Apocalypse Revealed (Whitehead) n. 744

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744. And they who are with Him, are called, chosen, and faithful, signifies that those who approach and worship the Lord alone, are they that come into heaven, as well they who are in the externals of the church, as they that are in its internals and inmosts. "They who are with Him" signifies those who approach the Lord, for these are with Him. By "the called, the chosen, and the faithful," are signified those who are in the externals, the internals, and the inmosts of the church; who, because they are in the Lord, come into heaven. By "the called" indeed all are meant, because all are called; but by "the called who are with the Lord" are meant they who are in heaven with the Lord, as all are called who are at the nuptials with the Bridegroom. By "the chosen" is not meant that some are elected from predestination, but they who are with the Lord are so called. By "the faithful" are meant those who have faith in the Lord. [2] These are they who are in the externals, the internals, and the inmosts of the church, because the Lord's church is distinguished, like heaven, into three degrees. In the lowest degree are they who are in its externals, in the second degree are they who are in its internals, and in the third degree are they who are in its inmosts. They who are with the Lord in the externals of the church are said to be "called," they that are in its internals are "chosen," and they that are in its inmosts "faithful:" for they are so called in the Word; where Jacob is said to be "called," and Israel "chosen;" since by "Jacob" those are there meant who are in the externals of the church, and by "Israel" those who are in its internals. The reason that it is here said, "They that are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful," is because it is said before that "they will fight with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them;" so that they may know that they whom the Lord overcomes, that is, convinces by the Word, are with Him in heaven; some in the lowest heaven, some in the second, and some in the third, each one according to reception.


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