27# “那忠信作见证的”表示天堂里的一切真理都来自祂。这从“忠信作见证”的含义清楚可知，当论及主时，“忠信作见证”是指对天堂里的一切真理所来自的神性人身的承认(对此，下文将详述)。之所以说“天堂里的一切真理”，是因为从主的神性良善发出的神性真理构成总体上，以及具体地与那里的每位天使同在的天堂。这一点可参看《天堂与地狱》(13, 126–140节)，这神性真理来自主的神性人身(7–12, 78–86节)。神性人身方面的主被称为“那忠信作见证的”，是因为从祂发出的神性真理在天堂为祂作见证。这见证普遍存在于天堂里的神性真理中；这一点从以下事实可以看出来：内层天堂的天使只能以一个人的形式来思想神性，因而只能思想神性人身。原因在于，主的神性人身充满整个天堂，并形成它；天使的思维照着天堂的形式行进和流动(参看《天堂与地狱》，59–102, 200–212, 265–275节)。正因如此，“耶稣基督的见证”表示对其人身中的主之神性的承认(对此，参看AE10节)。
由此可见在以下经文中，“作见证”和“见证”在灵义上是什么意思：
约翰(也就是施洗约翰) 来，为要作见证，就是为光作见证，叫众人因他可以信。他不是那光，乃是来为光作见证。那是真光，照亮一切人。我看见了，就作见证。(约翰福音1:7–9, 34)
“光”表示神性真理；因此，主在此被称为“照亮一切人的真光”；“为光作见证”表示对祂的神性人身的承认，神性真理从这神性人身发出。“光”表示从主发出的神性真理(参看《天堂与地狱》天堂之光那一章，126–140节)。
同一福音书：
你们曾差人到约翰那里，他为真理作过见证。但我所受的见证不是从人来的。(约翰福音5:33–34)
又：
耶稣说，我实实在在地告诉你，我们讲我们所知道的，见证我们所见过的。从天上来的是在万有之上；祂为所看见所听见的作见证。(约翰福音3:11, 31–32)
又：
耶稣说，我虽然为自己作见证，我的见证还是真的。因我知道我从哪里来，往哪里去。(约翰福音8:14)
这表示祂从自己为自己作见证，因为祂是神性真理。又：
当保惠师，就是真理的灵来到时，祂要为我作见证。(约翰福音15:26)
“保惠师，就是真理的灵”是从主发出的神性真理(参看《属天的奥秘》，9818, 9820, 10330节; AE25节)
又：
彼拉多说，那么，你是王了？耶稣回答，我是王，这是你说的。我为此而生，也为此来到世界，为了给真理作见证。凡属真理的人都听我的声音。彼拉多说，真理是什么呢？(约翰福音18:37–38)
当主被问到祂是不是王时，祂如此回答，是因为主作为王，是神性真理；这神性真理就是主在天堂的王权，而祂的神性良善是那里的祭司职分。这就是为何主说，祂是王，为这个目的而生，为这个目的来到世界，为了给真理作见证；凡处于真理的人都听从祂的声音；因此，彼拉多问祂：“真理是什么呢？”因而问这是不是王。神性真理是主在天堂的王权(参看《属天的奥秘》，3009, 5068节)；因此，在圣言中，“王”表示那些处于神性真理的人，或从人抽象出来的意义上表示神性真理(参看1672, 2015, 2069, 4575, 4581, 4966, 5044节)。“王”表示那些处于神性真理的人，这一点在解释启示录接下来提到王的经文时看得更清楚；紧接着经上说：“祂使我们归向神和祂的父作王和祭司。”由此可见“从耶稣基督，那忠信作见证的”表示就对其神性人身的承认而言的主，天堂里的一切真理都来自这神性人身。
27. The faithful witness. That this signifies from whom is all truth in heaven, is evident from the signification of a faithful witness, when said of the Lord, as denoting the acknowledgment of the Divine Human, from whom is all truth in heaven; of which more will be said in what follows. The reason why it is said, "all truth in heaven," is, because Divine truth, going forth from the Divine good of the Lord, constitutes heaven in general, and with each angel there in particular. (That such is the case may be seen in the work, Heaven and Hell 13, 126-140; and that it [viz., the Divine truth] is from His Divine Human, n. 7-12, 78-86.) The Lord, as to the Divine Human, is called the "faithful witness," because Divine truth going forth from Him in heaven bears witness of Him. This witness is universally present in Divine truth there; which is evident from the fact that the angels of the interior heaven cannot think of the Divine but as under a human form, and, consequently, of a Divine Human. The reason is, that the Divine Human of the Lord fills the whole heaven and forms it, and the thoughts of the angels proceed and flow according to the form of heaven (as may be seen in the work above mentioned, n. 59-102, 200-212, 265-275). Hence it is, that the witness of Jesus Christ signifies the acknowledgment of the Lord's Divine in His Human (concerning which see above, n. 10).
