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.
John 13
1
Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2
During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him,
3
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came forth from God, and was going to God,
4
arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
5
Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6
Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?"
7
Jesus answered him, "You don't know what I am doing now, but you will understand later."
8
Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I don't wash you, you have no part with me."
9
Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!"
10
Jesus said to him, "Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you."
11
For he knew him who would betray him, therefore he said, "You are not all clean."
12
So when he had washed their feet, put his outer garment back on, and sat down again, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you?
13
You call me, 'Teacher' and 'Lord.' You say so correctly, for so I am.
14
If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
15
For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.
16
Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither one who is sent greater than he who sent him.
17
If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
18
I don't speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen. But that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.'
19
From now on, I tell you before it happens, that when it happens, you may believe that I am he.
20
Most certainly I tell you, he who receives whomever I send, receives me; and he who receives me, receives him who sent me."
21
When Jesus had said this, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, "Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me."
22
The disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom he spoke.
23
One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was at the table, leaning against Jesus' breast.
24
Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, and said to him, "Tell us who it is of whom he speaks."
25
He, leaning back, as he was, on Jesus' breast, asked him, "Lord, who is it?"
26
Jesus therefore answered, "It is he to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it." So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
27
After the piece of bread, then Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly."
28
Now no man at the table knew why he said this to him.
29
For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus said to him, "Buy what things we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor.
30
Therefore, having received that morsel, he went out immediately. It was night.
31
When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.
32
If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him immediately.
33
Little children, I will be with you a little while longer. You will seek me, and as I said to the Jews, 'Where I am going, you can't come,' so now I tell you.
34
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another.
35
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
36
Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "where I am going, you can't follow now, but you will follow afterwards."
37
Peter said to him, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."
38
Jesus answered him, "Will you lay down your life for me? Most certainly I tell you, the rooster won't crow until you have denied me three times.
