Doctrine of Holy Scripture - Swedenborg Foundation

DOCTRINE OF HOLY SCRIPTURE 218Mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the faceof all peoples, a light for revelation to the nations (Luke 2:30–32).Thou hast redeemed us by thy blood out of every people and nation (Rev.5:9).Thou must prophesy again concerning peoples and nations (Rev. 10:11).Thou shalt set me for a head of the nations: a people whom I have notknown shall serve me (Ps. 18:43).Jehovah bringeth the counsel of the nations to nought, he overturneth thethoughts of the peoples (Ps. 33:10).Thou makest us a byword among the nations, a shaking of the head amongthe peoples (Ps. 44:14).Jehovah shall subdue the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet.Jehovah hath reigned over the nations; the willing ones of the peoples aregathered together (Ps. 47:3, 8–9).Let the people confess unto thee; let the nations be glad and shout for joy;for thou shalt judge the peoples with equity, and lead the nations upon earth(Ps. 67:3–4).Remember me, O Jehovah, in the good pleasure of thy people; that I mayrejoice in the joy of thy nations (Ps. 106:4–5).The reason “nations” and “peoples” are mentioned together is that“nations” mean those in good, and in the opposite sense in evil;and “peoples” those in truths, and in the opposite sense in falsities.For this reason those of the Lord’s spiritual kingdom are called“peoples,” and those of his celestial kingdom “nations”; for in thespiritual kingdom all are in truths and consequently in wisdom,and in the celestial kingdom all are in good and consequently inlove.87. The same rule holds good for other words; for example,where “joy” is mentioned, so is “gladness:”Behold joy and gladness, slaying the ox (Isa. 22:13).