42. Verse 12. And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me, signifies inversion of the state of those who are in the good of life, as to the perception of truth in the Word, when they turn themselves to the Lord. John says that he heard a voice behind him (verse 10), and now, that he turned to see the voice; and again, that being turned, he saw seven lampstands; from which it is evident, that he heard a voice from behind, and that he turned himself, to see from whence it proceeded; that there is an arcanum in this, is evident. The arcanum is that before man turns himself to the Lord, and acknowledges Him as the God of heaven and earth, he cannot see the Divine truth in the Word. The reason is, that God is one, both in Person and in essence, in whom there is the Trinity; and that God is the Lord. Therefore, they who acknowledge a Trinity of Persons, look primarily to the Father, and some to the Holy Spirit, and rarely to the Lord, and if to the Lord, they think of His Human as of an ordinary man. When a man does this, he can by no means be enlightened in the Word, for the Lord is the Word, for it is from Him and concerning Him. Therefore they who do not approach the Lord alone, see Him and His Word behind them, and not before them; or backward, and not in front. This is the arcanum which lies concealed in these words: "That John heard a voice behind him, and that he turned to see the voice, and, being turned, saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of them the Son of man;" for the voice which he heard came from the Son of man, who is the Lord. [2] That the Lord alone is the God of heaven and earth, He now teaches in a manifest voice, for He says:
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, saith the Lord, Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come (Rev. 1:8);
and here:
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last (Rev. 1:11);
and afterwards:
I am the First and the Last (Rev. 1:17; 2:8). That by a "voice," when from the Lord is meant the Divine Truth, may be seen above (n. 37). And that by "John" are meant those of the church, who are in the good of life (n. 5, 6). From these things it may now appear, that by these words:
And I turned to see the voice which spake with me, is signified an inversion of the state of those who are in the good of life, as to the perception of truth in the Word, when they turn themselves to the Lord.
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