Apocalypse Revealed #379
379. "And made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb." This symbolically means, and by truths have purified those religious beliefs from the falsities accompanying evil, and so have been reformed by the Lord.
Some evils are evils that accompany falsity, and some falsities are falsities that accompany evil. Evils that accompany falsity are found among people who, in accord with their religion, believe that evils do not condemn, provided they orally confess that they are sinners. And falsities that accompany evil are found among people who justify the evils they harbor.
As in no. 378 above, robes here symbolize general truths drawn from the Word, which constitute the people's religious beliefs. They are said to have made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb because the color white is predicated of truths (nos. 167, 231, 232), meaning therefore that they used truths to purify their falsities.
This symbolically means also that thus they were reformed by the Lord, because all who have fought against evils in the world and have believed in the Lord are, after their departure from the world, taught by the Lord and led by truths away from the falsities of their religion. And so they are reformed. That is because people who refrain from evils as being sins possess goodness of life, and goodness of life desires truths, and acknowledges and accepts them. But this is never the case with evil of life.
People believe that the blood of the Lamb here and elsewhere in the Word symbolizes the Lord's suffering of the cross. But the suffering of the cross was the final temptation or trial by which the Lord completely overcame the hells and fully glorified His humanity. By these two means He saved mankind (see The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem Regarding the Lord, nos. 12-14, 15-17, and also no. 67 above). Moreover, because by His suffering of the cross the Lord fully glorified His humanity, which is to say, made it Divine, therefore nothing else can be meant by His flesh and blood but the Divinity in Him and emanating from Him - His flesh meaning the Divine goodness of His Divine love, and His blood meaning the Divine truth emanating from that goodness.
[2] Blood is mentioned many times in the Word, and everywhere it symbolizes, in the spiritual sense, either the Lord's Divine truth, which is the same as the Divine truth of the Word, or in an opposite sense, the Divine truth of the Word falsified or profaned, as can be seen from the following passages.
First, that blood symbolizes the Lord's Divine truth or the Divine truth of the Word can be seen from these passages:
Blood was called the blood of the covenant, and a covenant conjoins, a conjunction that the Lord accomplishes by His Divine truth. So, for example, in Zechariah:
By the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the pit... (Zechariah 9:11)
After Moses read the Book of the Law in the hearing of the people, he sprinkled half the blood on the people and said,
This is the blood of the covenant which Jehovah has made with you in accordance with all these words. (Exodus 24:3-8)
Moreover,
(Jesus) took the cup..., and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. ...this is My blood, the blood of the new covenant... (Matthew 26:27-28, cf. Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20)
The blood of the new covenant or testament symbolizes nothing else than the Word, which is called a covenant or testament - the Old Covenant or Testament, and the New Covenant or Testament - thus symbolizing the Divine truth in it.
[3] Since blood has this symbolic meaning, the Lord therefore gave His disciples wine, saying, "This is My blood" - wine symbolizing Divine truth (no. 316). Wine is also on that account called "the blood of grapes" (Genesis 49:11, Deuteronomy 32:14).
This is still further apparent from these words of the Lord:
Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you will have no life in you... For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. (John 6:53-56).
It is clearly apparent that blood here means Divine truth, because the text says that he who drinks has life, and abides in the Lord, and the Lord in him. This is the effect of Divine truth and a life in accordance with it, and an effect confirmed by the Holy Supper, as everyone in the church may know.
[4] Since blood symbolizes the Lord's Divine truth, which is the same as the Divine truth of the Word, and this is the essence of the Old and New Covenants or Testaments, therefore blood was the holiest representative symbol in the Israelite Church, in which every single thing corresponded to something spiritual. So, for example, the people were to take some of the blood of the paschal lamb and put it on the doorposts and lintel of their houses to keep the plague from coming upon them (Exodus 12:7, 13, 22). The blood of the burnt offering was to be sprinkled on the altar, at the base of the altar, on Aaron and his sons, and on their vestments (Exodus 29:12, 16, 20-21).
