Apocalypse Revealed #613
613. Having His Father's name written on their foreheads. This symbolizes the acknowledgment out of love and faith among them of the Lord's Divinity and of His Divine humanity.
The name of the Father means the Lord in respect to the Divine called the Father from which springs all else, and at the same time in respect to His Divine humanity called the Son, since the two are one and the same person, united like a soul and body. In heaven, therefore, no other father than the Lord is meant by God the Father, and in the new heaven the Lord is also called Father.
We are told here that they had the Father's name on their foreheads because the Father also means the Divine goodness of the Lord's Divine love, which in the Gospels is everywhere meant by the Father when referred to by the Lord, while the Divine truth of His Divine wisdom is meant by the Son. When the Lord glorified His humanity, these two were united like a soul with its body and a body with its soul (see nos. 21, 170).
Because the two are one, therefore we find reference elsewhere to the name of God and of the Lamb being "on their foreheads" (Revelation 22:4). Therefore, with respect to the people who are the subject here, we are told that they had the Father's name written on their foreheads, inasmuch as the 144,000 that were sealed of the twelve tribes of Israel mean angels of the higher heavens, all of whom are prompted by the goodness of celestial love, and that is, as we said, the love meant by the Father.
That the angels who are the subject here are angels of the higher heavens may be seen in the exposition of chapter 7, especially in no. 369 there.
Having the name written on their foreheads symbolizes an acknowledgment in them out of love and faith - having it written or inscribed symbolizing an acknowledgment in them, and the forehead symbolizing love and the resulting intelligence or faith (nos. 347, 605).
[2] We say that the Divine called the Father and the Divine humanity called the Son are one like a soul and body, consequently that people must approach the Lord in His Divine humanity, and that in this way and in no other is the Divine called the Father approached; and this can be seen from so many passages in the Word that they would fill pages if we were to cite them all. We cited a number of them in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem Regarding the Lord, nos. 29-36 38-45, and later, and by way of confirmation we will present only some of them here, as follows:
The angel said to (Mary), ."..behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest...."
But Mary said..., "How shall this be, since I do not know a man?"
The angel answered..., "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore... the Holy One who is to be born of you will be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:30-35)
...an angel of the Lord appeared to (Joseph) in a dream, saying, ."..do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit...." ...and (Joseph) did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. (Matthew 1:20, 25)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word became flesh..., and we beheld His glory, as though the glory of the only begotten of the Father... (John 1:1-2, 14)
...the Jews sought... to kill (Jesus), because He... said that God was His Father, making Himself equal to God. Jesus answered..., ."..whatever (the Father) does, the Son also does in like manner. ...as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. ...assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming... when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. (John 5:18-25)
...as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself... (John 5:26)
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."
Philip said to Him, ."..show us the Father...."
Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long a time, and have you not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how then do you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I dwell in the Father, and the Father in Me? ...Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me...." (John 14:6-11)
"I give (My sheep) eternal life... I and My Father are one."
(Then the Jews were angered that He made Himself God. And He said, "I do the works of My Father.") ."..believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him." (John 10:28-38)
"He who sees Me sees Him who sent Me." (John 12:45)
"All things that the Father has are Mine." (John 16:15)
...that the Father had given all things into His hands... (John 13:3)
"Father..., ...You have given (Me) authority over all flesh... This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only... God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent... All that is Mine are Yours, and what are Yours are Mine...." (John 17:1-3, 10)
"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18)
"Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do...." (And) "I will do it." (John 14:13-14)
."..the Spirit of truth... will not speak on its own, but... will take of what is Mine and declare it to you." (John 16:13-14)
He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)
[3] And so on. There are still more passages in the Old Testament, some of which we will present also:
...unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, God, Hero, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
A virgin shall conceive... a Son, and His name shall be called God-With-Us. (Isaiah 7:14)
"Behold, the days are coming... when I will raise to David a righteous offshoot, who shall reign as a King... And this is His name by which He will be called: JEHOVAH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." (Jeremiah 23:5-6; 33:15-16)
Then it will be said in that day: "Behold, ...our God, for whom we have waited, for Him to free us, ...Jehovah, for whom we have waited; we will rejoice and be glad in His salvation." (Isaiah 25:9)
God is in you only, and... there is no other God. Surely You are God, who hide Yourself, O God of Israel, the Savior! (Isaiah 45:14-15)
Is it not I, Jehovah? And there is no other God besides Me; a just God and a Savior, there is none besides Me. (Isaiah 45:21-22)
I... am Jehovah, and besides Me there is no savior. (Isaiah 43:11)
I am Jehovah your God... and you shall acknowledge no God but Me; and there is no Savior besides Me. (Hosea 13:4)
...You (Jehovah) are our Father..., our Redeemer from of old Your name. (Isaiah 63:16)
Thus said Jehovah, the King of Israel, and His Redeemer, Jehovah Zebaoth: "I am the First and the Last, and besides Me there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6)
Thus said Jehovah, your Redeemer...: "I am Jehovah, who makes all things, ...all alone, ...by Myself." (Isaiah 44:24)
Thus said Jehovah, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am Jehovah your God...." (Isaiah 48:17)
...O Jehovah, my rock, and my Redeemer! (Psalms 19:14)
Their Redeemer is strong, Jehovah Zebaoth His name. (Jeremiah 50:34)
...Jehovah Zebaoth is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He shall be called the God of the whole earth. (Isaiah 54:5)
That all flesh may know that I, Jehovah, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. (Isaiah 49:26, cf. 60:16)
As for our Redeemer, Jehovah Zebaoth is His name... (Isaiah 47:4)
Thus said Jehovah, your Redeemer... (Isaiah 43:14, cf. 49:7)
And so elsewhere, as in Luke 1:68; Isaiah 62:11-12; 63:1, 4, 9.
