Apocalypse Revealed #216
216. "'Be zealous, therefore, and repent.'" This symbolically means, in order for this goal to come about from an affection for truth and an aversion to falsity.
The text here says, "Be zealous," because it said in verse 15 above, "Would that you were cold or hot," and the meaning here is for the angel to be hot; for zeal is a spiritual heat, and spiritual heat is an affection of love, here the affection of a love of truth. Moreover, someone who acts from an affection of the love of truth acts also from an aversion to falsity. Consequently this is the symbolic meaning of the command to repent.
In the Word, when zeal or jealousness is applied to the Lord, it symbolizes both love and anger - love in John 2:17, Psalms 69:9, Isaiah 37:32; 63:15, Ezekiel 39:25, Zechariah 1:14; 8:2, anger in Deuteronomy 32:16, 21, Psalms 79:5-6, Ezekiel 8:3, 5; 16:42; 23:25, Zephaniah 1:18; 3:8.
In the Lord's case, however, zeal or jealousness is not anger. It only seems as though it were in outward appearances. Inwardly it is love. It seems in outward appearances as though it were anger because the Lord appears to be angry when He admonishes a person, especially when the person is being punished by his evil, which love permits in order that his evil may be removed. The case is entirely like that of a parent. If he loves his children, he allows them to be chastised in order to remove their evils.
It is apparent from this why Jehovah declares Himself to be a jealous God (Deuteronomy 4:24; 5:9-10; 6:14-15).
Psalms 79
1
O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.
2
The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.
3
Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.
4
We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
5
How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?
6
Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.
7
For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.
8
O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.
9
Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.
10
Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed.
11
Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;
12
And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.
13
So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.
