806. 'And He has avenged the blood of His servants from (de) her hand' signifies retribution on account of the injuries and violent deeds inflicted on the souls of the worshippers of the Lord. By 'He has avenged the blood of His servants from her hand' is signified retribution on account of the injuries and violent deeds inflicted on the worshippers of the Lord because by 'He has revenged' is signified retribution. By 'to shed blood' is signified to inflict violence on the Lord's Divine and the Word (n. 327, 684); here on the worshippers of the Lord, who are understood by 'His servants'. They have inflicted injuries and violent deeds upon the souls of these by transferring the Divine worship of the Lord to themselves and preventing the reading of the Word. It is said of the Lord that 'He has avenged' or revenged 'the blood of His servants' as if He did this as the result of vengeance or revenge, but still it is not the result of vengeance or revenge, just as it is not the result of wrath and growing anger, which yet is attributed to the Lord in places in the Word, as may be seen above (n. 525, 635, 658, 673). 'Wrath' and 'vengeance' are said of the Lord when the evil separated from the good are cast into hell, which is done at the day of the last judgment. Therefore that day is called 'the day of wrath' and also 'wrath', and again 'the day of vengeance'; not that the Lord is angry and vengeful, but that they are angry with the Lord and breathe vengeance against Him. It is like a wrong-doer after sentence is passed being angry with the law and breathing vengeance against the judge; for the law is not angry, neither is the judge vengeful. [2] 'Vengeance' is understood in this sense in the following passages:-
The day of vengeance is in My heart, the year of My redeemed has come Isa. lxiii 4;
treating there of the Lord and of the last judgment.
The day of Jehovah's vengeance, the year of retributions for the contention of Zion Isa. xxxiv 8.
Behold, your God will come with vengeance, He will come with God's retribution, and save you Isa. xxxv 4.
These are the days of vengeance, that all the things that have been written may be fulfilled Luke xxi 22;
treating there of the consummation of the age when there is the last judgment.
The spirit of the Lord Jehovih is upon Me to proclaim the day of Jehovah's good pleasure, and the day of vengeance for our God, to comfort all who mourn Isa. lxi [1,] 2.
Shall not My soul take revenge for this? Jer. v 9, 29.
I will take vengeance on Babel, nor will I make a man to intercede Isa. xlvii 3.
Against Babel is the thought to destroy it, because this is Jehovah's vengeance, the vengeance of His temple Jer. li 11, 36.
Sing, O nations, His people: for He has avenged the blood of His servants, and He will render vengeance to His enemies, and will atone for His land, His people Deut. xxxii 43.
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