907. Having upon his head a golden crown. That this signifies Divine good girded for judgment, is evident from the signification of a golden crown upon the head, as here denoting the Divine good girded for judgment; because the subject treated of in what now follows, is the separation of the good from the evil, which separation precedes the Last Judgment; thus the Son of man, by whom is meant the Lord as to Divine truth or the Word, girded to separate the good from the evil, and afterwards to execute judgment. That this is meant by the golden crown upon the head of the Son of man, is evident from the kings amongst the sons of Israel, and also amongst the ancients. They represented the Lord, because, when girded for war, and in their battles, they wore golden crowns (concerning which see above, n. 553). The reason was that kings represented the Lord as to Divine truth, and this conjoined with Divine good proceeds from the Lord. Therefore, that this might be represented, the kings wore crowns of gold; for gold signifies good, as may be seen above (n. 242). That a golden crown signifies good and wisdom therefrom, and that truths are what are crowned, may also be seen above (n. 272).
[2] The mystery concealed in this fact is, that Divine good judges no one but Divine truth. The reason is, that Divine good loves all, and in proportion as man follows, draws him to heaven; but Divine truth separated from good condemns all, and judges to hell. Therefore, in order that all might not be condemned and judged to hell, but that Divine good might moderate and raise to heaven, as far as possible, there was a golden crown upon the head, by which is signified Divine good girded for judgment, that is, to moderate. That Divine good judges no one but Divine truth, is meant by these words of the Lord:
"The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son" (John v. 22).
By the Father is meant the Divine good, and by the Son Divine truth. That by the Father is meant Divine good, may be seen above (n. 200, 254); and by the Son, Divine truth (n. 63, 151, 724). Also by these words:
The Father hath given "to the Son to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man" (John v. 27).
That by the Son of man is signified Divine truth, may also be seen above (n. 778). [3] But still it is to be understood, that the Lord judges no one by Divine truth; but Divine truth, viewed in itself, judges that man who receives it not, but rejects it, as is quite evident from the Lord's words:
Jesus said, "If any one hear my words, and yet believe not, I judge him not; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world; he who despiseth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him; the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John xii. 47, 48; also John iii. 17).
By the word is meant Divine truth, for this is in the Word, and is the Word. That this, viewed in itself, will judge a man, and not the Lord Himself by it, is quite clear, for the Lord says, "I judge him not, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world." The reason why the Lord Himself does not judge is, that He is Divine Love, and also Divine good united with Divine truth; and this cannot be separated from Him, for they are one; and Divine good does not judge any one, but saves, as said above. So also does the Divine truth which, united with the Divine good, proceeds from the Lord.
Its being said in John, that it is given to the Son to execute judgment, is to be understood in the same sense as where it is said of Him, that He is angry, wrathful, and casts into hell, although the Lord is never angry with any one, nor does He cast into hell; but man casts himself there; upon which subject, see what is said in the work concerning Heaven and Hell (n. 545-550). So also it is the contempt and rejection of Divine truth, consequently falsity from evil, that judges man; thus also it is the man himself.
[4] How Divine truth, strictly considered, judges a man, shall also be explained. The man who is in falsities from evil by reason of contempt for and rejection of Divine truth, hates it, and burns to destroy it in every one who is in it from the Lord. And when he attempts this, he is like a person who casts himself into the fire, or dashes his face against a rock, the cause of which is not in the fire, or in the rock, but in the man himself, who does this. For the fact is that Divine truth never fights against falsity from evil, but the latter against the former.
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