We tend to speak somewhat casually of “truth from the Lord,” but in actual fact Swedenborg tells us that in its true form the Lord’s truth – the immediate expression of infinite love – is of such brightness and blinding power that it actually is light itself, is the light of heaven, is bright beyond human imagination, and must be filtered down through multiple levels to a state where we can form it into mental concepts and express it in language. Indeed, Swedenborg says this is why the Bible is written with an internal sense; only through such indirect expression can it serve as a container for the real truth that lies hidden within.
That brilliance, that overwhelming light from the Lord contained in the Bible, is what “glory” means when it appears in the Bible. That’s why it is seen so often in passing, or imagined, or seen within a cloud: We cannot look at it directly.
Passages from Swedenborg
Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 9429
9429. ‘And the glory of Jehovah lay over Mount Sinai’ means the more internal levels of the Lord’s Word in heaven. This is clear from the meaning of ‘the glory of Jehovah’, when the Word is the subject, as its inward sense, thus the more internal levels of the Word, dealt with in the Preface to Genesis 18, and in 5922; and from the meaning of ‘Mount Sinai’ as Divine Truth emanating from the Lord, and consequently as heaven, dealt with above in 9420, 9427. The reason why the more internal levels of the Word are called ‘the glory’ is that Divine Truth emanating from the Lord as the Sun composes the light in heaven, which enables the angels there to see with their eyes and at the same time gives them intelligence and wisdom, 1531, 1619-1632, 2776, 3138, 3167, 3190, 3195, 3339, 3341, 3636, 3643, 3862, 3993, 4302, 4415, 4527, 5400, 6313, 6608, 6907, 8644, 8707, 8861. This Divine light is the source of all the glory in heaven, whose brightness is such that it exceeds all human imagination. From this it is evident why the inward sense of the Word is ‘the glory’; for the inward sense of the Word is the Divine Truth emanating from the Lord in heaven, and so it is the light which is the source of all the glory there.
[2] This is what ‘glory’ is used to mean in a large number of places in the Word, such as where it says that they would see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with glory, Matt. 24:30; Luke 21:27; that the Lord, after He had suffered would enter into His glory, Luke 24:26; that when He came in His glory He would sit on the throne of His glory, Matt. 25:31, ‘sitting on the throne of glory’ meaning judging with Divine Truth that comes from Him; and that Moses and Elijah appeared in glory, Luke 9:30, 31, ‘Moses and Elijah’ there being the Word, see Preface to Genesis 18, and 2762, 5247, 9372. It is also what the Lord’s ‘being glorified’ is used to mean in John,
Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him at once. John 13:31, 32.
‘Being glorified in God’ means becoming Divine Good from which Divine Truth springs. Something similar appears in John 12:28.
[3] Divine Truth emanating from the Lord as it exists in heaven is meant by ‘the glory’ in the following places as well: In Isaiah,
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of Jehovah. And the glory of Jehovah will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together. Isa. 40:3, 5.
These are words referring to the Coming of the Lord, in which ‘the glory of Jehovah’ that will be revealed is Divine Truth. The Lord is that Truth because it comes from Him, as is evident in John,
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. He was the true light. And the Word became flesh; and we saw His glory, glory as of the Only Begotten from the Father. John 1:1, 4, 9, 14.
‘The Word’ here is Divine Truth, and so is ‘the light’, from which it is evident what ‘seeing His glory’ means. The Lord, as is well known, did not appear in any glory in the world, apart from when He was transfigured.
[4] ‘The glory’ has the same meaning elsewhere in John,
These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him. But they delighted in the glory of men more than in theglory of God. I have come as light into the world in order that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness. John 12:41, 43, 46.
Here also ‘the Lord’s glory’ and ‘the glory of God’ stand for Divine Truth, while ‘the glory of men’ stands for falsity. In Isaiah,
Shine, for your light has come, and the glory of Jehovah has risen upon you. Jehovah will arise upon you, and His glorywill be seen over you. The glory of Lebanon will come to you to beautify the place of My sanctuary. Your sun will no longer go down and your moon will not be withdrawn, for Jehovah will be to you an everlasting light. Isa. 60:1-end.
This plainly refers to the Coming of the Lord, His kingdom, heaven, and the Church. Divine Truth emanating from His Divine Human is described in the whole of that chapter, where it is called light, honour, and glory.
