Apocalypse Revealed # 167
167. "'And they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.'" This symbolically means that they will live with the Lord in His spiritual kingdom, because they are governed by truths from Him.
This is the meaning of these words because to walk in the Word symbolically means to live, and to walk with God symbolically means to live from Him, and because to be in white means, symbolically, to be guided by truths. For the color white in the Word is predicated of truths, because it takes its origin from the light of the sun, while red is predicated of goods, because it takes its origin from the sun's fire, and blackness is predicated of falsities, because it takes its origin from the darkness of hell.
People who are governed by truths from the Lord, being conjoined with Him, are called worthy, for all worth in the spiritual world comes from conjunction with the Lord.
It is apparent from this that "they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy," means, symbolically, that they will live with the Lord, because they are governed by truths from Him.
We say that they will live with the Lord in His spiritual kingdom because the whole of heaven has been distinguished into two kingdoms - the celestial kingdom and the spiritual kingdom - and in the celestial kingdom live people who are governed by the goodness of love from the Lord, while in the spiritual kingdom live those who are governed by the truths of wisdom from the Lord. The latter are also said to walk with the Lord in white. Moreover, they are dressed in white garments.
[2] That to walk means, symbolically, to live, and to walk with God means to live with Him because it is to live from Him, is clear from the following passages:
He walked with Me in peace and rectitude... (Malachi 2:6)
You have delivered my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living. (Psalms 56:13)
...David... kept My commandments and... walked after Me with all his heart... (1 Kings 14:8)
Remember..., O Jehovah..., how I have walked before You in truth... (Isaiah 38:3)
If you... walk contrary to Me..., and... do not obey (My voice)..., I also will walk contrary to you... (Leviticus 26:23-24, 27-28)
They would not walk in the ways (of Jehovah). (Isaiah 42:24; cf. Deuteronomy 11:22; 19:9; 26:17)
...all people walk... in the name of (their) god, but we will walk in the name of Jehovah... (Micah 4:5)
A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light... ...believe in the light... (John 12:35-36; cf. 8:12)
...the scribes asked..., "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders...?" (Mark 7:5)
Walking is also said of Jehovah, that He walks among people, which is to say that He lives in them and together with them:
I will make My dwelling among you, and... I will walk among you and be your God... (Leviticus 26:11-12)
It is apparent from this what is meant by the statement,
These things says He... who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands. (Revelation 2:1)
Revelation 2
1
"To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write: "He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the seven golden lampstands says these things:
2
"I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can't tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false.
3
You have perseverance and have endured for my name's sake, and have not grown weary.
4
But I have this against you, that you left your first love.
5
Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent.
6
But this you have, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God.
8
"To the angel of the assembly in Smyrna write: "The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life says these things:
9
"I know your works, oppression, and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10
Don't be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes won't be harmed by the second death.
12
"To the angel of the assembly in Pergamum write: "He who has the sharp two-edged sword says these things:
13
"I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. You hold firmly to my name, and didn't deny my faith in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14
But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
15
So you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans likewise.
16
Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.
17
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he who receives it.
18
"To the angel of the assembly in Thyatira write: "The Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like burnished brass, says these things:
19
"I know your works, your love, faith, service, patient endurance, and that your last works are more than the first.
20
But I have this against you, that you tolerate your woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. She teaches and seduces my servants to commit sexual immorality, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.
21
I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.
22
Behold, I will throw her into a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great oppression, unless they repent of her works.
23
I will kill her children with Death, and all the assemblies will know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts. I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.
24
But to you I say, to the rest who are in Thyatira, as many as don't have this teaching, who don't know what some call 'the deep things of Satan,' to you I say, I am not putting any other burden on you.
25
Nevertheless, hold that which you have firmly until I come.
26
He who overcomes, and he who keeps my works to the end, to him I will give authority over the nations.
27
He will rule them with a rod of iron, shattering them like clay pots; as I also have received of my Father:
28
and I will give him the morning star.
29
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