And in Zechariah:
In that day... Jehovah shall become King over all the earth. In that day there shall be one Jehovah, and His name one. (Zechariah 14:8-9)
These are but a few of the passages.
2 Samuel 22
1
David spoke to Yahweh the words of this song in the day that Yahweh delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:
2
and he said, "Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine;
3
God, my rock, in him I will take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge. My savior, you save me from violence.
4
I will call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from my enemies.
5
For the waves of death surrounded me. The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
6
The cords of Sheol were around me. The snares of death caught me.
7
In my distress I called on Yahweh. Yes, I called to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry [came] into his ears.
8
Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, because he was angry.
9
Smoke went up out of his nostrils. Fire out of his mouth devoured. Coals were kindled by it.
10
He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet.
11
He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he was seen on the wings of the wind.
12
He made darkness pavilions around himself: gathering of waters, and thick clouds of the skies.
13
At the brightness before him, coals of fire were kindled.
14
Yahweh thundered from heaven. The Most High uttered his voice.
15
He sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and confused them.
16
Then the channels of the sea appeared. The foundations of the world were laid bare by the rebuke of Yahweh, At the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
17
He sent from on high and he took me. He drew me out of many waters.
18
He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
19
They came on me in the day of my calamity, but Yahweh was my support.
20
He also brought me out into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me.
21
Yahweh rewarded me according to my righteousness. He rewarded me according to the cleanness of my hands.
22
For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
23
For all his ordinances were before me. As for his statutes, I did not depart from them.
24
I was also perfect toward him. I kept myself from my iniquity.
25
Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in his eyesight.
26
With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man you will show yourself perfect.
27
With the pure you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.
28
You will save the afflicted people, But your eyes are on the haughty, that you may bring them down.
29
For you are my lamp, Yahweh. Yahweh will light up my darkness.
30
For by you, I run against a troop. By my God, I leap over a wall.
31
As for God, his way is perfect. The word of Yahweh is tested. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.
32
For who is God, besides Yahweh? Who is a rock, besides our God?
33
God is my strong fortress. He makes my way perfect.
34
He makes his feet like hinds' [feet], and sets me on my high places.
35
He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of brass.
36
You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your gentleness has made me great.
37
You have enlarged my steps under me. My feet have not slipped.
38
I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them. I didn't turn again until they were consumed.
39
I have consumed them, and struck them through, so that they can't arise. Yes, they have fallen under my feet.
40
For you have armed me with strength for the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
41
You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me.
42
They looked, but there was none to save; even to Yahweh, but he didn't answer them.
43
Then I beat them as small as the dust of the earth. I crushed them as the mire of the streets, and spread them abroad.
44
You also have delivered me from the strivings of my people. You have kept me to be the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known will serve me.
45
The foreigners will submit themselves to me. As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me.
46
The foreigners will fade away, and will come trembling out of their close places.
47
Yahweh lives! Blessed be my rock! Exalted be God, the rock of my salvation,
48
even the God who executes vengeance for me, who brings down peoples under me,
49
who brings me away from my enemies. Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man.
50
Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations. Will sing praises to your name.
51
He gives great deliverance to his king, and shows loving kindness to his anointed, to David and to his seed, forevermore."