[5] In the same prophet,
They will fear the name of Jehovah from the setting of the sun, and His glory from the rising of the sun. The Redeemer will come to Zion. Isa. 59:19, 20.
Here also it refers to the Lord. ‘The name of Jehovah’ stands for all the truth of faith and good of love from which worship flows, 2724, 3006, 6674, 9310. In the same prophet,
I have called You in righteousness, and will give You as a covenant of the people,* a light of the nations. I am Jehovah, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another. Isa. 42:6, 8.
This too is a reference to the Lord, in which ‘a light of the nations’ means Divine Truth which comes from Him; ‘not giving glory to another’ means that that Divine Truth comes from no one other than the Lord, who is one with Jehovah, as again in the same prophet,
For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; and My gloryI will not give to another. Isa. 48:11.
[6] ‘Glory’ has a like meaning elsewhere in Isaiah,
Your light will break forth like the dawn; your righteousness will walk before you, the glory of Jehovah will gather you up. Isa. 58:8.
In the same prophet,
One will come to gather all nations and tongues, that they may come and see My glory. Isa. 66:18.
In the same prophet,
Jehovah Zebaoth will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before all His elders, glory. Isa. 24:23.
In Moses,
Jehovah said, I am the Living One, and the whole earth will be filled with the glory of Jehovah. Num. 14:20, 21.
In all these places, which refer to the Lord, ‘glory’ means Divine Truth which emanates from Him.
[7] In Isaiah,
I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up. And above Him stood the seraphim. And one cried to another, Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah Zebaoth; the whole earth is full of Hisglory. Isa. 6:1-3.
In David,
The heavens recount the glory of God. Ps. 19:1.
And in the same author,
… that the nations may fear the name of Jehovah, and the kings of the earth Your glory, in that Jehovah has built Zion and appeared in His glory. Ps. 102:15, 16.
In Revelation,
The glory of God will give the holy Jerusalem light, and its lamp is the Lamb. And the nations that are saved will walk in His light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory and honour into it. Rev. 21:23-25.
‘The holy Jerusalem’ stands for a new Church; ‘the glory of God’ stands for Divine Truth from the Lord there, as does ‘His light’ in which they will walk; and ‘the kings of the earth’ who ‘will bring glory’ stands for those who are guided by truths derived from good, 2015, 2069, 4581, 4966, 5044, 6148. All this now makes clear what the meaning is of ‘the glory of Jehovah’ which lay over Mount Sinai. See also 8427.
Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 5922
5922. ‘And you must tell my father about all my glory in Egypt’ means a communication of the spiritual heaven in the natural with spiritual good. This is clear from the meaning of ‘telling’ as communicating; from the meaning of ‘glory’ as the spiritual heaven, dealt with below; from the meaning of ‘Egypt’ as factual knowledge within the natural, thus the natural itself, as above in 5908; and from the representation of Israel, to whom ‘father’, the recipient of the communication, refers here, as spiritual good, dealt with above in 5906. From all this it is evident that ‘you must tell my father about all my glory in Egypt’ means a communication of the spiritual heaven in the natural with spiritual good.
[2] With regard to ‘glory’ meaning the spiritual heaven, the situation is this: There are two kingdoms that form heaven – the celestial kingdom and the spiritual kingdom. The celestial kingdom is the inmost or third heaven, and the spiritual kingdom is the middle or second heaven. Good as it exists among celestial angels is called celestial good, and good as it exists among spiritual angels is called spiritual good. Celestial good is the good of love to the Lord, while spiritual good is the good of love towards the neighbour. As for what joins the two kingdoms together, the good of charity towards the neighbour does so. For with members of the celestial kingdom love to the Lord is what is internal and charity towards the neighbour what is external; but with members of the spiritual kingdom charity towards the neighbour is what is internal and faith deriving from it what is external. From this one may see that what joins the two kingdoms is charity towards the neighbour; for charity is that in which the celestial kingdom ends and the spiritual kingdom begins. What comes last in the one comes first in the other, and is thus where they receive each other.
[3] Now let what ‘glory’ is be stated. In the highest sense ‘glory’ is the Lord in respect to Divine Truth; thus it is Divine Truth that goes forth from the Lord. But in the representative sense ‘glory’ is the good of love towards the neighbour or charity, which is the external good of the Lord’s celestial kingdom and the internal good of His spiritual kingdom; for in the genuine sense this good is Divine Truth in heaven. Now since reference is made at this point in the story to Israel, who is spiritual good or charity which makes the spiritual kingdom in heaven and the spiritual Church on earth, Joseph’s ‘glory’ here which they were to tell Israel about means the spiritual heaven. The spiritual heaven is called ‘glory’ because things there are seen in light, brilliance, and radiance.
