797. 'And the voice of the bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in thee any more' signifies that those who are in that form of religion by virtue of doctrine and a life in accordance therewith do not have the conjunction of good and truth that makes the Church. By voice here is signified joy because it is the voice of the bridegroom and bride. By 'the bridegroom' in the highest sense is understood the Lord as to Divine Good, and by 'the bride' is understood the Church as to Divine Truth from the Lord; for the Church is a Church by virtue of the reception of the Lord's Divine good in the Divine truths that are from Himself That the Lord is termed 'Bridegroom' and also 'Husband', and that the Church is termed 'Bride' and also 'Wife', is plain from the Word. That consequently there is a heavenly marriage, which is the conjunction of good and truth, will be seen in a little work on MARRIAGE.* Now because this heavenly marriage is effected through the reception of Divine Good from the Lord in Divine Truths out of the Word by the men of the Church, it is plain that there is not any conjunction of good and truth with those who are in that form of religion by virtue of doctrine and a life therefrom, because they have no conjunction with the Lord, but a conjunction with men living and dead. And this conjunction with those who are in the love, derived from the love of self, of dominating over the Lord's holy Divine things and over the Lord, is as it were a conjunction with the devil who, as was said in the preceding paragraph, is that love; and to approach the devil so that through him one may come to God, is detestable. [2] That the Lord is termed 'the Bridegroom' and the Church 'the Bride' is plain from these passages:-
He Who has the Bride is the Bridegroom, but the friend of the Bridegroom, who stands and hears Him, rejoices with joy because of the Bridegroom's voice John iii 29.
John the Baptist [said] these things of the Lord.
Jesus said, As long as the Bridegroom is with them the sons of the wedding cannot fast; the day will come when the Bridegroom shall be taken away from them, then shall they fast Matt. ix 15; Mark ii 19, 20; Luke v 34, 35.
I saw the holy city New Jerusalem prepared as a Bride adorned for [her] Husband Rev. xxi 2.
The angel said, Come and I will show thee the Bride the Lamb's wife Rev. xxi 9, 10.
The time of the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready. Blessed are those who have been called to the supper of the wedding of the Lamb Rev. xix 7, 9.
The Lord is also understood by:-
The Bridegroom Whom the ten virgins went out to meet Matt. xxv 1, 2 seq.
[3] From these things it is plain what is signified by the voice and the joy of' the bridegroom 'And' the bride' in these passages:-
As the joy of the bridegroom over the bride, thy God shall rejoice over thee Isa. lxii 5.
My soul shall exult over my God, as a bridegroom puts on a mitre, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels (vasae) Isa. lxi 10.
There shall still be heard in this place the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, and the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, of them saying. Let us confess unto Jehovah Zebaoth Jer. xxxiii 10, 11.
Let the bridegroom go forth out of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet Joel ii 16.
I will make to cease from the streets of Jerusalem the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride Jer. vii 34; xvi 9.
I will deprive them of the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, and the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of the mills and the light of the lamp, and the whole land shall be for a desolation by the king of Babel Jer. xxv 10, 11.
[4] From these considerations the series of things in these two verses can now be seen, which is:-
That those who are in that form of religion do not have any affection of spiritual truth and good (n. 792).
That they do not have any understanding of spiritual truth, and consequently any thought of it (n. 793); for thought is derived from affection and is in accordance therewith.
That neither do they have any searching into, examination and confirmation of spiritual truth (n. 794).
That neither do they have any enlightenment from the Lord, nor consequently a perception of spiritual truth (n. 796).
And finally that they do not have any conjunction of good and truth, which makes the Church (n. 797).
Thus do these things follow in order. * The work on 'Conjugial Love', published in 1768.
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