Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 151name of a disciple only, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose hisreward (Matt. 10:41, 42).“To receive a prophet in the name of a prophet,” “a righteous onein the name of a righteous one,” and “to give drink in the name ofa disciple,” signifies to love truth for the sake of truth, good for thesake of good, and to exercise charity from the faith of truth; for by“prophet” is signified truth, by “righteous one” is signified good,and by “disciple” good from truth; and “to give to drink of cold[water]” is to exercise charity from obedience; “in the name” ofthese is for the sake of what they are, thus for their sake. Whocould ever understand these things unless he knew what “name”signifies?[7] To love and to do truth for the sake of truth, and good for thesake of good, is to have affection for truth and good for their sake,and not for the sake of one’s own reputation, honor, or gain. Suchaffection of truth and good is a truly spiritual affection; but theaffection of truth and good for the sake of one’s own reputation,honor, or gain, is a merely natural affection. And as those who lovetruth and good for the sake of truth and good, or because they aretruth and good, are in the spiritual affection of truth and good,therefore it is said that they shall receive “a prophet’s reward” and“a righteous one’s reward”; which means that they are in thespiritual affection of truth and good, and this affection has rewardin itself, because it has heaven in itself. (That the happiness ofheaven is in the affection of loving and doing truth and good,without regard to reward as an end, thus for the sake of truth andgood, see Arcana Coelestia, n. 6388, 6478, 9174, 9984. That“prophet” signifies one who teaches truth, thus also, in the abstract,truth that is taught, see n. 2534, 7269. That a “righteous one”signifies the good of love to the Lord, n. 2235, 9857. That“disciple” signifies good from truth, which is the good of charity, n.2129, 3354, 3488, 3858, 6397. That “to give drink” is to instructin the goods and truths of faith, and thus to exercise charity, n.3069, 3772, 4017, 4018, 8562, 9412; and that “name” signifies thequality of a thing, n. 144, 145, 1754, 1896, 2009, 3237; hence“the name of Jehovah,” or “the name of the Lord,” signifies everyquality by which he is worshiped, n. 2724, 3006, 6674, 9310.)