[4] Glory is attributed to Divine Truth that comes forth from the Lord’s Divine Human, and it is ascribed to the Lord as King; for in the internal sense kingship means Divine Truth, 1728, 2015, 2069, 3009, 3670, 4581, 4966, 5044, 5068. This is clear in John,
What is more, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the Only Begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14.
‘The Word’ is Divine Truth. Since it goes forth from the Lord it is the Lord Himself, and for that reason ‘glory’ is attributed to Divine Truth.
[5] In Luke, when Jesus was transfigured on the mountain,
Behold, two men talked to Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who were seen in glory. Luke 9:30, 31.
There the Lord showed Peter, James, and John what His Divine Human was like and what it looked like in Divine light. The form in which they saw Him at that time demonstrated what the Word is like in its internal sense, and so what Divine Truth in heaven is like; for the Word is Divine Truth provided for the Church’s use. This also explains why at the same time the scene presented Moses and Elijah talking to Him; for ‘Moses’ represents the Law, by which one means the books by him together with the historical ones, while ‘Elijah’ represents the Prophets or prophetical part of the Word. For more about Moses’ representation of the Law, see Preface to Genesis 18, and also 4859 (end); and for more about Elijah’s representation of the prophetical part of the Word, see the same Preface, and also 2762, 5247 (end).
[6] In Matthew,
They will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and glory. Matt. 24:30.
The literal sense of the Word is meant by ‘the clouds’, while the internal sense, consequently Divine Truth as this exists in heaven, is meant by ‘glory’; see Preface to Genesis 18. ‘Glory’ also means the intelligence and wisdom that flow from Divine Truth, 4809. So far as its external sense is concerned the Word exists ‘in a cloud’, for the reason that people’s minds dwell in darkness. Therefore if the Word did not dwell ‘in a cloud’ scarcely anyone would understand it, and also the sacred contents of the internal sense would be rendered profane by wicked people in the world. This is why the Lord says in Isaiah,
Jehovah will create over every habitation of Mount Zion, and over her assemblies, a cloud by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a covering. And there will be a tabernacle for shade by day. Isa. 4:5, 6.
[7] It was for the same reason that over the tabernacle a cloud was seen by day and a fire by night. The tabernacle represented the Lord’s Divine Human, consequently Divine Truth which goes forth from Him, and so the Word, which is Divine Truth for the Church, see 3210, 3439. The same is meant by the following in Moses,
The cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Jehovah filled the dwelling-place. Exod. 40:34.
In the same author,
The glory of Jehovah appeared in the tent of meeting before all the children of Israel. Num. 14:10.
And in another place,
The cloud covered the tent, and the glory of Jehovah appeared. Num. 16:42.
[8] A cloud and glory appeared in a similar way over Mount Sinai, which are spoken of in Moses as follows,
When Moses went up into the mountain the cloud covered the mountain. And the glory of Jehovah dwelt over Mount Sinai and covered it six days. Exod. 24:15, 16.
The same representations occurred then because the Law, which is Divine Truth, was delivered from that mountain. The reason why the cloud was seen and the glory of Jehovah when Moses went up into the mountain was that in this he represented the Law, that is, the historical section of the Word. This explains why on several occasions the expression ‘Moses and the Prophets’ or else ‘the Law and the Prophets’ is used. ‘The Law’ is in this case used to mean the books by him together with all the other historical books, but not the Prophets because that part of the Word was represented by Elijah and Elisha. For as is well known, the Word has a historical section and a prophetical part, and therefore when the Word is called ‘the Law and the Prophets’, ‘the Law’ is used to mean the historical section and ‘the Prophets’ the prophetical part.
[9] Divine Truth was also represented by a brightness, like a rainbow in the cloud, that surrounded the cherubs and was up above them – in Ezekiel, where those things are described as follows,
I saw the appearance of fire, like a brightness round about, like the appearance of a rainbow which is in the cloud on a day of rain. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Jehovah. Ezek. 1:26-28.
