Apocalypse Revealed #316
316. "And do not harm the oil and the wine." This symbolizes the Lord's provision that they not violate and profane the goods and truths concealed inwardly in the Word.
Oil symbolizes the goodness of love, and wine the truth springing from that goodness. Thus the oil here symbolizes sacred goodness, and the wine sacred truth. The Lord's provision that these not be violated and profaned is symbolized by the people's being told not to harm them. For this instruction came from the midst of the four living creatures, thus from the Lord (no. 314). Whatever the Lord says He also provides. That this is something He provides may be seen in nos. 314 and 255 above.
That oil symbolizes the goodness of love - this we will see in nos. 778, 779 below.
That wine symbolizes the truth springing from that goodness is clear from the following passages:
Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes..., buy wine and milk without money... (Isaiah 55:1)
It shall come to pass in that day that the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills flow with milk... (Joel 3:18, cf. Amos 9:13-14)
Joy is taken away... from Carmel, and in the vineyards there will be no singing... No treaders will tread out wine in the presses; I have made their shouting cease. (Isaiah 16:10, cf. Jeremiah 48:32-33)
Carmel symbolizes the spiritual church, because it had vineyards there.
[2] ...wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the new wine, for it has been cut off from your mouth... The vinedressers have wailed... (Joel 1:5, 10-11)
Almost the same images occur in Hosea 9:2-3.
He washes his clothing in wine, and His vesture in the blood of grapes. His eyes are red with wine... (Genesis 49:11-12)
The subject is the Lord, and the wine symbolizes Divine truth. That is why the Lord instituted the Holy Supper, in which the bread symbolizes the Lord in respect to Divine good, and the wine the Lord in respect to Divine truth; and in their recipients the bread symbolizes a sacred goodness, and the wine sacred truth, received from the Lord. Therefore He said,
I say to you, that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you... in My Father's kingdom. (Matthew 26:29, cf. Luke 22:18)
Because bread and wine have these symbolic meanings, so too Melchizedek, going to meet Abram, brought out bread and wine, he being a priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram (Genesis 14:18-19).
[3] The grain offering and drink offering used in sacrifices had similar symbolic meanings, as described in Exodus 29:40, Leviticus 23:12-13, 18-19ff. The grain offering was an offering of wheat flour, thus taking the place of bread, and the drink offering was an offering of wine.
It can be seen from this what these words of the Lord symbolize:
Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins... But they put the... wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved. (Matthew 9:17, cf. Luke 5:37-38)
New wine is the Divine truth in the New Testament, thus in the New Church, and the old wine is the Divine truth in the Old Testament, thus in the old church.
A similar idea is symbolized by these words of the Lord at the wedding in Cana of Galilee:
Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now! (John 2:1-10)
[4] Something similar is symbolized by the wine in the Lord's parable concerning the man wounded by thieves, on whose wound the Samaritan poured oil and wine (Luke 10:33-34); for the man wounded by thieves means people whom the Jews wounded spiritually by evils and falsities, and to whom the Samaritan brought aid by pouring oil and wine on their wounds, that is, by teaching them goodness and truth, and as far as possible, healing them.
Sacred truth is symbolized by wine and new wine also elsewhere in the Word, as in Isaiah 1:21-22; 25:6; 36:17.
[5] Because of this, a vineyard in the Word symbolizes a church that possesses truths from the Lord.
That wine symbolizes sacred truth can be seen also from its opposite meaning, in which it symbolizes truth falsified and profaned, as in the following places:
Harlotry, wine, and new wine have taken hold of the heart... Their wine is gone, they commit harlotry continually. (Hosea 4:11, 18)
Harlotry symbolizes the falsification of truth, and so, too, do the wine and new wine here.
...in the hand of Jehovah a cup, and He mixed it with wine; He filled it with the mixture and poured it out, and its dregs shall all the wicked of the earth, sucking, drink. (Psalms 75:8)
Babylon was a golden cup in Jehovah's hand, that made all the earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; therefore they are deranged. (Jeremiah 51:7)
Babylon has fallen..., because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication... If anyone worships the beast..., he shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed with undiluted wine in the cup of the wrath (of God). (Revelation 14:8-10)
(Babylon has made) all the nations (drink) of the wine... of her fornication. (Revelation 18:3)
...great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath. (Revelation 16:19)
...the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication. (Revelation 17:1-2)
[6] The wine that Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, and his lords and wives and concubines drank from the vessels of the Temple in Jerusalem, while they praised the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone (Daniel 5:2-4) - that wine symbolized nothing else but the sacred truth of the Word and church profaned, which is why the writing then appeared on the wall, and the king that very night was slain (Daniel 5:25, 30)
Wine symbolizes truth falsified also in Isaiah 5:11-12, 21-22; 28:1, 3, 7; 29:9; 56:11-12.
