Doctrinal Subject
Understanding why the Lord was born in our Earth and not any Other
By Rev. Paul Booth
Understanding why the Lord was born in our Earth and not any Other
By Rev. Paul Booth
A very controversial and interesting book that Emanuel Swedenborg wrote and published two years after his Arcana Cælestia published in 1756 was 'Earths in the Universe' (de Telluribus). Today one can find this book within the Arcana C&œ;lestia following some chapters, written (and published) in the separate book mentioned above, and reproduced in 'Miscellaneous Theological Works' published by the Swedenborg Foundation in 1857. One easily sees that if the things written therein are taken literally may probably question some things that Swedenborg wrote, likely because of the lack of having today's scientific knowledge available, and so not being unaware of. Example: where he explains when the planets (earths) are viewed from a telescope in our solar system they appeared like our earth and the fact that these earths or planets are now known to have no life as one might assume from what he wrote, although scientist are still trying to find out it there might be the possibility of either having life in the past or in the future. Then he goes on and concludes that because the Divine is Infinite that it would be 'but a little thing and almost nothing' for Him to provide a human race and a heaven from them. But what is also evident is the fact that the Lord was born on our 'earth' that is in our Church and establishes the New Church and had assumed the Human, becoming the Divine Human, and not on any of the other earths that are spoken about in this book and in fact in any other church.
However, I caution the reader to remember that Emanuel Swedenborg at the time was in the spiritual world conversing with spirits and angels there when he makes these observations and writes about and that one must see these things he writes through correspondences (for they too are the written Word) just as he has shown that the literal sense of the Word of the Old and New Testaments, which this world has, must be understood through correspondences in order that an internal truth can be known. In other words there is an internal sense also to the Word 'Earths in the Universe' that one must see in order to understand its spiritual or genuine meaning.
Quite naturally this is difficult since one's natural understanding keeps drawing the mind back to natural things of thought and affection. Therefore it is probably best to leave any decision concerning whether there are other earths in the many universes on which live human beings up to the individual. Most certainly from a purely natural point of view it is certainly possible God has created many earths throughout the entire natural universe systems that we are unaware of on which other human beings are. To be continued.
From what Swedenborg wrote one sees that in the spiritual world there is an appearance of a vast spiritual universe and from this appearance the spirits and angels from perception recognize the various planets (and indeed those on which they come); though they are identified in fixed positions and are not as in the natural universe - rotating in their solar system.
One of the important correspondences that need to be known is what the word 'earth' represents in the context of this book since it is the primary subject of the book. From a search in the Word of the Third Testament 'earth' represents many different things, but mainly one sees that by 'earth' is meant the church, its people - both those in and out of it, both those in and of good or those empty or void. Next, there is the word 'universe' which is the object in the book. Its correspondence is seen in God the Creator who is the Lord from eternity; for when the universe is viewed in its use, one sees in it an image of Him. However, one can get a better understanding when these are understood in their spiritual sense. It is not the natural world, but the spiritual world in which one may see the universal heaven where the Lord is represented in His qualities; which are the Divine Good and Divine Truth and its Use. (Though when most see the natural universe can't but help think of what is higher or a God having created it.) It is in this universal of heaven that there is also a Grand Man where each society corresponds either to something spiritual or celestial of it as the Lord Himself is that Grand Man.
From a study of Arcana Cælestia, especially chapters 1 through 11, there is a likeness seen between those who lived in the Most Ancient Churches on earth with many of those that live in other earths according to the spirits and angels that Swedenborg spoke with. It should be noted that from these different earths or 'churches' there were some that came into evil as there were in the Most Ancient and Ancient Churches on this earth and are in hell. Though, it appears that there is the ability in these earths or churches to keep their primary state from deteriorating in all of its inhabitants and so are thus able to continue existence.
A question might here be raised is: are these different earths or 'churches' still active? Are the inhabitants still coming from them in the same state as the spirits and angels that Swedenborg spoke with and are they still able to fill the same use in the Grand Man? If so, in that respect they are different then the Most Celestial and Spiritual Church that was on this earth, for both these churches ended and no longer were there those that entered the celestial or spiritual heavens. However, it must be noted that the Lord's New Church that is coming on earth today has become the heart and lungs of the Grand Man. However, they are of the natural or external sense and thus the ultimate of the interiors of life.
However, one needs to remember that in the spiritual world, and thence in the Grand Man of heaven there is no space or time but instead are affections and thoughts coming from affections. With spirits that have just entered into the spiritual world there appear spaces, but latter they perceive instead states; states being of their love or esse, which is of their will, As to time this is as a state of truth from which is understanding, of both - thought and affection and determine their state whether celestial or spiritual or natural -these being within an angel or a spirit from the Divine accordingly.
