Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 362“He was red in apparel as one treading in the wine press,” and that“victory was sprinkled upon His garments,” and that “He hadstained all His raiment.”[20] In Revelation:He that sat on the white horse was arrayed with a garment dippedin blood; and His name is called the Word of God (19:13).Here it is plainly declared that He who sat on the white horse wascalled “the Word of God;” and it is clear that this is the Lord, for itis immediately said of Him:He hath on His garment and on His thigh a name written, King ofkings and Lord of lords (verse 16).It is therefore the Word in the letter that is signified by the“garment dipped in blood,” since violence was done to it, but notto the Word in the spiritual sense; violence could not be done tothis, because they knew nothing about it.[21] That violence was done to the Word in the sense of theletter, but not to the Word in the spiritual sense, is signified also bythe soldiers dividing the Lord’s garments, but not His tunic, ofwhich it is said in John:The soldiers took His garments, and made four parts, to everysoldier a part, also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, wovenfrom the top throughout. They said therefore one to another, Let us notdivide it, but let us cast lots for it, whose it shall be. These thingstherefore the soldiers did (19:23, 24).And in David:They parted My garments, and cast the lot upon My vesture (Ps.22:18).“The garments of the Lord which they parted” signify the Word inthe letter; His “tunic” the Word in the spiritual sense; “soldiers”