Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 46Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine, n. 304, on the unition of theDivine which is called “Jehovah,” “the Father,” with the Divinehuman of the Lord.)33. To him be the glory and the might unto the ages of the agessignifies that these things, namely, Divine good and Divine truth,are from the Lord alone to eternity. This is evident from thesignification of “glory,” as meaning Divine truth in heaven (seeArcana Coelestia, n. 4809, 5922, 8267, 8427, 9429); and from thesignification of “might,” as meaning Divine good through Divinetruth, since Divine good has all might and all power throughDivine truth (see n. 3091, 3563, 6344, 6423, 8304, 9643, 10019,10182; and Heaven and Hell, where the power of the angels ofheaven from the Lord is treated of, n. 228–233). That “unto theages of the ages” means to eternity is clear without explanation.“Glory” is Divine truth in heaven because Divine truth is the lightthere; and the things that have existence from the light of heavenare called “glory,” because they have existence from the Lord andrepresent the Divine truth that is from him, and declare his glory;especially the things that are within the angel, which are ofintelligence and wisdom. (That the light of heaven is Divine truth,and that all things that are in heaven, whether without or withinthe angel, have existence from the light there, see Heaven and Hell,n. 126–140, 172–173, 176.) It is believed in the world that “Glorybe to God” means that God for his own sake desires glory fromman, and that he is moved by it, and imparts blessings in return forit. But this is a mistake. God desires glory from man for man’s sake;for thus man ascribes all things to the Divine and nothing tohimself, and when he does this, the Divine can flow in with Divinetruth, and give him intelligence and wisdom. Thus and nootherwise is the Lord glorified in man; for the Lord loves everyone,and, from love, desires that his glory, that is, Divine truth, may bein men. This, moreover, the Lord teaches in John:If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask whateverye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified,that ye bear much fruit, and that ye be made my disciples (John15:7–8).