Divine Truth is also called the glory of Jehovah, and the gloryof the God of Israel in Ezekiel 8:4; 10:18, 19; 11:21, 23. It is called ‘the glory of Jehovah’ in reference to the inmost heaven, and ‘the glory of the God of Israel’ in reference to the middle or spiritual heaven. The reason why in heaven Divine Truth appears in glory is that truth itself in the spiritual heaven appears before one’s eyes as a shining cloud, which I too have been allowed to see several times, while the good held within that truth appears there as a fieriness. The cloud which is given diverse colourings by the fire presents amazing sights, which are ‘glory’ in the external sense. But the glory in the internal sense is intelligence and wisdom, which are also what those sights represent.
[10] The fact that Divine Truth, the source of all wisdom and intelligence, is ‘the glory’, as is the diversely coloured cloud appearing before one’s external sight, is also clear from the following places: In Moses,
Jehovah said, I am the Living One, and the whole earth will be filled with the glory of Jehovah. Num. 14:21.
This was said by Jehovah when the Israelite people were rejected by Him. He said that only their young children would enter the land of Canaan, at which time the whole earth would be filled with the glory of Jehovah. The meaning of this was that the glory of Jehovah would be present in the representatives of the Church existing among them, and in the Word which referred for the most part to them, and that all heaven and consequently the holy things of the Church would be filled with this glory.
[11] In Isaiah,
The seraphim kept calling out, Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah Zebaoth; the whole earth is full of His glory. Isa. 6:3.
In the same prophet,
The glory of Jehovah will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together. Isa. 40:5.
In the same prophet,
Therefore in the Urim give glory to Jehovah, in the isles of the sea to the name of Jehovah, the God of Israel. Isa. 24:15.
‘The Urim’ stands for the light that is received from Divine Truth going; forth from the Lord. ‘The isles of the sea’ stands for those who are further away from the truth, 1158.
[12] In the same prophet,
The glory of Lebanon has been given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of Jehovah, the majesty of our God. Isa. 35:2.
‘Lebanon’ stands for the spiritual Church, Carmel and Sharon’ for the celestial Church. ‘The glory of Jehovah’ is attributed to the latter when celestial truth, which is charity, is meant, and ‘the majesty of the God of Israel’ to the former when spiritual good, which also is charity, is meant.
[13] In the same prophet,
Arise, shine, for Your light has come, and the glory of Jehovah has risen upon You. For behold, darkness is covering the earth, and thick darkness the peoples. But Jehovah will arise upon You, and His glory will be seen over You. Isa. 60:1, 2.
This refers to the Lord, who is called the Light, as in John 1:4, 9. It also says that ‘the glory of Jehovah will arise upon Him’, meaning that Divine Truth belongs to Him. Similarly in the same prophet,
For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; for how should it be profaned? My glory I do not give to another. Isa. 48:11.
This too refers to the Lord, ‘glory’ in the highest sense standing for the Divine Human, and so also for Divine Truth since this comes forth from it. ‘Not giving glory to another’ is imparting it solely to the Divine Human, which is one with Himself.
[14] In John,
The holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven, having the glory of God, and its light was like a most precious stone. Rev. 21:10, 11.
‘The holy city Jerusalem’ is the Lord’s spiritual kingdom in heaven and His spiritual Church on earth, to both of whichglory is attributed. Its light is truth radiating from the Divine.
[15] Since Divine Truth is what kingship in the Word represents – even as the Lord in respect to His Divine Truth was represented by kings, see the places listed just above -glory was therefore ascribed to Him as King, as in David,
Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted , O ancient doors,* so that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King ofglory? Jehovah strong and mighty, Jehovah mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates, lift up. O ancient doors,* that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? Jehovah Zebaoth, He is the King of glory. Ps. 24:7-10.
In Isaiah,
Jehovah Zebaoth will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before His elders, glory. Isa. 24:23.
‘Glory’ stands for Divine Truth. Jehovah is called ‘Jehovah Zebaoth’ – that is, Jehovah of Hosts or of Armies – when the subject is Divine truth; for truths are meant by ‘armies’, 3448.
[16] Also, because Divine Truth was represented by kingship, the throne on which kings sat when they made judgements was called a throne of glory, Isa. 22:27; Jer. 14:21; 17:12. And in Matthew,
The Son of Man will sit on the throne of His glory. Matt. 19:28.
In the same gospel,
When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. And the King will say to them . . . Matt. 25:31, 34, 40.
The throne was called ‘a throne of glory’ for the further reason that truth was the basis on which judgements were made. In the same gospel,
The Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father together with His angels, and at that time He will repay everyone according to his deeds. Matt. 16:27.
