Apocalypse Explained #660
660. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them and shall be glad.- That this signifies the delights of infernal love with those who are opposed to the goods and truths of the church, is evident from the signification of they that dwell upon the earth, as denoting those who are in the church; in the present case, those therein who are in evils and in falsities therefrom, consequently those who are opposed to its goods and truths; and from the signification of rejoicing and being glad, as denoting here the delight of infernal love; for all joy and all gladness is from love. For every one rejoices and is glad when his love is favoured, and when he is in pursuit of and attains the object of his love; in a word, all man's joy proceeds from his love, and all sadness and grief of mind from antagonism to his love.
[2] It is said "to rejoice and to be glad" because of the marriage of good and truth. For joy is said of good because it relates to love, as it properly pertains to the heart and will, and gladness is said of truth, because it relates to love of truth, as it properly pertains to the mind and its thought; therefore we say "joy of heart" and "gladness of mind." For everywhere in the Word two expressions occur, one of which has reference to good and the other to truth, and this is the case because the conjunction of good and truth makes both heaven and the church, therefore both heaven and the church are compared to a marriage, from the fact that the Lord is called the bridegroom and husband, and heaven and the church, the bride and wife. He therefore who is not in that marriage is neither an angel of heaven, nor a man of the church. The reason of this also is, that good is not possible with any one unless formed by truths, nor is truth possible unless it lives from good. For all truth is the form of good, and all good is the esse of truth, and because one is not possible without the other, it follows that the marriage of good and truth must necessarily exist both with the men of the church and the angels of heaven; also all intelligence and wisdom are from that marriage, for from it truths and goods are being continually born, by which the understanding and will are formed.
[3] These things have been stated to make it clear why it is said "to rejoice and be glad;" for to rejoice is stated of good and its love or affection, and to be glad is stated of truth, and its love or affection. Similarly also in many other parts of the Word, in the following passages:
"The heavens shall be glad and the earth shall rejoice" (Psalm 96:11).
"Let all that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee" (Psalm 40:16; 70:4).
"The just shall be glad, and exult before God, and shall rejoice in gladness" (Psalm 68:3).
"That we may rejoice all our days, make us glad according to the days thou hast afflicted us" (Psalm 90:14, 15).
"Be glad in Jerusalem, and exult in her, all ye that love her, rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn over her" (Isaiah 66:10).
"Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom" (Lamentations 4:21).
"Behold joy and gladness; killing the ox" (Isaiah 22:13).
"They shall obtain joy and gladness, sadness and sighing shall flee away" (Isaiah 35:10; 51:11).
"Joy and gladness shall be found in Zion, confession and the voice of singing" (Isaiah 51:3).
"Thou wilt make me to hear joy and gladness" (Psalm 51:8).
"Gladness and joy are cut off from the house of our God" (Joel 1:16).
"The fast of the tenth month shall be to the house of Judah for joy and for gladness" (Zech. 8:19).
"The voice of joy and the voice of gladness, and the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride" (Jeremiah 7:34; 25:10; 33:11).
[4] In the place of joy, exultation is also mentioned, because exultation like joy, is said of good, because it relates to love, to the heart and to the will; as in the following passages:
"Jacob shall exult, Israel shall be glad" (Psalm 14:7; 53:6).
"I exult and am glad in thy kindness" (Psalm 31:7).
"Be glad in Jehovah, and exult, O ye just" (Psalm 32:11).
"The mount of Zion shall be glad, and the daughters of Judah shall exult" (Psalm 48:11).
"Let all that trust in thee be glad, and let them that love thy name exult in thee" (Psalm 5:11).
"This is the day which Jehovah hath made, we will exult and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24).
"We will exult and be glad in his salvation" (Isaiah 25:9).
"Be glad and exult for ever in the things which I create" (Isaiah 65:18).
"Exult and be glad that Jehovah hath magnified his doing" (Joel 2:21).
"Sons of Zion exult and be glad in Jehovah your God" (Joel 2:23; Habakkuk 3:18).
"Be glad and exult with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem" (Zephan. 3:14).
"Gladness and exultation are taken away from Carmel" (Isaiah 16:10; Jeremiah 48:33).
The angel said unto Zacharias, "Thou shalt have gladness and exultation, and many shall rejoice at his birth" (Luke 1:14).
In all these passages, exultation signifies delight from the love and affection for good, and gladness signifies pleasure from the love and affection for truth.
Psalms 31
1
In you, Yahweh, I take refuge. Let me never be disappointed. Deliver me in your righteousness.
2
Bow down your ear to me. Deliver me speedily. Be to me a strong rock, a house of defense to save me.
3
For you are my rock and my fortress, therefore for your name's sake lead me and guide me.
4
Pluck me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me, for you are my stronghold.
5
Into your hand I commend my spirit. You redeem me, Yahweh, God of truth.
6
I hate those who regard lying vanities, but I trust in Yahweh.
7
I will be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness, for you have seen my affliction. You have known my soul in adversities.
8
You have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy. You have set my feet in a large place.
9
Have mercy on me, Yahweh, for I am in distress. My eye, my soul, and my body waste away with grief.
10
For my life is spent with sorrow, my years with sighing. My strength fails because of my iniquity. My bones are wasted away.
11
Because of all my adversaries I have become utterly contemptible to my neighbors, A fear to my acquaintances. Those who saw me on the street fled from me.
12
I am forgotten from their hearts like a dead man. I am like broken pottery.
13
For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side, while they conspire together against me, they plot to take away my life.
14
But I trust in you, Yahweh. I said, "You are my God."
15
My times are in your hand. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.
16
Make your face to shine on your servant. Save me in your loving kindness.
17
Let me not be disappointed, Yahweh, for I have called on you. Let the wicked be disappointed. Let them be silent in Sheol.
18
Let the lying lips be mute, which speak against the righteous insolently, with pride and contempt.
19
Oh how great is your goodness, which you have laid up for those who fear you, which you have worked for those who take refuge in you, before the sons of men!
20
In the shelter of your presence you will hide them from the plotting of man. You will keep them secretly in a dwelling away from the strife of tongues.
21
Praise be to Yahweh, for he has shown me his marvelous loving kindness in a strong city.
22
As for me, I said in my haste, "I am cut off from before your eyes." Nevertheless you heard the voice of my petitions when I cried to you.
23
Oh love Yahweh, all you his saints! Yahweh preserves the faithful, and fully recompenses him who behaves arrogantly.
24
Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in Yahweh. By David. A contemplative psalm.
