34. Was in the isle called Patmos' signifies the state and situation in which he could be enlightened. That the Revelation of John was produced in Patmos was on account of its being an island in Greece, not far from the land of Canaan, and between Asia and Europe; and by 'isles' are signified nations more out of the way from the worship of God, but who yet are going to draw near to that worship because they can be enlightened. The like [is signified] by 'Greece'. But the Church itself [is signified] by 'the land of Canaan', by 'Asia' those belonging to the Church [are signified] who are in the light of the truth (veritas) out of the Word, and by 'Europe' those to whom the Word is going to come. It is in consequence of this that by 'the isle Patmos' is signified the state and situation in which he could be enlightened. That by 'isles' in the Word are signified nations more remote from the worship of God, but who are yet going to draw near to that worship, is plain from these passages:-
Honour Jehovah in the Urim, the Name of the God of Israel in the isles of the sea Isa. xxiv 15.
He shall not extinguish nor break in pieces, till He set judgment in the earth, and the isles hope in His law. Sing unto Jehovah a new song, the isles and the inhabitants thereof shall propose glory to Jehovah, and they will declare His praise in the islands Isa. xlii 4, 10, 12.
Listen unto Me attentively, O isles and the peoples from afar Isa. xlix 1.
The isles shall hope in Me, and on Mine arm shall they trust Isa. li 5.
The isles shall trust in Me, and the ships of Tarshish Isa. lx 9.
Hear the words of Jehovah, O nations, and declare [them] in the isles from afar Jer. xxxi 10.
That they may worship Jehovah, every one in his place, all the isles of the nations Zeph. ii 11;
and elsewhere. That the like [is signified] by 'Greece' is not plain in this manner from the Word, since Greece has only been mentioned by name [in] Dan. viii 21, x 20, xi 2; as also John xii 20; Mark vii 26. That by 'the land of Canaan' the Lord's Church is understood, and this is thence called 'the Holy Land' and 'the heavenly Canaan', is plain from many passages in the Word. It may be seen above (n. 11) that those in the Church who are in the light of the truth (veritas) out of the Word are understood by 'Asia'; and it is consistent [with this] that those to whom the Word is going to come are understood by 'Europe'.
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