9815. For glory and for comeliness. That this signifies in order to present, in the internal and the external form, Divine truth such as it is in the spiritual kingdom joined to the celestial kingdom, is evident from the signification of “glory,” as being Divine truth (see the preface to Genesis 18; and n. 5922, 9429 ); and from the signification of “comeliness,” as also being Divine truth, but in the external form, for the brightness and beauty of Divine truth as it appears in externals is meant by “comeliness.” From this it is that the Word in the internal sense is called “glory,” but in the internal sense relatively to the brightness and beauty thence derived, it is called “comeliness.” Consequently the spiritual heaven, which is meant here by “the garments of holiness,” which serve “for glory and for comeliness,” is “glory” so far as Divine truth there is in an internal form, and is also “comeliness.”

[2] The like is signified by “comeliness” in the following passages.

In Jeremiah:

The Lord in His anger doth cloud over the daughter of Zion; He hath cast forth from the heavens unto the earth the comeliness of Israel, neither doth He remember His footstool (Lam. 2:1); where “the daughter of Zion” denotes the celestial church; and “the comeliness of Israel,” the spiritual church, which is called “comeliness” from the brightness and beauty of truth. In like manner in Isaiah:

I have made My righteousness to draw nigh; it is not far off, and My salvation shall not tarry; I will give salvation in Zion, unto Israel My comeliness (Isaiah 46:13).

Look forth from the heavens, from the habitation of Thy holiness and of Thy comeliness (Isaiah 63:15); where “the habitation of holiness” denotes the celestial kingdom; and “the habitation of comeliness” the spiritual kingdom. And in Daniel:

And there came forth one horn from a little one, and grew exceedingly, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward comeliness (Daniel 8:9).

The king of the north shall stand in the land of comeliness, and there is consummation by his hand, and when he shall come into the land of comeliness, many shall be overthrown (Daniel 11:16, 41); where “the land of comeliness” denotes the church of the Lord, in which is truth Divine, or the Word.

4007. Every one that had white in it. That this signifies in which there is truth, is evident from the signification of “white,” as being truth, but properly the Lord’s righteousness and merit, and derivatively the Lord’s righteousness and merit in man (see n. 3301, 3993). The reason why “white” has this signification, is that the light of heaven, which is from the Lord and is the source of brightness and whiteness, signifies truth; and therefore that which is enlightened by that light, and becomes shining and bright, is that which is called the Lord’s righteousness and merit in man. They who from good acknowledge and receive the Lord’s righteousness, and reject their own righteousness, are they who are specifically signified by “righteous,” concerning whom the Lord says in Matthew:

The righteous shall shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father (Matthew 13:43).

[2] That “shining or bright white” has this signification, is evident also from other passages in the Word; as in Moses:

His eyes shall be redder than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk (Genesis 49:12);

speaking of Judah, by whom is represented the Lord as to the Divine of His love; and in the internal sense, the celestial kingdom; and thus the celestial man (as may be seen above, n. 3881). The “eyes being redder than wine” signifies the Divine wisdom; and the “teeth whiter than milk,” the Divine righteousness.

In David:

Thou shalt purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow (Psalms 51:7);

“to wash,” and “to be made whiter than snow,” denotes to be purified from sins by the reception and putting on of the Lord’s righteousness.

In John:

In the midst of the seven candlesticks was one like unto the Son of man; His head and His hairs were white as white wool, as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire (Revelation 1:13-14).

[3] In the same:

Thou hast a few names in Sardis who have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He that overcometh shall be clothed in white garments (Revelation 3:4-5).

In the same:

I counsel thee to buy of Me gold purified in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white garments that thou mayest be clothed (Revelation 3:18).

Again:

There were given to every soul under the altar white robes (Revelation 6:9-11).

Again:

I saw them standing before the throne, and before the Lamb, arrayed in white robes. And one of the elders said unto me, Who are these clothed in white robes? And whence came they? And I said unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said unto me, These are they who come out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and have made their robes white in the blood of the lamb (Revelation 7:9, 13-14).

Again:

Angels clothed in linen white and shining, and girt about their breasts with golden girdles (Revelation 15:6).

Again:

I saw and behold a white horse, and he that sat thereon had a bow, and there was given unto him a crown (Revelation 6:2).

And again:

Afterwards I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse. His armies in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen white and clean (Revelation 19:11, 14).

[4] In all these passages by “white” is signified the truth of faith; the “white garments” and “white robes” being nothing else. But the truth of faith does not belong to those who believe that they have faith of themselves, and thus are wise from themselves; but to those who believe they have faith and wisdom from the Lord, for to these are faith and wisdom given because they ascribe nothing of truth and good to themselves, still less believe that they have merit through the truths and goods they possess; and less still that they are justified thereby; but only by ascribing them to the Lord; thus all things to His grace and mercy. This is “putting on white garments;” and is also “being made white in the blood of the Lamb.” There are two things that are put off by all who enter into heaven, namely, their own and the consequent confidence, and the merit of self or of their own righteousness; and they put on a heavenly own which is from the Lord, and the Lord’s merit or righteousness; and the more they put on these, the more interiorly do they come into heaven. These two things are specifically signified by “red” and by “white;” by “red,” the good of love which they then have; and by “white,” the truth of faith.