[17] From all this one may now see what is meant by ‘theglory’ in the Lord’s Prayer,
Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever. Matt. 6:13.
The Lord’s spiritual kingdom in heaven and His spiritual Church on earth is in addition referred to by another word for ‘glory’ (decus) in Isa. 60:7; 63:15; 64:11; Dan. 8:9-11; 11:16, 41, 45.
Joseph too therefore speaks of his glory, for Joseph himself in the highest sense represents the Lord’s Divine Spiritual or His Divine Truth, and in the internal sense His spiritual kingdom, also the good of faith, see 3969, 4669, 4723, 4727.
Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 8427
8427. ‘And in the morning you will see the glory of Jehovah’ means that at the beginning of a new state the arrival of the Lord is going to take place. This is clear from the meaning of ‘the morning’ as the beginning of a new state, dealt with immediately above in 8426; and from the meaning of ‘the gloryof Jehovah’ as the presence and the arrival of the Lord. The reason why ‘the glory’ means the presence and the arrival of the Lord is that in the highest sense ‘glory’ is the Divine Truth which emanates from the Lord; and Divine Truth appears before angels’ eyes as the light and splendour from the Sun, which is the Lord. For the meaning of ‘the glory’ as Divine Truth emanating from the Lord, see 5922, 8267; for its meaning intelligence and wisdom that belong to Divine Truth, 4809; and its consequently meaning the internal sense of the Word, since that sense is Divine Truth in glory, 5922.
[2] It says that in the morning they are going to see the glory of Jehovah because sunrise and its accompanying light (which in heaven brings light to angels’ eyes, to both their outward and their inward sight) consequently the presence and arrival of the Lord (who is the Sun of heaven) corresponds to morning time on earth and is meant here by ‘the morning’. The light from the sun then, which is Divine Truth emanating from the Lord, and for that reason is the Lord, is ‘the glory’. From this it is evident that ‘the glory’ means the presence and arrival of the Lord. The fact that these are meant by ‘the glory’ is also evident from a number of places in the Word, such as in Moses,
The cloud covered the mountain, and the glory of Jehovah dwelt over Mount Sinai. And the cloud covered it six days. The sight of the glory of Jehovah was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain, before the eyes of the children of Israel. Exod. 24:15-18.
Plainly, the presence of Jehovah, that is, of the Lord, appearing as a cloud and as fire on the mountain, is here called ‘the glory of Jehovah’.
In the same author,
The cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle. Nor could Moses enter the tent of meeting, because the cloud dwelt over it, and the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle. Exod. 40:34, 35.
Here also the Lord’s presence, appearing as a cloud, is called ‘the glory’.
[3] In the same author,
Moses and Aaron entered the tent of meeting; and they came out and blessed the people. At that time the glory of Jehovah appeared to the whole people. Lev. 9:23, 24.
In the same author,
The glory of Jehovah appeared in the tent of meeting before all the children of Israel. Num. 14:10-12.
Likewise in Num. 16:19, 42. In the first Book of Kings,
The cloud filled the house of Jehovah, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of Jehovah filled the house of Jehovah. 1 Kings 8:10, 11.
In John,
The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, so that no one was able to enter the temple. Rev. 15:8.
In the same book,
He showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. The city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shed light in it; the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. Rev. 21:10, 11, 23.
Here ‘the glory of God’ plainly stands for light from the Lord, which is Divine Truth emanating from Him, and so is the presence of the Lord since the Lord is present in Truth coming from Him.
[4] The fact that ‘the glory of Jehovah’ means His presence is clear yet again in Moses,
Moses said to Jehovah, Show me, I beg You, Your glory He said to him, I will cause all My goodness to pass by before you. And when My glory passes by, it will happen, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover My hand over you until I have passed by. But when I take My hand away you will see My back parts, and My face will not be seen. Exod. 33:18-end.
Here also ‘Jehovah’s glory’ plainly stands for His presence. In Matthew,
The disciples said to Jesus, Tell us, what will be the sign of Your coming? Jesus said, Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear, and they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and glory. Matt. 24:3, 30.
The subject here is the final period of the former Church and the first of the new. ‘The Son of Man’ is God’s truth emanating from the Lord; ‘the clouds of heaven’ are the Word in the sense of the letter, and ‘power and glory’ are the internal sense, thus Divine Truth which will be visible then. ‘The Lord’s coming’ stands for the acceptance of God’s truth by those belonging to the new Church and the rejection of it by those belonging to the old Church, see 4060 (end).
