773. "Fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet." This symbolically means that these Roman Catholics no longer have these because they do not have any of the celestial goods and truths to which such things correspond.

The valuables mentioned previously - gold, silver, precious stones and pearls - in general symbolize spiritual goods and truths, as said in no. 772 above. However, the valuables here - fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet - in general symbolize celestial goods and truths. For in people in heaven and in the church some goods and truths are spiritual, and some goods and truths are celestial. Spiritual goods and truths are ones of wisdom, and celestial goods and truths are ones of love. And because the Roman Catholics meant here have none of these goods and truths, but evils and falsities that are their opposites, therefore these valuables are now mentioned, since they come next in sequence.

Now because the case with these valuables is the same as with the previous ones, no further explication is needed than the one presented in the previous number.

What fine linen symbolizes specifically we will say in the next chapter, in dealing with the words there, "for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints" (Revelation 19:8, nos. 814, 815). That purple symbolizes celestial good, and scarlet celestial truth, may be seen in no. 725 above. Silk symbolizes an intermediate celestial goodness and truth - goodness because of its softness, and truth because of its shine. It is mentioned only in Ezekiel 16:10, 13.

815. For the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. This symbolically means that through truths from the Word those who are of the Lord's church live good lives.

The fine linen symbolizes genuine truths, which are truths gained through the Word from the Lord, as in no. 814 just above. Righteous acts symbolize good lives in the case of people governed by truths (no. 668). Saints symbolize people who are of the Lord's church (nos. 173, 586).

Righteous acts are the practices of good lives in the case of people governed by truths, because no one can be called righteous unless he lives in accordance with truths. For in the natural sense a righteous person is everyone who lives rightly in accordance with civil and moral laws. But in the spiritual sense that person is called righteous who lives rightly in accordance with Divine laws, and Divine laws are truths from the Word. Someone who believes that he is righteous and so living a good life without living in accordance with truths is much deceived. For a person cannot be reformed and regenerated and so become good, except by means of truths and by a life in accordance with those truths.

It is apparent from this that the fine linen's being the righteous acts of the saints means, symbolically, that through truths from the Word those who are of the Lord's church live good lives.

This is clearly apparent in the case of angels in heaven. The more they are governed by truths and live in accordance with them, the brighter white the garments in which they appear clothed. That is because they enjoy a brighter light.

668. "For Your judgments have been manifested." This symbolically means that the truths in the Word openly attest to this.

Judgments symbolize the Divine truths in accordance with which a person is to live, truths which reveal his character and are the precepts against which he will be judged. Moreover, because these Divine truths are found in the Word, and the Word now lies open, testifying that the Lord alone is God of heaven and earth, therefore the declaration that "Your judgments have been manifested" means symbolically that the truths in the Word attest to this.

That the Word now lies open, testifying that the Lord alone is God of heaven and earth, that a person ought to live in accordance with His precepts, and that today's faith is to be rejected, can be seen from four doctrinal works now published, one being The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem Regarding the Lord, another The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem Regarding the Sacred Scripture, a third The Doctrine of Life for the New Jerusalem, and fourth The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem Regarding Faith. These are the doctrines meant by the declaration, "For Your judgments have been manifested."

[2] Since the Lord embodies Divine good and truth, and since judgment symbolizes Divine truth, and righteousness Divine good, therefore in many passages referring to the Lord we find mention of righteousness and judgment, as for example in the following:

Zion shall be redeemed in righteousness, and her repatriates with judgment. (Isaiah 1:27)

(He will sit) upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to... establish it with judgment and righteousness... (Isaiah 9:7)

Be Jehovah exalted, for He dwells on high, and has filled the earth with judgment and righteousness. (Isaiah 33:5)

...let him who glories glory in this..., that... Jehovah (exercises)...judgment and righteousness in the earth. (Jeremiah 9:24)

...I will raise to David a righteous Branch, who shall reign as a King... and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. (Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15)

I will betroth Myself to you forever... in righteousness and with judgment... (Hosea 2:19)

Judgment will flow like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream. (Amos 5:24)

Your righteousness, (O Jehovah,) is like the mountains of God, Your judgments like a great deep. (Psalms 36:6)

(Jehovah) shall bring forth His righteousness as the light, and judgment as the noonday. (Psalms 37:6)

(Jehovah) will judge His people with righteousness, and His wretched with judgment. (Psalms 72:2)

Righteousness and judgment are the foundation of His throne. (Psalms 89:14)

...when I learn the judgments of Your righteousness... Seven times a day I praise You because of the judgments of Your righteousness. (Psalms 119:7, 164)

And elsewhere that people ought to exercise righteousness and judgment, as in Isaiah 1:21; 5:16; 56:1; 58:2; Jeremiah 4:2; 22:3, 13, 15; Ezekiel 18:5; 33:14, 16, 19; Amos 6:12; Micah 7:9; Deuteronomy 33:21; John 16:8, 10-11. Righteousness there refers to the goodness of truth, and judgment to the truth accompanying goodness.

[3] Since judgment refers to truth, and righteousness to goodness, therefore in some places we find references to truth and righteousness, as in Isaiah 11:5, Psalms 85:11. Also in Psalms:

The judgments of Jehovah are true; they are righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold..., and sweeter than honey... (Psalms 19:9-10)

That the Lord's government in the celestial kingdom is termed one of righteousness, and in the spiritual kingdom one of judgment, may be seen in the book Heaven and Hell (published in London), nos. 214-216.