokereths-Hazzebaim, die Söhne Amis.
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Alle Nethinim und Söhne der Knechte Salomos: dreihundertzweiundneunzig.
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Und diese sind es, die aus Tel-Melach, Tel-Harscha, Kerub, Addan, Immer hinaufzogen; aber sie konnten ihr Vaterhaus und ihre Abkunft nicht angeben, ob sie aus Israel wären:
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die Söhne Delajas, die Söhne Tobijas, die Söhne Nekodas, sechshundertzweiundfünfzig.
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Und von den Söhnen der Priester: die Söhne Habajas, die Söhne Hakkoz', die Söhne Barsillais, der ein Weib von den Töchtern Barsillais, des Gileaditers, genommen hatte und nach ihrem Namen genannt wurde.
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Diese suchten ihr Geschlechtsregisterverzeichnis, aber es wurde nicht gefunden; und sie wurden von dem Priestertum als unrein ausgeschlossen.
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Und der Tirsatha sprach zu ihnen, daß sie von dem Hochheiligen nicht essen dürften, bis ein Priester für die Urim und die Thummim aufstände.
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Die ganze Versammlung insgesamt war zweiundvierzigtausend dreihundertsechzig,
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außer ihren Knechten und ihren Mägden; dieser waren siebentausend dreihundertsiebenunddreißig. Und sie hatten noch zweihundert Sänger und Sängerinnen.
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Ihrer Rosse waren siebenhundertsechsunddreißig, ihrer Maultiere zweihundertfünfundvierzig,
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ihrer Kamele vierhundertfünfunddreißig, der Esel sechstausend siebenhundertzwanzig.
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Und als sie zum Hause Jehovas in Jerusalem kamen, gaben einige von den Häuptern der Väter freiwillig für das Haus Gottes, um es an seiner Stätte aufzurichten.
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Nach ihrem Vermögen gaben sie für den Schatz des Werkes: an Gold einundsechzigtausend Dariken und an Silber fünftausend Minen, und hundert Priesterleibröcke.
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Und die Priester und die Leviten und die aus dem Volke und die Sänger und die Torhüter und die Nethinim wohnten in ihren Städten; und ganz Israel wohnte in seinen Städten.
