A Church from which Naturally Good People Come
The First Earth or Spiritual Society in the Starry Heaven
By Rev. Paul Booth
Lessons: Psalm 24: 1-5 Earths in the Universe 133
The First Earth or Spiritual Society in the Starry Heaven
By Rev. Paul Booth
Lessons: Psalm 24: 1-5 Earths in the Universe 133
"The angel whom they worshipped was an angelic society, to which it has been given by the Lord to preside over them, and to teach them the way of what is just and right; therefore they have light from a certain flame, which appears like a little torch, somewhat fiery and yellow". (Earths in the Universe 130)
Here, in the account written about "The First Earth in the Starry Heaven" we begin reading in the literal sense about other universes beyond ours, each which is in another solar system than ours. This is supported in the Word of the Divine Human by the fact that angels and spirits in heaven can speak and converse with other spirits that are not from their own system or beliefs when their interiors have been opened, which is done by the Lord. We see the first mention here of there being other earths in other solar systems or universes having human beings on them; where as before we read only of other earths in our solar system, and as such these were named after the earths or planets within ours. One of the first things we learn is that many inhabitants on these earths or churches in our system speak with other spirits and angels in that system. Here at first the earths or societies spoken of are in those heavens; they are the many societies of spirits and angels, and the stars mentioned there signify goods and truths. By 'earths' here are meant the angelic or spiritual societies, since it is the spiritual, not the natural world, and by stars there are meant goods and truths.
Though we still see these societies of spirits and angels coming from various churches or earths in the natural world and evidence of them being able to perceive spiritually as the Most Ancient Church had. That leaves us with there having to be churches today on earth with having the same state needed to perform the interior uses of the Grand Man of heaven and wondering whether there are other earths in other natural universes than ours having human beings (inhabitants) and churches in the interior state and being able to speak with spirits and angels that visit them. I point out that we should not think that because we, today, cannot converse with spirits the Most Ancient and as they can, do not have the faith or love to the Lord that is needed to be conjoined with the Lord and with heaven, though, of course, many in this earth do not. The reason is because our interior or spirit is closed, thus our spiritual degree or state is closed for the reason we live and understand merely naturally. Though as said we still can be conjoined with heaven and the Lord by means of the truths of doctrine and the goods of life from Him, though externally; of this we are not aware.
In our world today we believe that only by means of (space) travel will it be possible to visit other worlds or earths. Yet, one needs to know that these spaces and distances and progressions of the universes which exist in the natural world are but changes of states of the interiors and this is why angels and spirits can be translated or transported 'as it were' from one to another - from one spiritual society to another and why Swedenborg was. This is also why it appears to angels and spirits that they can be translated from one place to another. (It is in this way also that we will see our loved ones in the spiritual world) We learn through astronomy today that there are other suns and that earths revolve around them as we do around ours. Here again is presented the argument that because of so great a universe in which there are constellations with stars or suns and planets around them that the creation was for man, that there might be a heaven of angels and spirits. And, that this would be nothing for God to accomplish. This of course is understood from a literal understanding of the Word "Earths in the Universe' and also from this part in 'Earths in the Starry Heaven'.
From the very fact that it is only possible to visit these earths in the 'starry heaven' through the spiritual faculty shows that it is the spiritual world and heaven too and its vastness that is being spoke of and these must be understood in some degree of our interior thought where there is neither space nor time since it is from there that these proceeds. Of course for this reason the Word was written and an internal sense revealed through the Word of the Lord's Divine Human - the Third Testament. We have said before that spirits and angels can converse with one another especially because of the agreements or likenesses of their state of life. Here, now, one learns that there are other spirits and angels that are not of the same agreements and likenesses of their state of life and thus do not come from any similar church and because of this are not able to converse with those of our solar system or beliefs. As such there is no translation or transference in the spirit except the Lord led them
Although from a literal sense it appears Swedenborg traveled in the spirit to another earths in another universes, but as we see in the text this took place in the starry heaven of the spiritual world where there are innumerable spiritual and angelic societies from innumerable earths or churches all of which do not have the same doctrine we do or even that of the many different churches that are and were in our world. While he was led by the Lord by spirits Swedenborg's spirit was transferred to these societies; this was done by a change of state within him in truth and good
One can either look at this in its literal sense or try to understand it in the spiritual, the internal sense. In either way he will receive some instruction. Let us try to see the truth and good here spiritually. In that case, we need to go to our doctrine to where it is principled and where it terminates. We see that the first society Swedenborg visits in the 'starry heaven' has the truth, though it is not seen clearly by the inhabitants, onlt obscurely. "There appeared first a whitish but dense cloud and after it a fiery smoke ascending from a great gulf" (The First Earth in the Starry Heaven 128). Thus separating all those who are not in the truths and goods of doctrine from the Lord has a different doctrine. In this case these were spirits who while were men on earth living naturally had not worshipped God as a Divine Man. However out of God's mercy because of their natural goodness they could now receive guidance and led in worship though an angel, which we learn was actually an angelic society. Now in the spiritual world as spirits they believed they were not worthy to worship and to adore the Most High God. We learn the cause of this was that they had not adored God while they were on earth (the church) they had come from. It is thus that they do not receive light from the Sun of angelic heaven as do celestial and spiritual angels, but only a lesser light through an angelic society. What we learn is that these spirits were "in a lower region" (130e). By a lower region in the spiritual world is meant those regions below the world of spirits; these are the natural rational and the sensual.