[2] From these considerations it is evident what is meant, in the spiritual sense, by witnessing and by witness in the following passages:
"John" (here, John the Baptist) "came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but came to bear witness of the Light. That was the true Light which enlighteneth every man. And I saw and bare witness" (126-140.)
[3] In the same:
"Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth: but I receive not witness from man" (Arcana Coelestia 9818, 9820, 10330; and above, n. 25).
[4] In the same:
"Pilate said, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I might bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate said, What is truth?" (Arcana Coelestia 3009, 5068; and that therefore kings, in the Word, signify those who are in Divine truths, and thus, abstractedly from persons, Divine truths themselves, n. 1672, 2015, 2069, 4575, 4581, 4966, 5044.) That kings signify those who are in Divine truths, will appear more clearly in the explanation of what follows in the Apocalypse, where kings are named; and presently below, where it is said, "he hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father." From these considerations it is evident that by, "from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness," is signified the Lord as to the acknowledgment of His Divine Human, from which goes forth all truth in heaven.
27. The faithful witness, signifies from whom is all truth in heaven. This is evident from the signification of "faithful witness," as being, in reference to the Lord, the acknowledgment of the Divine Human from whom is all truth in heaven (of which in what follows). It is said in heaven, because Divine truth, proceeding from the Lord's Divine good, makes heaven in general, and with each angel there in particular. (This may be seen in the work on Heaven and Hell 13, 126-140; and that this is from the Lord's Divine Human, n. 7-12, 78-86.) The Lord as to the Divine Human is called the "faithful witness," because Divine truth proceeding from Him, bears witness in heaven concerning Him.
This testimony is universally in the Divine truth in heaven; as may be seen from this, that angels of the interior heaven can think of the Divine in no other way than under a human form, thus as the Divine Human, and for the reason that the Divine Human of the Lord fills the universal heaven and forms it, and the thoughts of angels proceed and flow according to the form of heaven (See in the work on Heaven and Hell 59-102, 200-212, 265-275). From this it is that "the testimony of Jesus Christ" (See n. 10) signifies the acknowledgment of the Divine of the Lord in His Human.
[2] From this can be seen what is meant in the spiritual sense by "bearing witness" and by "testimony" in the following passages:
John [that is, the Baptist] came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the Light, that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but came that he might bear witness of the Light. It was the true Light, which lighteth every man. And I have seen and have borne witness (120-140.)
[3] In the same:
Ye sent unto John, and He bare witness unto the truth; but I receive not testimony from man (Arcana Coelestia 9818, 9820, 10330; and above, n. 25).
[4] In the same:
Pilate said, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest it, because I am a king. For this have I been born, and for this am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth My voice. Pilate said, What is truth? (Arcana Coelestia 3009, 5068; and that "kings," therefore, in the Word, signify those who are in Divine truths, or abstractly from persons, signify Divine truths, see n. 1672, 2015, 2069, 4575, 4581, 4966, 5044.) That "kings" signify those who are in Divine truths, will appear more clearly in the explanation of what follows in Revelation, where kings are mentioned; and just below, where it is said, "He hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father." From this it can be seen that by the words, "from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness," is signified the Lord as to the acknowledgment of His Divine Human, from which is all truth in heaven.