[5] The fact that the Lord in respect of Divine Truth is meant by ‘the glory’ is clear in Isaiah,
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of Jehovah. The glory of Jehovah will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together. Isa. 40:3, 5.
This refers to the Lord, who is ‘the glory’. In John,
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us; and we saw Hisglory. glory as of the Only Begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
In the same gospel,
These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him. John 12:41.
Here ‘glory’ stands for the Lord. Similarly in Moses,
I am the Living One, and the whole earth will be filled with the glory of Jehovah. Num. 14:21.
Here ‘the glory of Jehovah’ stands for the Coming or arrival of the Lord, and for enlightenment by Divine Truth emanating from Him.
[6] ‘Glory’ stands for the Lord’s Divinity in Isaiah,
I am Jehovah, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another. Isa. 42:8.
In Mark,
… when the Son of Man comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. Mark 8:38.
In Luke,
Ought [not] Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory? Luke 24:26.
Since ‘the glory of Jehovah’ means the Lord in respect of Divine Truth, ‘the glory’ also means the Divine Wisdom and Intelligence that belong to Divine Truth emanating from the Lord. Wisdom and intelligence from God are meant by theglory in Ezekiel 1:28; 8:4; 9:3; 10:4, 18, 19; 11:22, 23; and there it is represented by ‘a rainbow’ such as one sees in a cloud.
Apocalypse Revealed (Rogers) n. 629
629. “And give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come.” This symbolizes an acknowledgment and confession that all the Word’s truth which makes the church a church comes from the Lord, and that everyone will be judged in accordance with it.
To give glory to Him means, symbolically, to acknowledge and confess that every truth comes from the Lord, as may be seen in no. 249 above; and because every truth that makes the church a church is drawn from the Word, it is the Word’s truth that is meant. “For the hour of His judgment has come” means symbolically that everyone will be judged in accordance with the Word’s truth. This is the symbolic meaning because to giveglory to Him means, symbolically, to acknowledge and confess that the Word’s truth all comes from the Lord, and we are told next, “for the hour of His judgment has come,” the word “for” entailing this as the cause.
That everyone will be judged by the Word’s truth may be seen in 233, 273 above. And that the church is founded on the Word, and that its character is such as its understanding of the Word, may be seen in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem Regarding the Sacred Scripture, nos. 7679.
It is apparent from this that the spiritual meaning of these words is as stated. It is as stated because angels in heaven perceive glory to mean nothing else than Divine truth; and because all Divine truth comes from the Lord, they perceive giving glory to Him to mean an acknowledgment and confession that all truth comes from Him. For all glory in the heavens springs from no other origin, and to the extent that any society in heaven is governed by Divine truth, to the same extent everything in it is radiant, and the angels are surrounded by a commensurate glorious radiance.
[2] That glory means Divine truth can be seen from the following passages:
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of Jehovah…. The glory of Jehovah shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it….” (Isaiah 40:3, 5)
…shine, for your light has come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon you…. Jehovah will arise over you, and His glorywill be seen upon you. (Isaiah 60:1, 2 to the end)
I will…give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles…, and My glory I will not give to another…. (Isaiah 42:6, 8)
For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it…. And I will not give My glory to another. (Isaiah 48:11)
They shall fear…His glory from the rising of the sun…. The Redeemer will come to Zion…. (Isaiah 59:19, 20)
…your light shall break forth like the morning…; the glory of Jehovah shall gather you. (Isaiah 58:8)
…He will come to gather all nations and tongues, that they may…see My glory. (Isaiah 66:18)
(Jehovah said,) “I live, and all the earth shall be filled with theglory of Jehovah.” (Numbers 14:21)
The whole earth is full of His glory! (Isaiah 6:1-3)
In the beginning was the Word…, and the Word was God…. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men…. That was the true Light…. And the Word became flesh…, and we beheld Hisglory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father…. (John 1:1, 4, 9, 14)
These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory…. (John 12:41)
And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with…glory. (Matthew 24:3, 30)
The heavens shall declare the glory of God…. (Psalm 19:1)
Then the nations shall fear the name of Jehovah, and all the kings of the earth Your glory, because (He) built up Zion, (and) He appeared in His glory. (Psalm 102:15, 16)
…the glory of God (will illuminate the Holy Jerusalem) and the Lamb is its light. And the nations (which) are saved shall walk in its light…. (Revelation 21:23-25)
…the Son of Man (will come) in His glory…(to) sit on the throne of His glory. (Matthew 25:31, cf. Mark 8:38)
That the glory of Jehovah filled and covered the Tabernacle: Exodus 40:34,35, Leviticus 9:23,24, Numbers 14:10-12, 16:19, 16:42.