Lastly, one sees that the inhabitants of these other earths or churches do not have a written Word as we do, but live distinct according to families. The Divine Truth is revealed through perception from spirits and angels and so via word of mouth and therefore a continued new revelation is needed since the Word is not conveyed much beyond this. This requires a constant succession or revelation of truths from spirits and angels. When the Word of the Third Testament was revealed in heaven and it was known that the Lord became a Man as men in first and in last things one sees that the angels and spirits coming from these other earths accepted this truth because they had acknowledged the Lord as the One only God from what they learned when on their earth, and providing they were not idolaters. This new knowledge concerning the Lord God is now given to the inhabitants living on their earth by spirits and angels that visit there and is still not given through a written Word.
This, of course, shows that the angels and spirits of our earth, that is, our church in the Grand Man of heaven have relation to the natural and external sense which is the ultimate in which the interiors of life close and on which they rest as to their common basis. One today might think that the Church of this earth is of a lesser importance than all the churches on other earths and of the Most Ancient and Ancient Church of this earth. However without the ultimate or written Word, the Divine Truth in the letter, (which we have) the spiritual and celestial things cannot close nor have foundation. It is thus that there is a union between heaven and the world making a correspondence of all things in the letter of the Word with Divine things in heaven.
We see that writing was first in the Most Ancient time on tablets, that its purpose would lead to the written Word in our church and so become published, preserved, in order to manifest that God has become Man and thus the Divine Human. In all other churches or earths the written Word is not known but Divine Truth is revealed through spirits and angels as has been shown above and as it was to the Most Ancient Church on this earth. From a natural understanding of number 113 through 122 of "Earths in the Universe" and all what is written before there appears that there are other churches on other earths in the universe and, of course, this could well be. Still, we see on this earth that there are those people who still are void or empty of good of truth from the Divine, unless there are revelations from spirits and angels. In this respect many are in innocence. Unless there is a revelation to them (perhaps from an internal speech or thoughts - perception - as there was to the Most Ancient Church) how are they led and taught good and know truth from the Divine? Of course, here one may remember where the Lord, after His resurrection sends His Apostles to the entire world to teach the Gospel and baptize and would naturally think all peoples are to have and believe the written Word. Today aren't there those various people (tribes - people who live in families) in this world that still live similar lives to those early people and are like those on the different earths mentioned in the book "Earths in the Universe" and who do not have the written Word or who reject it? Have not there been an effort to teach the Word to them and yet these efforts have failed? This has been proved and shown in that even after they are taught Christian doctrine they revert back to their own religion. Have not these written truths been rejected? Are these people to enter the spiritual world void or empty of any understanding of Divine good and truth from the written Word? Perhaps the Creator has been revealed this good and truth to them through some perception. I would suppose there are such people all over this earth. Perhaps some of these may be the American Indians? These still hold on to their old cultural beliefs. Perhaps to some extent these people are lead through visions and an internal perception. It is obvious why Emanuel Swedenborg through the Last Testament teaches that all such people who live good lives towards the neighbor go to heaven. We also read that gentiles in the other life are instructed by angels and if they have lived well according to their religion receive the truths of faith and acknowledge the Lord.
End
However, I caution the reader to remember that Emanuel Swedenborg at the time was in the spiritual world conversing with spirits and angels there when he makes these observations and writes about and that one must see these things he writes through correspondences (for they too are the written Word) just as he has shown that the literal sense of the Word of the Old and New Testaments, which this world has, must be understood through correspondences in order that an internal truth can be known. In other words there is an internal sense also to the Word 'Earths in the Universe' that one must see in order to understand its spiritual or genuine meaning.
Quite naturally this is difficult since one's natural understanding keeps drawing the mind back to natural things of thought and affection. Therefore it is probably best to leave any decision concerning whether there are other earths in the many universes on which live human beings up to the individual. Most certainly from a purely natural point of view it is certainly possible God has created many earths throughout the entire natural universe systems that we are unaware of on which other human beings are. To be continued.
From what Swedenborg wrote one sees that in the spiritual world there is an appearance of a vast spiritual universe and from this appearance the spirits and angels from perception recognize the various planets (and indeed those on which they come); though they are identified in fixed positions and are not as in the natural universe - rotating in their solar system.
One of the important correspondences that need to be known is what the word 'earth' represents in the context of this book since it is the primary subject of the book. From a search in the Word of the Third Testament 'earth' represents many different things, but mainly one sees that by 'earth' is meant the church, its people - both those in and out of it, both those in and of good or those empty or void. Next, there is the word 'universe' which is the object in the book. Its correspondence is seen in God the Creator who is the Lord from eternity; for when the universe is viewed in its use, one sees in it an image of Him. However, one can get a better understanding when these are understood in their spiritual sense. It is not the natural world, but the spiritual world in which one may see the universal heaven where the Lord is represented in His qualities; which are the Divine Good and Divine Truth and its Use. (Though when most see the natural universe can't but help think of what is higher or a God having created it.) It is in this universal of heaven that there is also a Grand Man where each society corresponds either to something spiritual or celestial of it as the Lord Himself is that Grand Man.
