Apocalypse Revealed #629
629. "And give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come." This symbolizes an acknowledgment and confession that all the Word's truth which makes the church a church comes from the Lord, and that everyone will be judged in accordance with it.
To give glory to Him means, symbolically, to acknowledge and confess that every truth comes from the Lord, as may be seen in no. 249 above; and because every truth that makes the church a church is drawn from the Word, it is the Word's truth that is meant. "For the hour of His judgment has come" means symbolically that everyone will be judged in accordance with the Word's truth. This is the symbolic meaning because to give glory to Him means, symbolically, to acknowledge and confess that the Word's truth all comes from the Lord, and we are told next, "for the hour of His judgment has come," the word "for" entailing this as the cause.
That everyone will be judged by the Word's truth may be seen in 233, 273 above. And that the church is founded on the Word, and that its character is such as its understanding of the Word, may be seen in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem Regarding the Sacred Scripture, nos. 76-79.
It is apparent from this that the spiritual meaning of these words is as stated. It is as stated because angels in heaven perceive glory to mean nothing else than Divine truth; and because all Divine truth comes from the Lord, they perceive giving glory to Him to mean an acknowledgment and confession that all truth comes from Him. For all glory in the heavens springs from no other origin, and to the extent that any society in heaven is governed by Divine truth, to the same extent everything in it is radiant, and the angels are surrounded by a commensurate glorious radiance.
[2] That glory means Divine truth can be seen from the following passages:
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of Jehovah... The glory of Jehovah shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it...." (Isaiah 40:3, 5)
...shine, for your light has come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon you... Jehovah will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. (Isaiah 60:1-2 to the end)
I will... give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles..., and My glory I will not give to another... (Isaiah 42:6, 8)
For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it... And I will not give My glory to another. (Isaiah 48:11)
They shall fear... His glory from the rising of the sun... The Redeemer will come to Zion... (Isaiah 59:19-20)
...your light shall break forth like the morning...; the glory of Jehovah shall gather you. (Isaiah 58:8)
...He will come to gather all nations and tongues, that they may... see My glory. (Isaiah 66:18)
(Jehovah said,) "I live, and all the earth shall be filled with the glory of Jehovah." (Numbers 14:21)
The whole earth is full of His glory! (Isaiah 6:1-3)
In the beginning was the Word..., and the Word was God... In Him was life, and the life was the light of men... That was the true Light... And the Word became flesh..., and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father... (John 1:1, 4, 9, 14)
These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory... (John 12:41)
And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with... glory. (Matthew 24:3, 30)
The heavens shall declare the glory of God... (Psalms 19:1)
Then the nations shall fear the name of Jehovah, and all the kings of the earth Your glory, because (He) built up Zion, (and) He appeared in His glory. (Psalms 102:15-16)
...the glory of God (will illuminate the Holy Jerusalem) and the Lamb is its light. And the nations (which) are saved shall walk in its light... (Revelation 21:23-25)
...the Son of Man (will come) in His glory...(to) sit on the throne of His glory. (Matthew 25:31, cf. Mark 8:38)
That the glory of Jehovah filled and covered the Tabernacle: Exodus 40:34-35, Numbers 14:10-12; 16:19; 16:42.
That it filled the house of Jehovah: 1 Kings 8:10-11.
And so on elsewhere as in Isaiah 24:23; Ezekiel 1:28; 8:4; 9:3; 10:4, 18-19; 11:22-23; Luke 2:32; 9:26; John 2:11; 7:18; 17:24.
Luke 2
1
Now it happened in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.
2
This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3
All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.
4
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;
5
to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.
6
It happened, while they were there, that the day had come that she should give birth.
7
She brought forth her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8
There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
9
Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10
The angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.
11
For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12
This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough."
13
Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,
14
"Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men."
15
It happened, when the angels went away from them into the sky, that the shepherds said one to another, "Let's go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."
16
They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough.
17
When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.
18
All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.
19
But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.
20
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.
21
When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22
When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord
23
(as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord"),
24
and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."
25
Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
26
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27
He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law,
28
then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29
"Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace;
30
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31
which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;
32
a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel."
33
Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him,
34
and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.
35
Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
36
There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,
37
and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn't depart from the temple, worshipping with fastings and petitions night and day.
38
Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.
39
When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
40
The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
41
His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.
42
When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast,
43
and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn't know it,
44
but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances.
45
When they didn't find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him.
46
It happened after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions.
47
All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48
When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you."
49
He said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?"
50
They didn't understand the saying which he spoke to them.
51
And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