The drink offering that they poured out as an offering to idols has the same symbolic meaning in Isaiah 65:11; 57:6; Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17-19; Ezekiel 20:28; Deuteronomy 32:38.
It is owing to its correspondence that wine symbolizes sacred truth, and in an opposite sense, truth profaned. For when a person reads "wine" in the Word, angels - who apprehend everything spiritually - have just this interpretation of it. Such is the correspondence between the natural thoughts of people and the spiritual thoughts of angels. The case is the same with the wine in the Holy Supper. That is why the Holy Supper occasions an introduction into heaven (no. 224 at the end).
Apocalypse Revealed #256
256. CHAPTER 5
1. And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
2. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book and to loose its seals?"
3. And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book, or to look in it.
4. So I wept much, that no one was found worthy to open and read the book, or to look in it.
5. But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book and to loose its seven seals."
6. And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing as though slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
7. Then He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
8. Now when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a lyre, and a golden bowl full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9. And they sang a new song, saying, "You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals, because You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10. and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth."
11. Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,
12. saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and... honor and glory and blessing!"
13. And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying, "Blessing and honor and glory and strength be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!"
14. Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
THE SPIRITUAL MEANING
The Contents of the Whole Chapter
The meaning is that the Lord in His Divine humanity will execute a judgment based on the Word and in accordance with it, because He embodies the Word; and that all in the three heavens acknowledge this.
The Contents of the Individual Verses:
| Verse Contents | Spiritual Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1. And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, | The Lord in respect to His underlying Divinity from eternity, to whom belongs omnipotence and omniscience, and who embodies the Word, |
| sealed with seven seals. | the Word completely hidden from angel and man. |
| 2. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, | Divine truth flowing in from the Lord deeply in angels and people. |
| "Who is worthy to open the book and to loose its seals?" | Who has the power to know the states of life of all in heaven and on earth and to judge each one according to his state? |
| 3. And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able | No one in the higher heavens or in the lower heavens [had the power] |
| to open the book, | to know the states of life of all and to judge each one according to his state. |
| or to look in it. | Not the least power. |
| 4. So I wept much, that no one was found worthy to open and read the book, or to look in it. | Grief of heart, that if no one could do this, all would perish. |
| 5. But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. | Consolation. |
| Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed | The Lord, who by His own power conquered the hells and put everything into order when He was in the world, through the Divine goodness united to the Divine truth in His humanity. |
| to open the book and to loose its seven seals." | The same here as before [verses 2, 3]. |
| 6. And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, | From the inmost elements of heaven, the Word, and the church, and so in all their constituents. |
| a Lamb standing as though slain, | The Lord in respect to His humanity not acknowledged in the church as Divine. |
| having seven horns | His omnipotence. |
| and seven eyes, | His omniscience and Divine wisdom, |
| which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. | that from it emanates Divine truth throughout the whole world, wherever religion is found. |
| 7. Then He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. | The Lord in respect to His Divine humanity embodies the Word, and this from His Divinity within Him, and thus He will execute judgment based on His Divine humanity. |
| 8. Now when He had taken the book, | When the Lord prepared to execute judgment, and thereby put back into order everything in heaven and on earth. |
| the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, | A humility and worship of the Lord on the part of the higher heavens. |
| each having a lyre, | A confession of the Lord's Divine humanity springing from spiritual truths. |
| and a golden bowl full of incense, | A confession of the Lord's Divine humanity springing from spiritual goods. |
| which are the prayers of the saints. | Thoughts that are matters of faith springing from affections that are matters of charity in people who worship the Lord in accord with spiritual goods and truths. |
| 9. And they sang a new song, | An acknowledgment and glorification of the Lord as being the only judge, redeemer and savior, thus God of heaven and earth. |
| saying, "You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals, | The same here as before [verses 2, 3]. |
| because You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood, | Deliverance from hell and salvation by conjunction with Him. |
