The "Blind Seer"

[Hans]

How poor ol' Swedenborg could see and, still, got it all so wrong...


Heaven Is Divided into Two Kingdoms

SINCE there are infinite varieties in heaven—since no community and in fact no individual is just like any other—heaven is therefore divided overall, more specifically, and in detail. Overall, it is divided into two kingdoms, more specifically into three heavens, and in detail into countless communities. We will now discuss the details. They are called “kingdoms” because heaven is called “the kingdom of God.”

There are angels who accept the divine nature that emanates from the Lord on a deeper level and angels who accept it less deeply. The ones who accept it more deeply are called heavenly angels, and the ones who accept it less deeply are called spiritual angels. Heaven is therefore divided into two kingdoms, one called the heavenly kingdom and the other called the spiritual kingdom.

Because the angels who make up the heavenly kingdom accept the Lord’s divine nature on a deeper level, they are called more inward or higher angels. The heavens they constitute are therefore called more inward or higher heavens. We use the words “higher” and “lower” as a way of referring to more inward things and more outward things.

The love that envelops people in the heavenly kingdom is called heavenly love, and the love that envelops people in the spiritual kingdom is called spiritual love. Heavenly love is love for the Lord, and spiritual love is thoughtfulness toward one’s neighbor. Further, since all “good” is a matter of love (since whatever we love is good in our estimation), the good of the one kingdom is called heavenly and the good of the other, spiritual. We can see from this the way in which these two kingdoms are distinguished from each other: namely, that it is like the way the good of love for the Lord is distinguished from the good of thoughtfulness toward our neighbor. Since the former good is a deeper good and the former love is a deeper love, heavenly angels are more inward angels, and are called “higher.”

The heavenly kingdom is also called the Lord’s priestly kingdom—in the Word, “his dwelling”; and the spiritual kingdom is called his royal kingdom—in the Word, “his throne.” The Lord in the world was called “Jesus” because of his heavenly divine nature, and “the Christ” because of his spiritual divine nature.

The angels in the Lord’s heavenly kingdom far surpass the angels of the spiritual kingdom in regard to wisdom and splendor because they accept the Lord’s divine nature on a deeper level. They live in love for him, and are therefore more intimately united to him. The reason for their excellence is that they have accepted divine truths directly into their lives and continue to do so, rather than taking them into memory and thought first, the way spiritual angels do. This means they have them engraved on their hearts and grasp them, virtually see them, within themselves. They never calculate whether or not they are true. They are like the people described in Jeremiah, I will put my law in their mind and engrave it on their heart: no longer will one person teach a friend or a brother, saying, “Know Jehovah”; from the smallest to the greatest, they will know me. ( Jeremiah 3 1:33, 34)

In Isaiah, they are called “the people who have been taught by Jehovah” (Isaiah 54:13). In John 6:45–46, the Lord himself teaches that those who are taught by Jehovah are the ones who are taught by the Lord.

[From “Heaven and Hell” by Emanuel Swedenborg]

Sad, isn't it?

Hans

[harry]

Hans,
Indeed it is sad that he was so close yet trying to build with the wrong tools. I can empatize with that because for 30 years I tried to reconcile the Old Testament God with the nature of Jesus. Also the promises in the New Testament of "Ask me whatsoever ye will in my name and I will do it." was tried time and again by me to little avail in times of crises. Good came out of it though. My studies caused me to determine, "Let Jesus be true and an image of God, and all else held suspect!" Then my studies in the Gospel of John convinced me that something was left out. This resulted in me spending 20 years immersed in the Urantia Book. Only with the Padgett messages did I find a satisfactory explanation dealing with the laws of compensation that washes with the way I think. I grant credibility to a work which doesn't try to 'stroke' me with fluffy promises. To obtain the Divine Love means a never ending relentless pursuit which can go against the grain of everything that constitutes me, but I consider it worth the effort. I received great satisfaction in finally seeing the Gospel of John as it was intended by Jesus and John even if I did have to do it myself.
harry:)

[doug]

Wow - I'm impressed. Both by Swedenborg, and by you, Hans (it takes some real courage to tackle that convoluted book).

But look what you discovered! I guess it's one of those half full/half empty things. It's sad what he missed, and it's happy what you found. ;)

[Mark]

Dear brother Hans,

I am supposed to be sad, it seems. Yet I am delighted! Swedenborg very clearly brings to front the contradistinction between the Divine Love and the natural love; and, consequently, speaks of two distinct Kingdoms, divided along those lines. That's not bad! I've seen worse.

While I am at it:

"It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me" (John 6:45).

I immediately thought of what was said of Jesus in the Gospel of Truth (translation of W. W. Isenberg):

"He passed before those who were stripped by forgetfulness, being both Knowledge and perfection, proclaiming the things that are in the Heart of the Father, so that he became the wisdom of those who have received instruction. But those who are to be taught, the living who are inscribed in the Book of the Living, learn for themselves, receiving instructions from the Father, turning to Him again" (Gospel of Truth 8:3).

Dr. Paterson Brown translated:

"... who are taught about themselves"

(Coptic allows for some variation to fill in the blanks, so to speak. In case, whether to translate 'about themselves' or 'for themselves', for instance). The interlinear text of John 6:45 makes it astoundingly clear that 'for themselves' is the correct rendition.

That is why I believe correlating ancient texts with one another is so important. This, among other things, is what I do in my book.

Your brother in Christ,

- Mark

[DTNguyen]

Dear Hans,

More and more I am seeing people in terms of the present consciousness or level of consciousness displaying as they are in the now. Although I still see them as people with physical and material differences. However, I am also somewhat aware of their spiritual conscious levels. Their words and actions display their thoughts which are the manifestation of their spirit, and thus, their soul condition.

The blind would rather follow the blind because it makes more sense to the blind. (Is this not the law of attraction?) They would rather walk the road full of illusions that they have weaved then to walk other paths that would lead to light. So often in the NT that quoted Jesus as saying, "let those who have eyes, see and ears, hear." For those who have seen and heard the True teaching are being asked also to be patient and to sometimes have to walk with their brothers and sisters on those other paths, to pick them up when they stumble and fall, and to direct to the path of Light when they are ready to abadon their own.

Although it is somewhat sad that Swedenborg was incorrect in his teaching about God and Jesus and Christ, but he had helped many to learn much more about God's Kingdom and God's Love from the traditional doctrines and teachings. It's like a step ladder with many steps. He was courageous enough to teach beyond his traditional church at the time.

It is possible and as a result, we have been blessed with the work from Mr. Padgett, Dr. Samuel, and brothers and sisters such as you, Amy, Doug, Harry, Mark, etc., and so many more on this DLF group and other groups around the world who are not shy from His calling to do His Will. You all are humble enough to listen and have the courage to let go of false beliefs and to change. (Even though I am sure it was not easy.) And you are willing to work to help, share, and give Truth to others.

With love,