From a study of Arcana Cælestia, especially chapters 1 through 11, there is a likeness seen between those who lived in the Most Ancient Churches on earth with many of those that live in other earths according to the spirits and angels that Swedenborg spoke with. It should be noted that from these different earths or 'churches' there were some that came into evil as there were in the Most Ancient and Ancient Churches on this earth and are in hell. Though, it appears that there is the ability in these earths or churches to keep their primary state from deteriorating in all of its inhabitants and so are thus able to continue existence.
A question might here be raised is: are these different earths or 'churches' still active? Are the inhabitants still coming from them in the same state as the spirits and angels that Swedenborg spoke with and are they still able to fill the same use in the Grand Man? If so, in that respect they are different then the Most Celestial and Spiritual Church that was on this earth, for both these churches ended and no longer were there those that entered the celestial or spiritual heavens. However, it must be noted that the Lord's New Church that is coming on earth today has become the heart and lungs of the Grand Man. However, they are of the natural or external sense and thus the ultimate of the interiors of life.
However, one needs to remember that in the spiritual world, and thence in the Grand Man of heaven there is no space or time but instead are affections and thoughts coming from affections. With spirits that have just entered into the spiritual world there appear spaces, but latter they perceive instead states; states being of their love or esse, which is of their will, As to time this is as a state of truth from which is understanding, of both - thought and affection and determine their state whether celestial or spiritual or natural -these being within an angel or a spirit from the Divine accordingly.
Lastly, one sees that the inhabitants of these other earths or churches do not have a written Word as we do, but live distinct according to families. The Divine Truth is revealed through perception from spirits and angels and so via word of mouth and therefore a continued new revelation is needed since the Word is not conveyed much beyond this. This requires a constant succession or revelation of truths from spirits and angels. When the Word of the Third Testament was revealed in heaven and it was known that the Lord became a Man as men in first and in last things one sees that the angels and spirits coming from these other earths accepted this truth because they had acknowledged the Lord as the One only God from what they learned when on their earth, and providing they were not idolaters. This new knowledge concerning the Lord God is now given to the inhabitants living on their earth by spirits and angels that visit there and is still not given through a written Word.
This, of course, shows that the angels and spirits of our earth, that is, our church in the Grand Man of heaven have relation to the natural and external sense which is the ultimate in which the interiors of life close and on which they rest as to their common basis. One today might think that the Church of this earth is of a lesser importance than all the churches on other earths and of the Most Ancient and Ancient Church of this earth. However without the ultimate or written Word, the Divine Truth in the letter, (which we have) the spiritual and celestial things cannot close nor have foundation. It is thus that there is a union between heaven and the world making a correspondence of all things in the letter of the Word with Divine things in heaven.
We see that writing was first in the Most Ancient time on tablets, that its purpose would lead to the written Word in our church and so become published, preserved, in order to manifest that God has become Man and thus the Divine Human. In all other churches or earths the written Word is not known but Divine Truth is revealed through spirits and angels as has been shown above and as it was to the Most Ancient Church on this earth. From a natural understanding of number 113 through 122 of "Earths in the Universe" and all what is written before there appears that there are other churches on other earths in the universe and, of course, this could well be. Still, we see on this earth that there are those people who still are void or empty of good of truth from the Divine, unless there are revelations from spirits and angels. In this respect many are in innocence. Unless there is a revelation to them (perhaps from an internal speech or thoughts - perception - as there was to the Most Ancient Church) how are they led and taught good and know truth from the Divine? Of course, here one may remember where the Lord, after His resurrection sends His Apostles to the entire world to teach the Gospel and baptize and would naturally think all peoples are to have and believe the written Word. Today aren't there those various people (tribes - people who live in families) in this world that still live similar lives to those early people and are like those on the different earths mentioned in the book "Earths in the Universe" and who do not have the written Word or who reject it? Have not there been an effort to teach the Word to them and yet these efforts have failed? This has been proved and shown in that even after they are taught Christian doctrine they revert back to their own religion. Have not these written truths been rejected? Are these people to enter the spiritual world void or empty of any understanding of Divine good and truth from the written Word? Perhaps the Creator has been revealed this good and truth to them through some perception. I would suppose there are such people all over this earth. Perhaps some of these may be the American Indians? These still hold on to their old cultural beliefs. Perhaps to some extent these people are lead through visions and an internal perception. It is obvious why Emanuel Swedenborg through the Last Testament teaches that all such people who live good lives towards the neighbor go to heaven. We also read that gentiles in the other life are instructed by angels and if they have lived well according to their religion receive the truths of faith and acknowledge the Lord.
End
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