The Bible

 

Revelation 22

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1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst Come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Revealed #641

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641. "For their works follow them." This symbolically means, according as they have loved and believed and so have done and spoken.

The works that follow them symbolize everything that remains in a person after death.

People know that the outward acts that people see take their essence, soul and life from internal origins that people do not see, but which are seen by the Lord and by angels. Both of these, outward acts and internal origins, taken together are works - good works if the internal origins are impelled by love and faith, and if people do their outward acts and speak in accordance with them, but evil works if the internal origins are not impelled by love and faith, and if people do their outward acts and speak in accordance with these. If they do outward acts and speak only seemingly in accord with love and faith, those works and words are either hypocritical or merit-seeking.

Ten people may do the same works in outward appearance, but still the works are not alike, because the internal origins which produce the outward actions are not alike.

[2] Who does not see that there is an internal self and an external one, and that these two operate in concert? For who does not see that the intellect and will constitute a person's internal self, and his speech and action his external self? Indeed, who can speak or act apart from his intellect and will? And because everyone sees this, everyone can also see that works consist of the external manifestation and internal origin together. Moreover, because the external manifestation takes its essence, soul and life from its internal origin, as already said, it follows that the external manifestation is of the same character as its internal origin, consequently that the works that follow people are such as they have loved and believed and so have done and spoken.

That good works embody charity and faith may be seen in nos. 73, 76, 94, 141 above. And that a person's inner being or internal self does not consist in understanding without willing, but in willing and so understanding, consequently that it does not consist in believing without loving, but in loving and so believing, and that doing accordingly is a person's outward aspect or external self, may be seen in no. 625 above.

[3] It can be seen from this that the works that follow them means, symbolically, according as they have loved and believed and so have done and spoken.

Works have a similar symbolic meaning in the following passages:

...in the day of... judgment... God... will render to each one according to his works. (Romans 2:5-6)

...we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body..., whether good or evil. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

...the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father..., and then He will reward each according to his works. (Matthew 16:27)

They shall come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment. (John 5:29)

(They) were judged according to... the things which were written in the books..., each one according to his works. (Revelation 20:12-13)

Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. (Revelation 22:12)

I will give to each one of you according to his works. (Revelation 2:23)

I know your works... (Revelation 2:1-2, 4-5, 8-9, 13, 19, 26; 3:1-3, 7-8, 14-16)

I will repay them according to their work and according to the doing of their hands. (Jeremiah 25:14)

Jehovah... is dealing with us according to our ways and according to our works... (Zechariah 1:6)

And in many other places.

  
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Many thanks to the General Church of the New Jerusalem, and to Rev. N.B. Rogers, translator, for the permission to use this translation.

The Bible

 

Revelation 5

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1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts 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 that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, 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, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.