1. And I saw, and behold the Lamb standing upon Mount Zion, and with Him the hundred and forty-four thousand having His Father's Name written on their foreheads. 2. And I heard a voice out of heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of loud thunder, and I heard the voice of harpers playing on their harps. 3. And they were singing as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four animals, and the elders; and no one was able to learn the song except the hundred and forty-four thousand bought from the earth. 4. These are they who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins; these are they who are following the Lamb wherever He goes; these have been bought from among men, the first-fruits to God and the Lamb. 5. And in their mouth is found no deceit, for they are spotless before the throne of God. 6. And I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the eternal gospel to declare (evangelizare) to those dwelling upon the land, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people, 7. Saying with a great voice, Fear God and give glory to Him, because the hour of His judgment has come, and adore Him Who has made the heaven and the land and the sea and the fountains of waters. 8. And another angel followed, saying, It has fallen, that great city Babylon has fallen, because she has made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her whoredom. 9. And a third angel followed them, saying with a great voice, If anyone adores the beast, and his image, and accepts a mark upon his forehead and hand, 10. He also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, mixed with undiluted wine in the cup of his growing anger, and shall be tormented with fire and sulphur before the holy angels and before the Lamb. 11. And the smoke of their torment shall go up for ages of ages, and they shall not have rest day and night adoring the beast and his image, and if anyone accepts the mark of his name. 12. Here* is the patience of the saints; here are those keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ.** 13. And I heard a voice out of heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead dying in the Lord from henceforth. Yes indeed, says the spirit, that they may rest from their labours, for their works follow with them. 14. And I saw, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud One sitting like the Son of Man, having upon His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15. And another angel went out of the temple, crying with a great voice to the One sitting upon the cloud, Put forth Thy sickle and reap, for the hour of reaping has come to Thee, because the harvest of the land has dried up. 16. And the One sitting upon the cloud put forth His sickle upon the land, and the land was reaped. 17. And another angel went out of the temple that is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18. And another angel went out of the altar, having power over fire, and he cried with a great cry to the one having the sharp sickle, saying, Put forth thy sharp sickle, and gather the vintage of the clusters of the vineyard of the land, for the grapes thereof have ripened. 19. And the angel put forth his sickle into the land, and gathered the vintage of the vineyard of the land, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20. And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood went out of the winepress even up to the horses' bridles, for a thousand six hundred stadia.*** * Reading Hic (here) instead of Haec (this). ** The word 'Christ' is omitted elsewhere (n. 593, 638). *** Plural of stadium=approx. one-eighth of a mile.

THE SPIRITUAL SENSE

THE CONTENT OF THE WHOLE CHAPTER

Concerning the Christian New Heaven: it is described (vers. 1-5). Declaration (evangelizatio) concerning the Lord's coming, and the New Church at that time (vers. 6, 7, 13). An exhortation for them to depart from the faith separated from charity in which the present Church is (vers. 9-12). The examination of these, and making manifest that their works are evil (vers. 14-20).

