Spiritual Meaning of REVELATION 3:7
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AR 172. Verse 7. And unto the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, signifies to those and concerning those who are in truths from good from the Lord. That these are meant by "the church in Philadelphia" is clear from what is written to it, when understood in the spiritual sense.

AR 173. These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, signifies the Lord as to the Divine truth. That it is the Lord, is evident; the reason why "He that is holy, He that is true," is the Lord as to the Divine truth, is because the Lord is called "holy" from His Divine truth, and "just" from His Divine good; hence it is, that His Divine proceeding, which is the Divine truth, is called "the Holy Spirit," and the Holy Spirit here is "He that is holy, He that is true." "Holy" often occurs in the Word, and everywhere relates to truth, and as all truth, which in itself is truth, is from good, and is from the Lord, it is that truth which is called holy; but good from which the truth is, is called just. Hence it is, that the angels who are in the truths of wisdom, and are called spiritual, are said to be "holy," and the angels who are in the good of love, and are called celestial, are said to be "just;" in like manner men in the church. It is also from this, that the prophets and apostles are called "holy," for by "the prophets" and "apostles," are signified the truths of doctrine of the church. For the same reason also the Word is called holy, for the Word is the Divine truth; the law in the ark in the tabernacle was also called the Holy of Holies, and also "the Sanctuary." In like manner Jerusalem is called holy, for by "Jerusalem" is signified the church, which is in Divine truths. So likewise the altar, the tabernacle, and the garments of Aaron and his sons were called holy after they were anointed with oil, for oil signifies the good of love, and this sanctifies, and everything sanctified has relation to truth. That the Lord alone is holy, because He is the Divine truth itself, is evident from the following passages:--

Who shall not glorify Thy name, O Lord, for Thou only art holy (Apoc. 15:4).

Thy Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, the God of the whole earth shall He be called (Isa. 54:5).

Thus saith Jehovah the Redeemer of Israel, His Holy One (Isa. 49:7).

As for our Redeemer, Jehovah of Hosts is His name, the Holy One of Israel (Isa. 47:4).

Thus saith Jehovah your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel (Isa. 43:14).

In that day they shall lean upon Jehovah the Holy One of Israel in truth (Isa. 10:20; Isa. 1:4; 5:19; 12:6; 17:7; 29:19; 30:11, 12; 41:16; 45:11, 15; 48:17; 55:5; 60:9; Jer. 50:29; Dan. 4:13, 23; Ps. 78:41).

As the Lord is holiness itself, therefore the angel said unto Mary:--

The holy One that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35).

And the Lord said of Himself:--

Father, sanctify them in the truth, Thy Word is truth; for their sakes I sanctify Myself; that they also might be sanctified in the truth (John 17:17, 19).

Hence it appears, that the truth, which is from the Lord, is holiness itself, because He alone is holy; on which subject the Lord says:--

When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will lead you into all truth; for He shall not speak from Himself, for He shall receive of mine and shall announce it unto you (John 16:13-15).

The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, He shall teach you all things (John 14:26).

That the "Holy Spirit" is the life of the Lord‘s wisdom, thus the Divine truth, may be seen in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem concerning the Lord (L n. 51). From hence it may appear, that "He that is holy, He that is true," is the Lord as to His Divine truth. That "holy" is said of truth, and "just" of good, is evident from those passages in the Word where both expressions occur; as from the following:--

He that is just let him be justified still, and he that is holy let him he sanctified still (Apoc. 22:11).

Just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints (Apoc. 15:3).

To serve Him in holiness and justice (Luke 1:75).

Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and holy (Mark 6:20).

Fine linen is the justice of the saints (Apoc. 19:8).

AR 174. He that hath the key of David, and that openeth and no one shutteth, and shutteth and no one openeth, signifies, who alone is omnipotent to save. By "David" is meant the Lord as to the Divine truth; by "key" is signified the Lord’s omnipotence over heaven and hell; and by "opening that no one can shut," and by "shutting that no one can open," is signified to lead forth out of hell and introduce into heaven, thus to save, in like manner as in (n. 62), where it is explained. That by "David" is meant the Lord as to the Divine truth, may be seen in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem concerning the Lord (L n. 43, 44). The same, which is here signified by "the key of David," is also signified by "the keys of Peter" (Matt. 16:15-19); which may be seen explained below (n. 798), as also by these words to all the disciples:--

Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and what soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matt. 18:18).

For the twelve disciples represented all things of the church as to its goods and truths, and Peter represented it as to truth, and truths and goods save man, consequently the Lord alone from whom they are. The same is also signified by the "key of David which was given to Eliakim," concerning which it is thus written:--

I will give the government into his hands, and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah, and I will give the key of the house of David upon his shoulder, so he shall open and none shall shut, and he shall shut and none shall open (Isa. 22:21, 22).

He was over the king‘s house, and by "the king’s house" is signified the church as to the Divine truth.

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Author:  E. Swedenborg (1688-1772). Design:  I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002. www.BibleMeanings.info