[5] The blood of the Lamb has a like symbolism in the following verses in the book of Revelation:
...war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon... And they overcame it by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony... (Revelation 12:7, 11)
For no one can think that Michael and his angels overcame the dragon with anything other than the Lord's Divine truth in the Word. Angels in heaven, indeed, cannot think of any blood, nor do they think of the Lord's suffering, but of His Divine truth and resurrection. Consequently, when a person thinks about the Lord's blood, angels perceive His Divine truth, and when a person thinks about the Lord's suffering, they perceive His glorification, and then only His resurrection. I have been granted to know the reality of this by much experience.
[6] That blood symbolizes Divine truth is apparent also from these verses in the book of Psalms:
(God) will save the souls of the needy... Precious shall be their blood in His sight. And they shall live, and He will give them the gold of Sheba. (Psalms 72:13-15)
The blood, precious in the sight of God, stands for Divine truth among those people. The gold of Sheba is the resulting wisdom.
In Ezekiel:
Gather together... to My great sacrifice... on the mountains of Israel, that you may eat flesh and drink blood. You shall... drink the blood of the princes of the earth... You shall... drink blood till you are drunk at My sacrifice which I am sacrificing for you... (Thus) I will set My glory among the nations. (Ezekiel 39:17-21)
Blood here does not mean blood, because the statement is that they will drink the blood of the princes of the earth and that they will drink blood till they are drunk. But the true meaning of the word emerges when blood is understood to mean Divine truth. The subject there, too, is the Lord's church, which He would establish among gentiles.
[7] Second, that blood symbolizes Divine truth can be clearly seen from its opposite meaning, in which it symbolizes the Divine truth of the Word falsified or profaned, as is apparent from these passages:
He who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil... (Isaiah 33:15)
You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; Jehovah abhors the bloody and deceitful man. (Psalms 5:6)
...everyone recorded for life in Jerusalem, when the Lord has... rinsed away (her) blood... from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of purification. (Isaiah 4:3-4)
...on the day you were born... I saw you trampled in your blood, and I said to you in your blood, "Live!" ...I washed you and rinsed away the blood upon you... (Ezekiel 16:5-6, 9, 22, 36, 38)
They wandered blind in the streets; they have defiled themselves with blood, and what they cannot touch, they touch with their garments. (Lamentations 4:13-14)
The garment is polluted with blood. (Isaiah 9:5)
Also on your skirts is found the blood of the souls of the innocent... (Jeremiah 2:34)
Your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings... (Isaiah 1:15-16)
...your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken a lie... They make haste to shed innocent blood. (Isaiah 59:3, 7)
...Jehovah is coming out... to visit the iniquity... of the earth; then the earth will disclose her blood... (Isaiah 26:21)
...as many as received Him, to them He gave the ability to be children of God..., who were born, not of blood... (John 1:12-13)
In (Babylon) was found the blood of prophets and saints... (Revelation 18:24)
...the sea... became as the blood of a dead man... ...the springs of water... became blood. (Revelation 16:3-4. Cf. Isaiah 15:9, Psalms 105:29)
The like is symbolized by the rivers, ponds, and pools of water in Egypt being turned into blood (Exodus 7:15-25).
...the moon (shall be turned) into blood, before the coming of the great... day of Jehovah. (Joel 2:31)
...the moon became... blood. (Revelation 6:12)
In these places and many others, blood symbolizes the truth of the Word falsified, and also profaned. But this can be seen more clearly when these passages in the Word are read in context.
So, then, since blood in an opposite sense symbolizes the truth of the Word falsified or profaned, it is apparent that blood in a true sense symbolizes the truth of the Word not falsified.
Luke 22
1
Now the feast of unleavened bread, which is called the Passover, drew near.
2
The chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put him to death, for they feared the people.
3
Satan entered into Judas, who was surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered with the twelve.