THE CONTENTS OF EACH OF THE VERSES

1. And I saw and behold the Lamb standing upon Mount Zion, and with Him the hundred and forty-four thousand signifies the Lord now in the New Heaven of Christians who have acknowledged Him as being the God of heaven and earth, and have been in the truths of doctrine from Him by means of the Word. Having His Father's Name [written] upon their foreheads signifies the acknowledgment of the Divine and of the Lord's Divine Human with them. 2. And I heard a voice out of heaven as the voice of many waters signifies the Lord speaking through the New Heaven out of Divine Truths. And as the voice of loud thunder signifies and out of Divine Love. And I heard the voice of harpers playing on their harps signifies a confession of the Lord out of gladness of heart by the spiritual angels in the lower heavens. 3. And they were singing as it were a new song before the throne and before the four animals and before the elders signifies a celebration and glorification of the Lord in His presence and in the presence of the angels of the higher heavens. And no one was able to learn the song, except the hundred and forty-four thousand signifies that no others from among Christians have been able to understand, and thus to acknowledge out of love and faith, that the Lord Only is the God of heaven and earth, except those who have been received into this New Heaven by the Lord. Bought from the earth signifies that they are those who were able to be regenerated by the Lord and thus redeemed in the world. 4. These are they who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins signifies that they have not adulterated the truths of the Church and defiled them with untruths of faith, but they have loved truths because they are true. These are they who are following the Lamb wherever He goes signifies that they have been conjoined to the Lord through love and faith directed to Him, because they have lived in accordance with His precepts. And have been bought from among men signifies here as before. The first-fruits of God and the Lamb signifies the initiament of the Christian heaven, acknowledging the One God in Whom is the Trinity, and the Lord as being that God. 5. And in their mouth is found no deceit signifies that they do not from cunning and intention speak and persuade to what is untrue and evil. For they are spotless before the throne of God signifies because they are in truths derived from good from the Lord. 6. And I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven having the eternal gospel to declare (evange1izare) to those dwelling upon the land signifies the announcement of the Lord's coming, and of the New Church going to come down out of heaven from Him. And to every nation and tribe and tongue and people signifies to all who are in goods as the result of religion, and in truths as the result of doctrine. 7. Saying with a great voice, Fear God signifies a warning not to do evils, because this is against the Lord. And give glory to Him, because the hour of His judgment has Come signifies the acknowledgment and confession that all the truth of the Word is from the Lord, in accordance with which every man will be judged. And adore Him Who has made the heaven and the land and the sea and the fountains of waters signifies that the Lord Only ought to be worshipped, because He Only is the Creator, Saviour and Redeemer, and from Him Only do the angelic heaven and the Church and all the things thereof exist. 8. And another angel followed saying, It has fallen, that great city Babylon has fallen signifies that the Roman Catholic form of religion as to its dogmas and doctrinal tenets has now been dispersed. Because she has made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her whoredom signifies because by profanations of the Word and by adulterations of the good and truth of the Church it has led astray all whom it has been able to bring under its dominion. 9. And a third angel followed them, saying with a great voice signifies something further from the Lord concerning those who are in faith separated from charity. If anyone adores the beast and his image, and accepts a mark upon his forehead and hand signifies [that] he who acknowledges and receives the doctrine concerning justification and salvation by faith alone confirms it and lives in accordance with it. 10. He also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God mixed with undiluted wine in the cup of his growing anger signifies that they falsify the goods and truths of the Word, and imbue their life with the same when falsified. 11. And shall be tormented with fire and sulphur before the holy angels and the Lamb, and the smoke of their torment shall go up for ages of ages signifies the love of self and the world and the derivative lusts, and the pride of self-intelligence derived therefrom, and torment in hell as the result thereof. And they shall not have rest day and night adoring the beast and his image, and if anyone accepts the mark of his name signifies a perpetual state in things undelightful in the case of those who acknowledge and receive that faith, confirm it, and live in accordance therewith. 12. Here is the patience of the saints, here* are those keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus signifies that the man of the Lord's Church is examined by means of temptations from those [in faith separated from charity] as to the quality of his life in accordance with the precepts of the Word and as to faith directed to the Lord. 13. And I heard a voice out of heaven saying unto me, [Write,] Blessed are the dead dying in the Lord from henceforth signifies a prediction from the Lord concerning the state after death of those who will belong to His New Church (e Nova Ecclesia Ipsius erunt), that they will have eternal life and happiness. Yes indeed, says the spirit, that they may rest from their labours signifies that the Divine Truth of the Word teaches that those who afflict their soul and crucify the flesh on account of this are going to have peace in the Lord. For their works follow with them signifies according as they have loved and believed and thence done and spoken. 14. And I saw and behold a white cloud, and One sitting like the Son of Man Upon the cloud signifies the Lord as to the Word. Having upon His head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle signifies the Divine Wisdom out of Divine Love, and the Divine Truth of the Word. 15. And another angel went out of the temple signifies the angelic heaven. Crying with a great voice to the One sitting upon the cloud, Put forth Thy sickle and reap, for the hour of reaping has come to Thee, because the harvest of the land has dried up signifies the supplication of the angels of heaven to the Lord, that He may make an end and execute judgment because it is now the last state of the Church. 16. And the One sitting upon the cloud put forth His sickle, and the land was reaped signifies the end of the Church because Divine Truth is not there any longer. 17. And another angel went out of the temple that is in heaven heal so having a sharp sickle signifies the heavens of the Lord's Spiritual kingdom and the Divine Truth of the Word will] them 18. And another angel went out of the altar, having power over fire signifies the heavens of the Lord's celestial kingdom which are in the good of love from the Lord. And he cried with a great cry to the one having the sharp sickle, saying Put forth thy sharp sickle and gather the vintage of the clusters of the vineyard of the land signifies the Lord's operation out of the good of His love by means of the Divine Truth of His Word into the works of charity and faith that are with the men of the Christian Church For the grapes thereof have ripened signifies because it is the last state of the Christian Church. 19. And the angel put forth his sickle into the land, and gathered the vintage of the vineyard of the land signifies the end of the present Christian Church. And cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God signifies an examination of the quality of their works that they were evil. 20. And the winepress was trodden outside the city signifies that the examination was made from (ex) the Divine Truths of the Word [to discover] what the works flowing forth from the Church's doctrine of faith were like. And blood went out of the winepress even up to the horses' bridles signifies the violence inflicted on the Word by means of dreadful falsifications of truth and the understanding so closed up thereby that a man can scarcely any longer be taught, and thus be led by means of Divine Truths by the Lord. For a thousand six hundred stadia signifies nothing but untruths of evil. * Reading hic (here) instead of hi (these).

