Spiritual Meaning of REVELATION 1:9
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AR 32. Verse 9. I John, who also am your brother and companion, signifies those who are in the good of charity, and thence in the truths of faith. It was said in (n. 5), that the apostle John represented those who are in the good of charity; and those who are in the good of charity are also in the truths of faith, because charity is the soul and life of faith; hence it is, that John calls himself the brother and companion of those in the church to whom he writes, for he wrote to the seven churches. By "brother," in the spiritual sense of the Word, is meant one who is in the good of charity; and by "companion" one who is thence in the truths of faith; for all are, as it were, in consanguinity by charity, but in affinity by faith; for charity conjoins; not so faith, except it be from charity. When faith is from charity, then charity conjoins, and faith consociates; and since they make one, therefore the Lord commanded that all should be "brethren," for he says:--

The Lord, also, calls those "brethren" who are in the good of charity, or in the good of life; for He said:--

By "mother," is meant the church, and by "brethren," those who are in charity; and because the good of charity is a "brother," therefore the Lord calls those who are in it "brethren," also in (Matt. 25:40), and so also disciples (Matt. 28:10; John 20:17). But we do not read that the disciples called the Lord brother, because "brother" is the good which is from the Lord; this is comparatively as it is with a king, prince and magnate, who call their relatives and neighbors brethren, but yet the latter do not in their turn call them so; for the Lord says:--

also:--

The sons of Israel called all those brethren who were from their father Jacob; and in a more extensive sense, those also who were from Esau; but such as were not from them they called companions. But because the Word, in its spiritual sense, treats only of those who are in the Lord‘s church, therefore in that sense, by "brethren," are meant those who are in the good of charity from the Lord, and by "companions," those who are in the truths of faith; as in the following passages:--

And in the opposite sense

and in other places. These are adduced, that it may be known why John calls himself "brother and companion;" and that by "brother" in the Word, is meant one who is in charity or in good, and, by "companion" one who is in faith or in truth. But because charity is from faith, therefore none are called "companions" by the Lord, but "brethren" or "neighbor;" everyone also is a neighbor according to the quality of good (Luke 10:36, 37).

AR 33. In affliction and in the kingdom and patient expectation of Jesus Christ, signifies which in the church are infested by evils and falsities, but which will be removed by the Lord when He comes. By "affliction" is meant the state of the church when there are no longer any goods of charity and truths of faith, but in place of them evils and falsities; by "the kingdom," is meant the church; and, by "patient expectation of Jesus Christ," is meant the Lord‘s coming; therefore these words, "In affliction and in the kingdom and patient expectation of Jesus Christ," when collated into one sense, signify when the goods and truths of the church are infested by evils and falsities, but which will be removed by the Lord when he comes. That by "affliction" is meant the state of the church when it is infested by evils and falsities, is evident from the following:--

AR 34. I was in the island called Patmos, signifies a state and place in which he could be enlightened. The reason that the Revelation was made to John in Patmos, was, because it was an island in Greece, not far from the land of Canaan, and between Asia and Europe; and by "islands" are signified the Gentiles more remote from the worship of God, but yet which are about to draw near to it, because they can be enlightened. The same is signified by Greece; but the church itself is signified by "the land of Canaan"; by "Asia," those of the church who are in the light of truth from the Word; and, by "Europe," those to whom the Word is about to come; thence it is, that by "the island of Patmos," is signified a state and place in which he could be enlightened. That by "islands" in the Word are signified the nations which are more remote from the worship of God, but which yet will draw near to it, is evident from these passages:--

and elsewhere. That the same is signified by "Greece," is not so evident from the Word, because Greece is mentioned only in (Daniel 8:21; 10:20; 11:2; John 12:20; Mark 7:26). That by "the land of Canaan" is meant the Lord’s church, which is thence called "the Holy Land," and "the heavenly Canaan," is evident from many passages in the Word; that by "Asia" are meant those in the church who are in the light of truth from the Word, may be seen in (n. 11); and that by "Europe," those to whom the Word is about to come, is evident.

AR 35. For the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ, signifies that the Divine truth from the Word may be received from the heart and so in the light, and that the Lord‘s Human might be acknowledged to be Divine; this was explained in (n. 6).

Author:  E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design:  I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.

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