Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 47(That the salvation of the human race is the glory of the Lord, seen. Arcana Coelestia 4347, 4593, 5957, 7550, 8263, 10646.)34. Amen signifies Divine confirmation. This is evident from thesignification of “amen,” as meaning truth, for this is the meaning of“amen” in the Hebrew; and as all truth which is truth is Divine,“amen,” when said in the Word signifies Divine confirmation. Fortruth confirms all things, and Divine truth confirms itself; and itwas because the Lord when he was in the world was Divine truthitself, that he so frequently said “amen” [usually translated “verily”].35. Verses 7–8. Behold he cometh with the clouds, and every eyeshall see him, and they who pierced him; and all the tribes of the earthshall lament over him. Even so: amen. I am the alpha and the omega,beginning and end, saith the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is tocome, the almighty. 7. “Behold he cometh with the clouds” signifiesthat the Lord is about to reveal himself in the Word through theinternal sense (n. 36); “and every eye shall see him” signifies that allwill acknowledge him who are in truths from good (n. 37); “andthey who pierced him” signifies that they also will see him who arein falsities from evil (n. 38); “and all the tribes of the earth shalllament over him” signifies that the falsities of the church willoppose (n. 39); “even so: amen” signifies Divine confirmation, thatso it will be (n. 40). 8. “I am the alpha and the omega, beginningand end” signifies that he governs all things from firsts throughultimates, and thus all things of heaven to eternity (n. 41); “saiththe Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come” signifies fromhim who is the all in all things of heaven and of the church frometernity to eternity, and Jehovah (n. 42); “the Almighty” signifiesfrom himself (n. 43).36. Verse 7. Behold, he cometh with the clouds signifies that theLord is about to reveal himself in the Word through the internalsense. This is evident from the signification of “coming,” as being,in reference to the Lord, to reveal himself; and from thesignification of “clouds,” as being Divine truths in ultimates, thusthe Word in the letter; for the Word as to the sense of the letter isDivine truth in ultimates; and since each thing therein contains an