THE EXPOSITION

[verse 1] 'And 'saw and behold the Lamb standing Upon Mount Zion, and with Him the hundred and forty-four thousand' signifies the Lord now in the New Heaven gathered together out of those in the Christian Churches who have acknowledged the Lord Only as being the God of heaven and earth, and have been in truths of doctrine out of the good of love from Him by means of the Word. By 'I saw' these things are signified also the things that follow in this chapter. By 'the Lamb' is understood the Lord as to the Divine Human (n. 269, 271). By 'Mount Zion' is signifies the heaven where those are who are in love directed to the Lord, concerning which [something] follows. By 'the hundred and forty-four thousand' are signified all who acknowledge the Only Lord as being the God of heaven and earth, and are in truths of doctrine out of the good of love from Him by means of the Word (n. 348 seq.). These things were treated of in chapter vii, but there, that they were 'sealed upon their foreheads and thus distinguished and separated from the rest; here now [it teaches] they have been gathered together into a unit, and that there is a heaven [formed] out of them. [2] The heaven of which it treats here is the heaven gathered together out of the Christians from the time of the Lord's being in the world, and from such of them as have approached the Only Lord and lived in accordance with His precepts in the Word, fleeing from evils as sins against God. This heaven is the New Heaven, out of which the Holy Jerusalem, that is, the New Church on earth, will come down (Rev. xxi 1, 2). But the heavens [formed] before the Lord's coming are above it, and are called the ancient heavens. In these also they all acknowledge the Only Lord as being the God of heaven and earth. These heavens communicate with this New Heaven by influx. [3] It is known that by 'the land of Canaan' the Church is signified, because the Word was there and by its means the Lord was known. It is also known that in the midst of that [land] was the city of Zion, and below it the city of ,Jerusalem, both upon a mountain. Consequently by 'Zion' and 'Jerusalem' the inmost things of the Church were signified; and because the Church in the heavens makes one with the Church on earth (in terris), therefore by 'Zion' and 'Jerusalem' is understood the Church in both worlds (utrobivis), but by 'Zion' the Church as to love and by 'Jerusalem' the Church as to doctrine therefrom. It is termed 'Mount Zion' because by 'a mountain' is signified love (n. 336). [4] That by 'Mount Zion' is signified heaven and the Church where the Only Lord is worshipped can be established from the following passages:-

I have anointed My King upon Zion; I will announce in a decree, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee I will give the nations [for] Thine inheritance. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish; blessed are all trusting in Him Ps. ii 6-8, 12.

