50. Was in the isle called Patmos. That this signifies revelation to the Gentiles, is evident from the signification of Patmos, as being the revelation contained in the Apocalypse. For all places mentioned in the Word signify things; and the things which they signify, are either from the worship there, from some memorable circumstance there enacted, or from their situation in or near the countries by which the religion of a nation is signified; hence Patmos signifies revelation, from the memorable fact that this revelation was there made to John. The reason why the revelation was made in an island is, that an island signifies a nation remote from true worship, but still desiring to be enlightened. That this is the signification of islands in the Word, will be evident from what follows. But something shall first be said concerning the circumstance that names of places in the Word signify things. All persons who are treated of in the Word, and also those by whom it was written, were led to places which had some signification, in order that all things might be significative of spiritual things; even the Lord Himself, for the same reason, went to similar places; as into Galilee, to Tyre and Sidon, to Jerusalem, and to the Mount of Olives there; and also, when an infant, He was carried into Egypt. That the case was the same with the prophets, and with several others mentioned in the historical Word, might be abundantly shown. For the same reason also, John was commanded to betake himself to the isle of Patmos, that the things which were to take place at the end of the church might be revealed there, because an isle signifies a nation about to receive the truths of doctrine. This isle is also in the Archipelago, where there are many other isles. This is why Greece in the Word signifies such nations, as thus in Dan. 8:21; 10:20; 11:2; John 12:20, 21; Mark 7:26, and following verses. (That all names of places in the Word signify things, may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 1224, 1264, 1876, 1888, 4310, 4442, 10329.)
[2] That isles signify nations about to embrace the true worship of God, is evident from the following passages in Isaiah:
"Glorify Jehovah in Urim, the name of the God of Israel in the isles of the sea" (24:15).
Again:
"He shall not extinguish, neither break to pieces, until he set judgment in the earth; and the isles shall hope in his law. Sing to Jehovah a new song, his praises, ye ends of the earth; ye that go down to the sea, the isles, and the inhabitants thereof, shall give glory to Jehovah, and shall announce his praise in the isles" (42:4, 10, 12).
Again:
"Listen, O isles, unto me, and hearken ye people from afar" (49:1).
Again:
"In me shall the islands hope, and upon mine arm shall they trust" (51:5).
Again:
"The islands shall trust in me, and the ships of Tarshish" (60:9).
In Jeremiah:
"Hear the words of Jehovah, O ye nations, and declare them in the islands from afar" (31:10).
And in Zephaniah:
Jehovah "will make lean all the gods of the land, that they may adore him, every one in his place; all the islands of the nations" (2:11).
And elsewhere, as in Isaiah 23:2, 6; 41:1, 5; 42:15; 66:19; Jerem. 2:10; 25:22; Ezekiel 27:3, 7, 15, 35. From these and other passages it is evident that isles signify the nations [or Gentiles], specifically as to the doctrine of truth, and elsewhere as to the doctrine of falsity; for most things in the Word have also opposite significations.
