816. Verse 9. And He said unto me, Write, Happy are they that are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb, signifies an angel sent from heaven to John, and speaking with him concerning the Lord's New Church, and saying that it was given to know on earth, that those have eternal life who receive the things which are of that church. That it was an angel sent from heaven to John that spoke these things to him, may be evident from the following verse, that John fell down at his feet to adore him; and that the angel answered, that he was his fellow-servant; therefore that not he, but God, was to be adored. That the former things which John heard were from heaven itself, and by many angels speaking together from the Lord, is plainly manifest from the preceding verses 5-7; where it is said that "a voice came out of the throne," and that thus was heard "as it were a voice of a great multitude, and as of many waters, and as of mighty thunders," and of them that said, "Let us rejoice and exult." These were in the plural; but now it is in the singular, and thus by a single angel sent to him.
[2] But I will relate how it is, when angels speak with man. They never speak with him from heaven; but the voice which is heard thence is from the Lord through heaven. But when it is given to the angels to speak with a man, they send one from their society, who is near the man; and they speak with the man through him. He who is sent is the subject of many, and it was such a subject who now spoke with John. This was done, that it might be announced on earth, that the whole heaven acknowledges the Lord alone as the God of heaven, and that He alone is to be adored; also that the New Church is to be established by the Lord on the earth, as it has been established in the heavens; for a church is first established in the heavens by the Lord, and then through the heavens on the earth. This is the arcanum in these words.
[3] Now to the explanation. "Write" signifies that he should commit this to posterity for remembrance (n. 39, 63, 639); here, that he should make these things known; this is meant by "write." "Happy are they that are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb," signifies that those have eternal life who receive those things which are of the New Church. They are called "happy," who have eternal life (n. 639). By "the marriage of the Lamb" the New Church is signified, which is in conjunction with the Lord, as above (n. 812). By "the called" are meant all who receive (n. 744). All are called, indeed; but they who do not receive, reject the call.
[4] It is called "the marriage supper of the Lamb," because this is done in the last state of the church, which is called evening; and in the evening suppers take place; but the first state of the New Church is called morning. In the evening man is called to the church; and when the called are present, the morning comes. That the last state of the church is called evening and night, and its first state the dawn and morning, may be seen above (n. 151). And because it was the last state of the Jewish church, and thus evening, when the Lord went from Jerusalem to suffer, the Lord therefore then supped with the disciples, and instituted the Eucharist; whence it is called the holy supper; by which also is effected the conjunction of the Lord with the man of the church, or a marriage, if the man, after repentance, goes directly to Him; but if otherwise, presence is effected, and not conjunction. From this it may be evident what is signified by "supper" and "to sup" elsewhere in the Word.