Go up upon the high mountain, O Zion declaring good tidings (Evangelizatrix); say, Behold the Lord Jehovih comes in strength Isa. xl 9 10.

Exult greatly, O daughter of Zion, behold thy King comes unto thee, a Just One and a Saviour Zech. ix 9; Matt. xxi 2, 4, 5; john xii 14, 15.

Cry out and shout, O inhabitress of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee Isa. xii 6.

The redeemed of Jehovah shall return to Zion with a song Isa. xxxv 10.

Shout and be glad, O daughter of Zion, behold I am coming that I may dwell in the midst of thee Zech. ii 10, 11 [H.B. 14, 15].

Who will give the salvation of Israel in Zion? Ps. xiv 7; liii 6 [H.B. 7].

The Lord Jehovih will found in Zion a stone of proving, and then shall your covenant with death be abolished Isa. xxviii 16-18.

My salvation shall not tarry, I will give salvation in Zion Isa. xlvi 13.

Then shall the Redeemer come to Zion Isa. lix 20.

Jehovah Zebaoth shall reign in Mount Zion Isa. xxiv 23.

Jehovah loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob, glorious things are to be proclaimed in thee, O city of God. This one was born there, all my springs are in thee Ps. lxxxvii 2, 3, 5-7.

Jehovah has chosen Zion, He has desired it for His seat; this is my rest for ever, there will I dwell Ps. cxxxii 13, 14.

Let the sons of Zion exult in their King Ps. cxlix 2, 3.

O Jehovah arise, and have mercy on Zion, the set time has come; the Name of Jehovah shall be declared in Zion, when the peoples shall be gathered together, and the kingdom to serve Jehovah Ps. cii 13-16, 21, 22 [H.B. 14-17, 22, 23].

Out of Zion God shall shine, our God is coming and shall call to the heaven above, and to the earth, Gather My saints together unto Me Ps. 11-5;

besides elsewhere, as Isa. i 27; iv 3-5; xxxi 4, 9; xxxiii 5, 20; xxxvii 22; lii 1; lxiv 10 [H.B. 9]; Jer. vi 2; Lam. iv 2; Amos i 2; Micah iii 10, 12; iv 1-3, 7, 8; Zeph. iii 54, 16; Joel iii [H.B. iv] 16, 17, 21; Zech. viii 3; Ps. xx 2, 5 [H.B. 3, 6]; xlviii 2, 3, 11-14 [H.B. 3, 4, 12-15]; lxxvi 2 [H.B. 3]; lxxviii 68; cx 1, 2; cxxv 1; cxxvi 1; cxxviii 5, 6; cxxxiv 3; cxxxv 21; cxlvi 10. In many places mention is made of the VIRGIN AND DAUGHTER OF ZION, by which is not understood any virgin or daughter there, but the Church as to the affection of good and truth, like what is understood by 'the Bride of the Lamb' (Rev. xxi 2, 9; xxii 17). 'The virgin and daughter of Zion' signifies the Lord's Church, in these places: Isa. i 8; iii 16-26; iv 4; x 32; xvi 1; xxxvii 22; lii 2; lxii ii; Jer. iv 31; vi 2, 23; Lam. i 6; ii 1, 4, 8, 10, 13, 18; iv 22; Micah i 13; iv 8, 1O, 13; Zeph. in 14; Zech. ii 7, 10 [H.B. 10, 14]; ix 9; Ps. ix 14 [H.B. 15]; and elsewhere.