Spiritual Meaning of REVELATION 17:14
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AR 743. Verse 14. These shall fight with the Lamb, but the Lamb shall overcome them; for He is the Lord of lords and King of kings, signifies the Lord’s combat with them concerning the acknowledgment of His Divine Human, because in it the Lord is the God of heaven and earth, and also the Word. By their "combat" with the Lord and the Lord‘s with them is not meant a combat such as that from the evil and with the evil, but as from those and with those who are not yet in truths concerning the Lord. By "the Lamb" is meant the Lord as to the Divine Human and also as to the Word (n. 269, 291, 595): and by "overcoming them" is signified to convince through the Word. "For He is Lord of lords and King of kings" signifies because He is God of heaven and earth. From His dominion over all the goods of heaven and the church He is called "Lord of lords," and from His kingdom over all the truths of heaven and the church He is called King of kings (n. 664). It is manifest from this, that by "these shall fight with the Lamb and the Lamb shall overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings," is signified the Lord’s combat with them concerning the acknowledgment of the Lord‘s Divine Human, because the Lord in His Divine Human is the God of heaven and earth. That the Lord is the God of heaven and earth, He teaches in plain words; for He says:--

and who may not know from this, that God the Father, who is Jehovah, assumed the Human in the world? and hence that the Human is the Human of God the Father? and thus that God the Father and He are one, as the soul and the body are one? Can anyone, indeed, approach the soul of man and descend thence to his body? Is not his human to be approached, and then his soul approached? By these and many other things which are in the Word, the Lamb will overcome them. Therefore because they have ceased to worship the Pope, let them worship Him from whom the Pope says that he has all authority over the church and heaven. The Pope is a man, and the Lord is God; and God alone is to be approached, invoked, and adored, that is, worshiped. The Lord alone is the Holy One who is to be invoked (Apoc. 15:4). I know that they will think, "How can Jehovah the Father, who is the Creator of the universe, descend and assume the Human?" But let them think also, How can the Son from eternity, who is equal to the Father, and is also the Creator of the universe, do it? Is it not the same thing? It is said, The Father and the Son from eternity but there is not any Son from eternity. There is the Divine Human, which is called "the Son sent into the world" (Luke 1:34, 35; John 3:17). But on this subject see below (n. 961).

AR 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. 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.

Author:  E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design:  I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.

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