45. Verse 9. I, John, signifies doctrine respecting the Lord. This is evident from the representation of "John;" that by him is meant in the highest sense, the Lord in respect to doctrine (see above, n. 19) wherefore also by "John" is signified doctrine respecting the Lord; for to know the Lord is the chief thing of all things of doctrine, or the first and the last thereof; for the primary thing of the church is to know and acknowledge its Divine; for it is conjoined with its Divine by means of acknowledgment and faith, and without conjunction with the Divine all things of doctrine are of no account; this, moreover, is the reason why the Divine has revealed Itself. The Divine that has revealed Itself is the Divine Human. (That without acknowledgment of the Divine in the Lord's Human there is no salvation, see Doctrine of the New Jerusalem, n. 280-310.) From this now it is that "John," because he represents the Lord in respect to doctrine, also represents doctrine respecting the Lord.