AC 8760 - reading the Word

AC 8780 [2-3]
By revelation here in the internal sense
is not meant revelation such as was made
to the Israelitish people from Mount Sinai,
namely, that the Lord spoke in a loud voice,
and the people standing around heard;
but such a revelation is meant as
is not made with a loud voice,
but inwardly in a person.
This revelation is made
by the enlightenment of the internal sight,
which is of the understanding,
when a person who is in the affection of truth from good
is reading the Word.
This enlightenment is then effected by the light of heaven,
which is from the Lord as the sun there.
That light enlightens the understanding
in much the same way as outward sight,
which is that of the eye, is enlightened by the light
which flows from the sun in the world.
When the understanding is enlightened by that Divine light
it perceives that to be the truth which is the truth,
inwardly acknowledges it,
and so to speak sees it.
This is what the revelation is like
which is received by those
with an affection for truth springing from good,
when they read the Word.

But they who are in the affection of truth from evil,
that is, who desire to know truths
merely for the sake of honors, gain, reputation, and the like,
these do not see truths, but only see things
which confirm the doctrinal things of their church,
whether they are true or false.
The light which then enlightens these
is not Divine light from heaven,
but is a sensuous light such as is that of the infernals (hell),
which light becomes mere thick darkness
at the presence of heavenly light.
For when these read the Word,
they are altogether blind to the truth
which does not make one with their doctrine . . ..