What can be ascertained from the Word is that these were spirits who were in spiritual good from the truths that were taught them while in the spiritual world by that angelic society. As a result they lived a good life from the affections they were taught and thus had an understanding of truth. These inhabitants or spirits in that society have relation to the SPLEEN of the Grand Man. One might wonder that if they are indirectly taught by an angelic society how it might be they have a relation of the SPLEEN of the Grand Man. The answer is found in Arcana C&œ;lestia 5184 where it says they are directly over the head; but was able to "operate upon the organ in question." By having such a relation to the spleen shown that the good of that society in the spiritual world comes only when in the natural from something less good and even by from what is opposite to evil.
Here one learns that their Lord of their belief, and their doctrine, opens their rational to what is true and good from which they have good coming from that doctrinal truth. However, the Lord of our doctrine and, so, belief there-from appear greater. "When asked about the sun of their system, which illuminates their earth, they said that it appeared flaming. When I represented the size of the sun of our earth, they said that their sun was smaller." (133).
Once the spiritual eyes of Swedenborg had been opened he was able to see what that 'church' or earth was like. From the natural sense the appearance is as if reading about folk from some early European country with their peculiarities; all of which makes interesting reading. However we know there is an internal sense to the Word that has within genuine truths. We see that such inhabitants of this church had spiritual and rational things of the mind. There were those who had natural truths and others natural goods from these truths. There were those in that church who were in the good of doctrine and so in the good of life; these were well disposed and, as it were, come into spiritual good, acting in the mind having been instructed in such truth; though they were external and looked as those who the Lord was about to come. In what follows is the intelligence and wisdom of this church. This church appears principled in truth and therefore in good from this intelligence and wisdom as though it had an appearance of splendor and lived in a degree of pride. Though, the truths of the church were humble. Such was the inhabitant's way of behaving having loved the good of truth. We also see that they have the truths of heaven.
This 'church' or earth Swedenborg saw was of natural goodness and truth and in that goodness truth was hidden and thus was not acknowledged. It was thus that this church could gather these natural goods and truths unto themselves that there might be the good of love and thus the good of the will. Common truths also of this church were gathered. And so, was their faith expressed in the natural principle. However, the interior things of wisdom were covered over while inferior or natural truths were followed or kept. "He was seen to take it (the garment) from the woman and throw it over his own back, and loosening the lower part, which thus flowed down to his feet like a robe, he walked about clad in this manner" (Earths in the Universe 134e).
Amen.
Though we still see these societies of spirits and angels coming from various churches or earths in the natural world and evidence of them being able to perceive spiritually as the Most Ancient Church had. That leaves us with there having to be churches today on earth with having the same state needed to perform the interior uses of the Grand Man of heaven and wondering whether there are other earths in other natural universes than ours having human beings (inhabitants) and churches in the interior state and being able to speak with spirits and angels that visit them. I point out that we should not think that because we, today, cannot converse with spirits the Most Ancient and as they can, do not have the faith or love to the Lord that is needed to be conjoined with the Lord and with heaven, though, of course, many in this earth do not. The reason is because our interior or spirit is closed, thus our spiritual degree or state is closed for the reason we live and understand merely naturally. Though as said we still can be conjoined with heaven and the Lord by means of the truths of doctrine and the goods of life from Him, though externally; of this we are not aware.
In our world today we believe that only by means of (space) travel will it be possible to visit other worlds or earths. Yet, one needs to know that these spaces and distances and progressions of the universes which exist in the natural world are but changes of states of the interiors and this is why angels and spirits can be translated or transported 'as it were' from one to another - from one spiritual society to another and why Swedenborg was. This is also why it appears to angels and spirits that they can be translated from one place to another. (It is in this way also that we will see our loved ones in the spiritual world) We learn through astronomy today that there are other suns and that earths revolve around them as we do around ours. Here again is presented the argument that because of so great a universe in which there are constellations with stars or suns and planets around them that the creation was for man, that there might be a heaven of angels and spirits. And, that this would be nothing for God to accomplish. This of course is understood from a literal understanding of the Word "Earths in the Universe' and also from this part in 'Earths in the Starry Heaven'.
