Apocalypse Explained (Whitehead) n. 338

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338. To receive the power and riches and wisdom, signifies that to Him belong omnipotence, omniscience, and Divine Providence. This is evident from the signification of "power," as being, in reference to the Lord, omnipotence; from the signification of "riches," as being, in reference to the Lord, omniscience; and from the signification of "wisdom," as being, in reference to the Lord, Divine Providence. This is what is meant, because respecting the Lord nothing can be predicated except what is above all things; when, therefore, it is said that He has power it is meant that He has all power, which is omnipotence; and when it is said that He has riches it is meant that He has all spiritual riches, which signify intelligence and therefore omniscience (that "riches" in the Word signify the knowledges of truth and good and thus intelligence, may be seen above, n. 236); and when it is said that He has "wisdom," it is meant that He has all wisdom, which is the Divine providence; for true wisdom is to see what is conducive to anyone's life to eternity, and to determine oneself according to that, which is done when man not only knows these things and perceives them with his understanding, but also wills and does them; but Divine wisdom is to provide these things with man; thus it is Divine Providence. (What Divine Providence is further may be seen in The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine, n. 267-279.)


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