27. "Ipse Testis fidelis." - Quod significet a quo omne verum in caelo, constat ex significatione "Testis fidelis", cum de Domino, quod sit agnitio Divini Humani a quo omne verum in caelo, de qua sequitur; quod dicatur in caelo, est quia Divinum Verum procedens ex Divino Bono Domini facit caelum in communi, et apud unumquemvis angelum ibi in particulari. (Quod ita sit, videatur in opere De Caelo et Inferno 13, 126-140; et quud a Divino Humano Ipsius, n. 7-12, 1
78-86.) Dominus quoad Divinum Humanum dicitur "Testis fidelis", quia Divinum Verum procedens ex Ipso in caelo testatur de Ipso: hoc testimonium inest universaliter Divino Vero ibi; quod constare potest ex eo, quod angeli interioris caeli non possint aliter cogitare de Divino quam sub Humana forma, ita de Divino Humano, ex causa, quia Divinum Humanum
Domini implet universum caelum ac format illud, et cogitationes angelorum vadunt et fluunt secundum formam caeli (videatur in opere supra citato, n. 50-102, 200-212, 265-275). Inde est, quod "testimonium Jesu Christi" significet agnitionem Divini Domini in Humano Ipsius (de qua supra, n. 10).
[2] Ex his patet quid in sensu spirituali intelligitur per "testari" et per "testimonium" in sequentibus his locis: -
"Johannes" (hic Johannes Baptista) "venit in testimonium, ut testaretur de Luce, ut omnes crederent per illum: non erat ille Lux, sed ut testaretur de Luce; erat Lux Vera quae illustrat omnem hominem:... et ego vidi, et testatus sum" (Johannes 1:7, 8, 9, 34);
"Lux" significat Divinum Verum; quare Dominus vocatur ibi "Lux vera quae illuminat omnem hominem"; ac "testari de Luce" significat agnitionem Divini Humani Ipsius ex quo Divinum Verum procedit.
(Quod "Lux" significet Divinum Verum procedens a Domino, videatur in opare De Caelo et Inferno, in articulo De Luce Caeli, n. 126-140.)
[3] Apud eundem,
"Vos misistis (ad) Johannem, et testatus est veritati: Ego vero non ab homine testimonium accipio" (5:33, 34);
apud eundem,
"Jesus dixit, Amen dico tibi, quod quae scimus loquamur, et quae Vidimus testemur:... de caelo Veniens super omnes est, et quod vidit et audivit, hoc testatur" (3:11, 31, 32);
apud eundem,
"Dixit Jesus, Etsi Ego testor de Me Ipso, verum est testimonium meum, quia scio unde veni et quo vado" (8:14);
per quod significatur, quod testetur de Se Ipso ex Se Ipso, quia erat Divinum Verum.
Apud eundem,
"Cum venerit Paracletus... Spiritus veritatis, ... ille testabitur de Me" (15:26)
"Paracletus" "Spiritus veritatis", est Divinum Verum procedens a Domino (videatur n. 9818, 9820, 10330; et supra, n. 25 2
).
[4] Et apud eundem,
"Dixit Pilatus, Num ergo Rex es Tu? Respondit Jesus, Tudicis, quia Rex Ego sum; Ego in hoc natus sum, et ad hoc veni in mundum, ut tester veritati; omnis existens ex veritate audit meam vocem... Et dixit Pilatus, Quid est veritas?" (18:37, 38);
quod Dominus ita responderit, cum interrogatus est num esset Rex, erat quia Dominus ut Rex est Divinum Verum, nam hoc est regium Domini in caelo, Divinum autem Bonum Ipsius est sacerdotium ibi; inde est, quod Dominus dixerit quod Rex sit, quod in hoc natus sit, et ad hoc venerit in mundum, "ut testetur veritati", et quod "qui in veritate est, audiat vocem" Ipsius; et ideo quaesivit Pilatus, "Quid veritas", ita num illa esset Rex. (Quod Divinum Verum sit regium Domini in caelis, videatur n. 3009, 5068; et quod ideo "reges" in Verbo significent illos qui in Divinis veris sunt, ita abstracte a pellonis significent Divina vera, n. 1672, 2015, 2069, 4575, 4581, 4966, 5044.) Quod "reges significent illos qui in Divinis veris, patebit clarius in explicatione sequentium in Apocalypsi, ubi nominantur "reges"; et mox infra, ubi dicitur, "Fecit nos reges et sacerdotes Deo et Patri suo." Ex his constare potest, quod per "a Jesu Christo, Ipse Testis fidelis", significetur Dominus quoad agnitionem Divini Humani, a quo omne Verum in caelo.
Footnotes:
1. The editors made a correction or note here.
2. The editors made a correction or note here.