From the very fact that it is only possible to visit these earths in the 'starry heaven' through the spiritual faculty shows that it is the spiritual world and heaven too and its vastness that is being spoke of and these must be understood in some degree of our interior thought where there is neither space nor time since it is from there that these proceeds. Of course for this reason the Word was written and an internal sense revealed through the Word of the Lord's Divine Human - the Third Testament. We have said before that spirits and angels can converse with one another especially because of the agreements or likenesses of their state of life. Here, now, one learns that there are other spirits and angels that are not of the same agreements and likenesses of their state of life and thus do not come from any similar church and because of this are not able to converse with those of our solar system or beliefs. As such there is no translation or transference in the spirit except the Lord led them
Although from a literal sense it appears Swedenborg traveled in the spirit to another earths in another universes, but as we see in the text this took place in the starry heaven of the spiritual world where there are innumerable spiritual and angelic societies from innumerable earths or churches all of which do not have the same doctrine we do or even that of the many different churches that are and were in our world. While he was led by the Lord by spirits Swedenborg's spirit was transferred to these societies; this was done by a change of state within him in truth and good
One can either look at this in its literal sense or try to understand it in the spiritual, the internal sense. In either way he will receive some instruction. Let us try to see the truth and good here spiritually. In that case, we need to go to our doctrine to where it is principled and where it terminates. We see that the first society Swedenborg visits in the 'starry heaven' has the truth, though it is not seen clearly by the inhabitants, onlt obscurely. "There appeared first a whitish but dense cloud and after it a fiery smoke ascending from a great gulf" (The First Earth in the Starry Heaven 128). Thus separating all those who are not in the truths and goods of doctrine from the Lord has a different doctrine. In this case these were spirits who while were men on earth living naturally had not worshipped God as a Divine Man. However out of God's mercy because of their natural goodness they could now receive guidance and led in worship though an angel, which we learn was actually an angelic society. Now in the spiritual world as spirits they believed they were not worthy to worship and to adore the Most High God. We learn the cause of this was that they had not adored God while they were on earth (the church) they had come from. It is thus that they do not receive light from the Sun of angelic heaven as do celestial and spiritual angels, but only a lesser light through an angelic society. What we learn is that these spirits were "in a lower region" (130e). By a lower region in the spiritual world is meant those regions below the world of spirits; these are the natural rational and the sensual.
What can be ascertained from the Word is that these were spirits who were in spiritual good from the truths that were taught them while in the spiritual world by that angelic society. As a result they lived a good life from the affections they were taught and thus had an understanding of truth. These inhabitants or spirits in that society have relation to the SPLEEN of the Grand Man. One might wonder that if they are indirectly taught by an angelic society how it might be they have a relation of the SPLEEN of the Grand Man. The answer is found in Arcana C&œ;lestia 5184 where it says they are directly over the head; but was able to "operate upon the organ in question." By having such a relation to the spleen shown that the good of that society in the spiritual world comes only when in the natural from something less good and even by from what is opposite to evil.
Here one learns that their Lord of their belief, and their doctrine, opens their rational to what is true and good from which they have good coming from that doctrinal truth. However, the Lord of our doctrine and, so, belief there-from appear greater. "When asked about the sun of their system, which illuminates their earth, they said that it appeared flaming. When I represented the size of the sun of our earth, they said that their sun was smaller." (133).
Once the spiritual eyes of Swedenborg had been opened he was able to see what that 'church' or earth was like. From the natural sense the appearance is as if reading about folk from some early European country with their peculiarities; all of which makes interesting reading. However we know there is an internal sense to the Word that has within genuine truths. We see that such inhabitants of this church had spiritual and rational things of the mind. There were those who had natural truths and others natural goods from these truths. There were those in that church who were in the good of doctrine and so in the good of life; these were well disposed and, as it were, come into spiritual good, acting in the mind having been instructed in such truth; though they were external and looked as those who the Lord was about to come. In what follows is the intelligence and wisdom of this church. This church appears principled in truth and therefore in good from this intelligence and wisdom as though it had an appearance of splendor and lived in a degree of pride. Though, the truths of the church were humble. Such was the inhabitant's way of behaving having loved the good of truth. We also see that they have the truths of heaven.
This 'church' or earth Swedenborg saw was of natural goodness and truth and in that goodness truth was hidden and thus was not acknowledged. It was thus that this church could gather these natural goods and truths unto themselves that there might be the good of love and thus the good of the will. Common truths also of this church were gathered. And so, was their faith expressed in the natural principle. However, the interior things of wisdom were covered over while inferior or natural truths were followed or kept. "He was seen to take it (the garment) from the woman and throw it over his own back, and loosening the lower part, which thus flowed down to his feet like a robe, he walked about clad in this manner" (Earths in the Universe 134e).
Amen.
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