4
He went away, and talked with the chief priests and captains about how he might deliver him to them.
5
They were glad, and agreed to give him money.
6
He consented, and sought an opportunity to deliver him to them in the absence of the multitude.
7
The day of unleavened bread came, on which the Passover must be sacrificed.
8
He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat."
9
They said to him, "Where do you want us to prepare?"
10
He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him into the house which he enters.
11
Tell the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room, Where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"'
12
He will show you a large, furnished upper room. Make preparations there."
13
They went, found things as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
14
When the hour had come, he sat down with the twelve apostles.
15
He said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer,
16
for I tell you, I will no longer by any means eat of it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God."
17
He received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, "Take this, and share it among yourselves,
18
for I tell you, I will not drink at all again from the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom of God comes."
19
He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me."
20
Likewise, he took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
21
But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.
22
The Son of Man indeed goes, as it has been determined, but woe to that man through whom he is betrayed!"
23
They began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.
24
There arose also a contention among them, which of them was considered to be greatest.
25
He said to them, "The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called 'benefactors.'
26
But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves.
27
For who is greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves? Isn't it he who sits at the table? But I am in the midst of you as one who serves.
28
But you are those who have continued with me in my trials.
29
I confer on you a kingdom, even as my Father conferred on me,
30
that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. You will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
31
The Lord said, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat,
32
but I prayed for you, that your faith wouldn't fail. You, when once you have turned again, establish your brothers."
33
He said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!"
34
He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will by no means crow today until you deny that you know me three times."
35
He said to them, "When I sent you out without purse, and wallet, and shoes, did you lack anything?" They said, "Nothing."
36
Then he said to them, "But now, whoever has a purse, let him take it, and likewise a wallet. Whoever has none, let him sell his cloak, and buy a sword.
37
For I tell you that this which is written must still be fulfilled in me: 'He was counted with transgressors.' For that which concerns me has an end."
38
They said, "Lord, behold, here are two swords." He said to them, "That is enough."
39
He came out, and went, as his custom was, to the Mount of Olives. His disciples also followed him.
40
When he was at the place, he said to them, "Pray that you don't enter into temptation."
41
He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and he knelt down and prayed,
42
saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."
43
An angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him.
44
Being in agony he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.
45
When he rose up from his prayer, he came to the disciples, and found them sleeping because of grief,
46
and said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation."
47
While he was still speaking, behold, a multitude, and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus to kiss him.
48
But Jesus said to him, "Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"
49
When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said to him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?"
50
A certain one of them struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
51
But Jesus answered, "Let me at least do this"--and he touched his ear, and healed him.
52
Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and elders, who had come against him, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?
53
When I was with you in the temple daily, you didn't stretch out your hands against me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."
54
They seized him, and led him away, and brought him into the high priest's house. But Peter followed from a distance.
55
When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard, and had sat down together, Peter sat among them.
56
A certain servant girl saw him as he sat in the light, and looking intently at him, said, "This man also was with him."
57
He denied Jesus, saying, "Woman, I don't know him."
58
After a little while someone else saw him, and said, "You also are one of them!" But Peter answered, "Man, I am not!"
59
After about one hour passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Truly this man also was with him, for he is a Galilean!"
60
But Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you are talking about!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.
61
The Lord turned, and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord's word, how he said to him, "Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times."
62
He went out, and wept bitterly.
63
The men who held Jesus mocked him and beat him.
64
Having blindfolded him, they struck him on the face and asked him, "Prophesy! Who is the one who struck you?"
65
They spoke many other things against him, insulting him.
66
As soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together, both chief priests and scribes, and they led him away into their council, saying,
67
"If you are the Christ, tell us." But he said to them, "If I tell you, you won't believe,
68
and if I ask, you will in no way answer me or let me go.
69
From now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God."
70
They all said, "Are you then the Son of God?" He said to them, "You say it, because I am."
71
They said, "Why do we need any more witness? For we ourselves have heard from his own mouth!"