That it filled the house of Jehovah: 1 Kings 8:10, 11.
And so on elsewhere as in Isaiah 24:23; Ezekiel 1:28, 8:4, 9:3, 10:4, 18, 19, 11:22,23; Luke 2:32, 9:26; John 2:11, 7:18, 17:24.
Apocalypse Explained (Tansley) n. 874
874. Fear God and give glory unto him. That this signifies that they should worship the Lord from His Divine truth by a life according to it, is evident from the signification of fearing God, as denoting to reverence and worship the Lord; concerning which see above (n. 696); and from the signification of giving glory unto Him, as denoting to live according to Divine truth, that is, according to His precepts in the Word.
By glory, where it is said of the Lord, is signified Divine truth proceeding from Him, thus the Word such as it is in heaven; for this is light to the angels, by means of which the Lord manifests His glory. For by means of that light He gives intelligence and wisdom, and also sets before their eyes magnificent objects, which are refulgent from highly precious things. This in the proximate sense is signified by the Lord’sglory. But because all those magnificent things that are refulgent, as it were, from gold and precious stones in wonderful forms, are given by the Lord according to the reception of Divine truth proceeding from Him, therefore they are seen by them entirely according to the wisdom which is in them; for these things are correspondences. But since they have wisdom according to their reception of Divine truth, not only in doctrine but also in life, therefore by giving glory unto Him is signified to live according to Divine truth.
Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 8443
8443. ‘And behold, the glory of Jehovah was seen in the cloud’ means the Lord’s presence within truth adjusted to their discernment. This is clear from the meaning of ‘the glory of Jehovah’ as the presence and arrival of the Lord, dealt with above in 8427; and from the meaning of ‘the cloud’ as the literal sense of the Word, dealt with in the Preface to Genesis 18, and in 4391, 5922, 6343 (end), 6752, 8106, thus truth adjusted to people’s discernment, for the Word in the letter is that kind of truth. But ‘the glory that is in the cloud’ is Divine Truth, which is not adjusted in that way to people’s discernment, because it is above illusions and appearances of the senses; so it is also the internal sense of the Word, Preface to Genesis 18, and 5922, 8427. The reason why ‘the glory’ is the internal sense of the Word is that this sense deals with the Church and the Lord’s kingdom, and the highest sense with the Lord Himself, which sense also contains Divine Truth in its absolute form.
[2] There are many levels of God’s truth, not just one. The first level of God’s truth, and also the second, is that truth going forth directly from the Lord; it is above angels’ understanding. But the third level of God’s truth is that truth as it exists in the inmost or third heaven; its nature is such that man can grasp nothing whatever of it. The fourth level of God’s truth is as it exists in the middle or second heaven; this is not intelligible to man either. But the fifth level of God’s truth is that truth as it exists in the lowest or first heaven; this may to some small extent be perceived by man, but only if he is enlightened, though even then it is such that human language is incapable of expressing a large part of it. When it passes into ideas it generates the ability to perceive it and also to believe that it is indeed the truth. But the sixth level of God’s truth is as it exists with man; it is adjusted to his discernment, thus it is the sense of the letter of the Word. This sense or kind of truth is represented by ‘the cloud’ and inner truths by ‘the glory in the cloud’.
[3] This explains why Jehovah, that is, the Lord, appeared so many times to Moses and the children of Israel in a cloud, as at Exod. 24:15, 16; 40:34, 35; 1 Kings 8:10, 11; Matt. 24:30; and elsewhere. When the Lord is making His appearance He does so through Divine Truth; indeed what is appearing is Divine Truth. The meaning of ‘a cloud’ as truth adjusted to human discernment has its origin in representatives in the next life. There the speech of angels in the higher heavens manifests itself to those below as light and also as the brilliance of light; but the speech of angels belonging to a lower heaven manifests itself as a bright cloud, the shape of which varies, and the thick or thin texture of which is determined by the character of truths. From all this it becomes clear that ‘the glory of Jehovah was seen in the cloud’ means the Lord’s presence within truth adjusted to their discernment.