Apocalypse Revealed #830
830. 19:16 And He has on His garment and on His thigh a name written: "King of kings and Lord of lords." This symbolically means that the Lord teaches in the Word who He is, that He is the Divine truth of Divine wisdom and the Divine goodness of Divine love, thus that He is God of the universe.
The Lord's garment symbolizes the Word in respect to Divine truth, as in no. 825 above. The Lord's thigh symbolizes the Word in respect to Divine goodness. Because thighs and loins symbolize married love, and because that love is the fundamental love of all loves, therefore thighs and loins symbolize the goodness of love. That this is due to its correspondence may be seen in no. 213 above. Therefore, when a thigh is mentioned in reference to the Lord, it symbolizes the Lord in respect to the goodness of love, and here the Word as well in that respect. Having a name written symbolizes the character of the Lord, as in no. 824 above. "King of kings" means the Lord in respect to the Divine truth of His Divine wisdom, and "Lord of lords" means the Lord in respect to the Divine goodness of His Divine love. The Lord's kingdom and His dominion have the same symbolic meaning in places where both are mentioned (see no. 664 above).
[2] Because the Lord is called King of kings and Lord of lords, and this means the Lord in respect to both Divine truth and Divine good, therefore the name is said to have been written on His garment and on His thigh; and the name written on His garment symbolizes the Word in respect to Divine truth, while the name written on His thigh symbolizes the Word in respect to Divine goodness, both being contained in the Word. The Word's Divine truth is found in its spiritual sense, which is intended for angels of the intermediate or second heaven, who possess intelligence stemming from Divine truths; and the Word's Divine goodness is found in its celestial sense, which is intended for angels of the highest or third heaven, who possess wisdom stemming from Divine goods. But this latter sense is deeply hidden, being perceptible only to people who possess love toward the Lord from the Lord.
That the one on the white horse here is the Lord is explicitly said above in the book of Revelation:
These will do battle with the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings. (Revelation 17:14)
[3] That a thigh symbolizes the goodness of love, and in reference to the Lord, the Divine goodness of His Divine love, is clear from the following passages in the Word:
Righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins, and truth the girdle of His thighs. (Isaiah 11:5)
...over (the cherubim's) heads was... the appearance of a man (on a throne).... From the appearance of His loins and upward..., and from the appearance of His loins and downward..., (there was) the appearance of fire and of brightness all around. (Ezekiel 1:26-28)
The man on the throne means the Lord. The appearance of fire from His loins upward and downward symbolizes His Divine love, and the brightness all around symbolizes the Divine wisdom emanating from it.
(Daniel saw a man) whose loins were girded with gold of Uphaz. (Daniel 10:5)
The man was an angel having the Lord in him. Gold of Uphaz symbolizes the goodness of love.
The thighs or loins have the same symbolic meaning in Isaiah 5:27, Psalms 45:3, and elsewhere.
Regarding the correspondence of the thighs or loins with married love, which is the fundamental love of all loves, see Arcana Coelestia (The Secrets of Heaven), nos. 5050-5062.
Psalms 45
1
My heart overflows with a noble theme. I recite my verses for the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer.
2
You are the most excellent of the sons of men. Grace has anointed your lips, therefore God has blessed you forever.
3
Strap your sword on your thigh, mighty one: your splendor and your majesty.
4
In your majesty ride on victoriously on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness. Let your right hand display awesome deeds.
5
Your arrows are sharp. The nations fall under you, with arrows in the heart of the king's enemies.
6
Your throne, God, is forever and ever. A scepter of equity is the scepter of your kingdom.
7
You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
8
All your garments smell like myrrh, aloes, and cassia. Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made you glad.
9
Kings' daughters are among your honorable women. At your right hand the queen stands in gold of Ophir.
10
Listen, daughter, consider, and turn your ear. Forget your own people, and also your father's house.
11
So the king will desire your beauty, honor him, for he is your lord.
12
The daughter of Tyre comes with a gift. The rich among the people entreat your favor.
13
The princess inside is all glorious. Her clothing is interwoven with gold.
14
She shall be led to the king in embroidered work. The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to you.
15
With gladness and rejoicing they shall be led. They shall enter into the king's palace.
16
Your sons will take the place of your fathers. You shall make them princes in all the earth.
17
I will make your name to be remembered in all generations. Therefore the peoples shall give you thanks forever and ever. For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.