| out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, | The Lord has redeemed those in the church or in any other religion who are impelled by truths in respect to their doctrine and by goods in respect to their life. |
| 10. and have made us kings and priests to our God; | They have from the Lord wisdom from Divine truths and love from Divine goods. |
| and we shall reign on the earth." | And they will dwell in His kingdom, He in them and they in Him. |
| 11. Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; | A confession and glorification of the Lord by angels of the lower heavens, |
| and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, | all possessing truths and goods. |
| 12. saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and... honor and glory | A confession from the heart that to the Lord in His Divine humanity belong omnipotence, omniscience, Divine good and Divine truth - |
| and blessing!" | all these being in Him, and from Him in them. |
| 13. And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying, | A confession and glorification of the Lord by angels of the lowest heavens, |
| "Blessing and honor and glory and strength be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!" | that present in the Lord from eternity and so in His Divine humanity is everything of heaven and the church - Divine good and truth, and Divine power - and that these are present in them from Him. |
| 14. Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" | A Divine confirmation from the Word. |
| And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever. | Humility before the Lord on the part of all in the heavens, and out of humility worship of Him, from whom and in whom is eternal life. |
THE EXPOSITION
And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back. (5:1) This symbolizes the Lord in respect to His underlying Divinity from eternity, to whom belongs omnipotence and omniscience, and who embodies the Word, who also of Himself knows the states of life of all in heaven and on earth, in every particular and in their entirety.
He who sat on the throne means the Lord in respect to His underlying Divinity from which His humanity originates, for the statement follows that the Lamb took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne (verse 7), and the Lamb means the Lord in respect to His humanity. The book written inside and on the back means the Word in every particular and in its entirety - "inside" meaning in every particular, and "on the back," in its entirety. Inside and on the back also mean the inner meaning of the Word, which is spiritual, and its outer meaning, which is natural. The right hand means the Lord in respect to His omnipotence and omniscience, because the subject is the exploration of all in heaven and on earth on whom the Last Judgment would fall, and their separation.
As the embodiment of the Word, the Lord knows of Himself the states of life of all in heaven and on earth, because He is Divine truth itself, and Divine truth itself, of itself, knows everything. This, however, is a secret which we disclosed in Angelic Wisdom Regarding Divine Love and Wisdom.
The fact that the Lord was the Word, that is to say, Divine truth, in respect to His Divinity from eternity is apparent from this statement in John:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)
And the fact that the Lord came to embody the Word even in respect to His humanity, from this statement also in John:
And the Word became flesh... (John 1:14)
It can be seen from this what is meant by the testimony that the book was in right hand of Him who sat on the throne, and that the Lamb took the book from it (verse 7).
[2] Since the Lord embodies the Word, and the Word is the Divine truth which forms heaven and the church in general, and each angel in particular so as to have heaven in him, and each person so as to have the church in him, and because the Word is here meant by the book on the basis of which and according to which all are to be judged, therefore we find references here and there to being written in the book, to being judged on the basis of the book, and to being blotted out from the book, where the subject is someone's state of eternal life, as in the following places:
(The Ancient of Days) sat in judgment, and the books were opened. (Daniel 7:10)
...your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1)
My frame was not hidden from You... ...on Your book were written all the days..., and not one of them is missing. (Psalms 139:15-16)
(Moses said,) ."..I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written." And Jehovah said..., "He who has sinned against Me, him I will blot out of My book." (Exodus 32:32-33)
Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous. (Psalms 69:28)
I saw (that) books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to the things which were written in the Book, according to their works..., and if anyone was not found written in the Book of Life, he was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:12-15)
There shall not enter into (the New Jerusalem) anything... but those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. (Revelation 21:27)
All... will worship (the beast), whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb... (Revelation 13:8, cf. 17:8)
That the Book means the Word may be seen in the book of Psalms:
In the scroll of the book it is written of me. (Psalms 40:7)
And in Ezekiel:
I looked, and lo, there was a hand stretched out to me, and... in it the scroll of a book... written in front and in back... (Ezekiel 2:9-10)
...the book of the words of Isaiah... (Luke 3:4)
...the Book of Psalms... (Luke 20:42)
