Apocalypse Revealed＃383
383. "For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them." (7:17) This symbolically means that the Lord alone will teach them.
The Lamb in the midst of the throne symbolizes the Lord in respect to His Divine humanity in the inmost of heaven and thus in everything connected with it (no. 44). The throne is heaven (no. 14), and the Lamb is the Lord in respect to His Divine humanity (nos. 269, 291). And He who is in the inmost of heaven and thus in everything connected with it is the only one who shepherds all people, that is, who teaches them.
If a question is raised as to how He alone can shepherd all, be it known that it is because He is God, and because He is present in the whole of heaven like the soul in its body; for heaven, arising from Him, is like a single person.
To shepherd means to teach because in the Word the church is called a flock, and the people in the church are called sheep and lambs. Therefore to shepherd means, symbolically, to teach, and the shepherd one who teaches, and this in many places, as for example:
On that day your flocks will graze in a broad meadow. (Isaiah 33:23)
He will feed His flock like a shepherd. (Isaiah 40:11)
They shall graze along the roads, and have their pasture on all the hillsides. (Isaiah 49:9)
(Israel) shall graze on Carmel and Bashan. (Jeremiah 50:19)
...I will seek out My sheep... I will feed them in good pasture, and... in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. (Ezekiel 34:12-14)
You, Bethlehem Ephrathah, it is a small thing that you are among the thousands of Judah. Out of you shall come forth to Me One who will be Ruler in Israel... He shall stand and graze in the strength of Jehovah... (Micah 5:2, 4)
Feed Your people... Let them graze in Bashan and Gilead... (Micah 7:14)
The remnant of Israel... shall graze and lie down... (Zephaniah 3:13)
Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in pastures of tender grass. (Psalms 23:1-2)
(The Lord) chose David... to shepherd Jacob... and Israel... and he shepherded them... (Psalms 78:70-72)
Jesus said to Peter, "Feed My lambs." And a second and third time He said, "Feed my sheep." (John 21:15-17)
Psalms 77
1
I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
2
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.
3
I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.
4
Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5
I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
6
I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.
7
Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?
8
Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?
9
Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.
10
And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.
11
I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
12
I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
13
Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
14
Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.
15
Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
16
The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
17
The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.
18
The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
19
Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.
20
Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
