Verse 23. And this desire is approved by the conscience instructed by Divine truth; and it selects from the faculties of the mind every thought and volition which is suitable for the purpose.

249. And when the living creatures gave glory and honor and thanks to Him who sat on the throne. (4:9) This symbolically means that the Word ascribes all truth and good and all worship to the Lord, who is about to judge.

The living creatures are the Word, as we have shown. Glory and honor referring to the Lord mean that all truth and good belong to Him and spring from Him. Thanks means all worship. He who sat on the throne is the Lord in relation to judgment, as before. Hence it is apparent that the statement, "when the living creatures gave glory and honor and thanks to Him who sat on the throne," symbolically means that the Word ascribes all truth and good and all worship to the Lord, who is about to judge.

To give glory and honor to the Lord has no other meaning in the Word than to acknowledge and confess that all truth and good come from Him, thus that He alone is God; for glory belongs to Him owing to His Divine truth, and honor owing to His Divine good.

[2] Glory and honor have these symbolic meanings in the following places:

Jehovah made the heavens. Glory and honor are before Him. (Psalms 96:5-6)

Jehovah... God, You are very great; You are clothed with glory and honor. (Psalms 104:1)

Great are the works of Jehovah... Glory and honor are His work... (Psalms 111:2-3)

Glory and honor You will place upon him... blessings to eternity. (Psalms 21:5-6, said in reference to the Lord.)

Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One in... glory and... honor. In Your honor mount up, ride upon the word of truth... (Psalms 45:3-4)

You have made him a little less than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor. (Psalms 8:5)

The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the honor of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of Jehovah, (and) the honor of our God. (Isaiah 35:2)

All of this is said in reference to the Lord, and also elsewhere, as in Psalms 145:4-5, 12 and Revelation 21:24, 26.

Moreover, where the Word speaks of Divine truth, it uses the term glory (no. 629), and where it speaks of Divine good, it uses the term honor.