241. (Revelation 3:18) I counsel thee. That this signifies the means of reformation of those who hold the doctrine of faith alone, is evident from the things that now follow; for the reformation of those who are in that doctrine is now treated of; hence, I counsel thee, involves precepts how they ought to live in order that they may be reformed, and so be saved.

180. As in heaven the angels are clothed with garments, so when seen in the world they have appeared clothed with garments, as those seen by the prophets and those seen at the Lord's sepulchre:

Whose appearance was as lightning, and their garments glistening and white (Matthew 28:3; Mark 16:5; Luke 24:4; John 20:12, 13);

and those seen in heaven by John:

Who had garments of fine linen and white (Revelation 4:4; Revelation 19:14).

And because intelligence is from Divine truth:

The garments of the Lord, when He was transfigured, were radiant and glistening white like the light (Matthew 17:2; Mark 9:3; Luke 9:29).

As light is Divine truth going forth from the Lord (see above (Heaven and Hell 129), 129), so in the Word garments signify truths and intelligence from truths, as in the Apocalypse:

Those that have not defiled their garments shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He that overcometh shall be clothed in white garments (Apocalypse 3:4, 5);

Blessed is he that is awake and keepeth his garments (Apocalypse 16:15).

And of Jerusalem, which means a church that is in truth, ¹ it is written in Isaiah:

Awake, put on thy strength, O Zion; put on the garments of thy beauty, O Jerusalem (Isaiah 52:1).

And in Ezekiel:

Jerusalem, I girded thee about with fine linen, and covered thee with silk. Thy garments were of fine linen and silk (16: 10, 13);

besides many other passages. But he who is not in truths is said "not to be clothed with a wedding garment," as in Matthew:

When the king came in he saw a man that had not on a wedding garment; and he said unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? Wherefore he was cast out into the outer darkness (Matthew 22:11-13).

The house of the wedding feast means heaven and the church because of the conjunction of the Lord with heaven and the church by means of His Divine truth; and for this reason the Lord is called in the Word the Bridegroom and Husband; and heaven, with the church, is called the bride and the wife.

Примітки:

1150. That 'the sons of Japheth' means those who possessed external worship corresponding to internal has been stated already. It is called external worship corresponding to internal when the worship has what is essential within it. And that which is essential is adoration of the Lord from the heart, which in no sense exists unless charity, or love towards the neighbour, is present. It is in charity or love towards the neighbour that the Lord is present, in which case it is possible for Him to be adored from the heart. Thus it is from the Lord that adoration comes, for the Lord makes all adoration possible and gives it all its being. It follows therefore that as is a person's charity, so is his adoration or worship. All worship is adoration, for adoration of the Lord must be in it for it to be worship. The sons of Japheth, that is, the nations and peoples called the sons of Japheth, lived with one another in mutual charity, in friendship, in civility, and in simplicity, and consequently the Lord was present in their worship. For when the Lord is present in external worship internal worship is in that case within the external, that is, there is external worship corresponding to internal. In former times very many nations were such, and nations also exist at the present day who focus worship on external things without knowing what the internal is. And if they do know they give no thought to those matters. If those people acknowledge the Lord and love the neighbour, the Lord is in their worship and they are 'sons of Japheth'. But if they deny the Lord, love only themselves and do not care about the neighbour, worse still if they hate him, then their worship is external separated from internal, and they are 'sons of Canaan' or Canaanites.