AC 7555, 7556 - Gather in Your Cattle (Exodus 9:19-21)

AC 7555

"And now send, gather in your cattle,"
means that the truth of good should be collected;
"and all that you have in the field,"
means which is of the church;
"every man and beast,"
means interior and exterior good;
"that shall be found in the field,"
means that is of the church;
"and shall not be brought to the house,"
means which is not reserved;
"the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die,"
means that they shall be quite destroyed by falsity;
"he that feared the word of Jehovah
of the servants of Pharaoh,"
means those things in the natural mind
which were of the Lord;
"made his servants and his cattle flee unto the houses,"
means that they were stored up
and reserved in the interiors;
"and he that did not set his heart
unto the word of Jehovah,"
means the things which were not from the Lord;
"left his servants and his cattle in the field,"
means that they were not stored up and reserved.

AC 7556

The subject treated of in this verse
and in the two following,
is the good and truth which are reserved by the Lord,
even with the evil;
for the good and truth
which have not been adjoined to evils and falsities,
are not vastated;
but are stored up by the Lord in the interiors,
and are afterward brought forth for use.
The reservation of good and truth
with a person by the Lord
is meant by "remains" in the Word.

 

AC 7550 - The Lord's Power and Glory in the Word

AC 7550

That Jehovah or the Lord
in this and in many other passages
wills that His might and power may appear,
and His name be told,
and elsewhere that He be humbly worshiped and adored,
seems as if He desires to show forth His glory,
and as if He loves adoration for the sake of Himself.
But quite different is the real case.
It is not for the sake of Himself,
but for the sake of the human race;
not from self-glory,
but from love;
for He wills to be conjoined with the human race,
and to give them eternal life and happiness.
This cannot be done unless
the person is in humble worship;
and there can be no humble worship
unless the person acknowledges and believes
that he himself is dust and ashes,
that is, nothing but evil,
and that Jehovah or the Lord
is the Greatest and the Holiest,
and that he dare not from himself approach Him.
When a person is in such humble worship,
then the Lord can flow in with the life of His love,
and give heaven and eternal happiness.
This is the reason why Jehovah or the Lord
so greatly extols
His own power and glory in the Word.

AC 7517 - "Jehovah said" Means New Instruction; AC 7533 - Pharaoh's Stubborn Heart

AC 7517 - "Jehovah said" Means New Instruction

And Jehovah said unto Moses and unto Aaron.
(Exodus 9:8)           

That this means a new instruction
is evident from the signification of "Jehovah said,"
as being instruction;
that it is a new instruction
is because a new state is now treated of,
the former being ended.
The instruction which is from Jehovah
is given by means of the truth which proceeds from Him.
The truth which proceeds from Jehovah
is represented by Moses and Aaron;
internal truth by Moses,
and external truth by Aaron.

AC 7533 - Pharaoh's Stubborn Heart

And Jehovah made firm the heart of Pharaoh.
(Exodus 9:12)

That this means that they were determined,
is evident from the meaning of
"the heart being made firm," "being hardened,"
and "being made heavy,"
as being obstinacy.
Its being said that
"Jehovah made firm the heart of Pharaoh,"
in the internal sense means that they themselves,
and not Jehovah,
made firm their heart,
that is, that they were determined;
for it is the evil with a person
which makes him firm or determined against the Divine;
and evil comes from a person,
and flows in from hell,
but not from heaven.
Nothing but good flows in through heaven from the Lord;
evil cannot come forth from good,
still less from the veriest Good;
evil comes forth from its own origin,
 namely, from things contrary to love to God
and to love to the neighbor;
such origins exist in person,
and not at all in God.
From this it is evident that when it is said in the Word
that "God leads into evil,"
this is said according to the appearance.

AC 7503 - Animals

AC 7503

On the horses, on the asses, on the camels.
(Exodus 9:3)

That this means the intellectual things
and the memory-knowledges of the truth that is of faith,
is evident from the meaning of "horses,"
as being things of the intellect;
from the meaning of "asses,"
as being things that are of service to the intellect,
so also memory-knowledges;
and from the meaning of "camels,"
as being memory-knowledges in general.
These three animals mean things
that belong to the intellectual part;
the other animals,
which pertain to the herd and to the flock,
mean things that are of the will part.
As regards the intellectual part,
it is this which receives the truths of faith;
for the intellect is the internal sight,
which is enlightened by the light of heaven,
and insofar as it is enlightened,
it notices, sees, and acknowledges the truths of faith
when it reads the Word.
From here it is that those
who are in perception of the truth of faith,
are called "intelligent" and "wise," and also "enlightened."

AC 7501 - What Evil Spirits Do; AC 7502 - "Field"

AC 7501 - What Evil Spirits Do

When evil spirits assault anyone,
they know how to instill themselves
into the delights that belong to his cupidities (greeds),
and also into the pleasant feelings
connected with his principles,
thus into all things of his love;
and so long as they are engaged in this instilling
they withhold the person whom they are infesting
as if bound,
nor can he be loosed,
however he struggles,
except with the Lord's Divine aid,
for love
and instilling into the delight of the love
conjoin.
Such is the art
employed by evil spirits and genii in the other life.
The same thing is seen in this world;
for he who instills himself into another's delight
which is of his love,
holds him bound and also leads him.

AC 7502 - "Field"

That "field" denotes the church
is because the seeds sown in a field
mean the truths which are of faith,
and also because the produce from the field,
such as wheat, barley, spelt, and so forth,
denotes the goods which are of charity,
and the truths which are of faith,
thus such things as belong to the church.

AC 7499 - He Made His Human Divine Good

AC 7499

In the Word the Lord is called "Jehovah" as to Divine good,
for Divine good is the Divine Itself;
and the Lord is called the "Son of God" as to Divine truth,
for Divine truth proceeds from the Divine good
as a son from a father,
and also is said to be "born:"
how this is shall be further told.
When the Lord was in the world
He made His Human Divine truth,
and then called the Divine good
which is Jehovah, His "Father;"
because, as just said,
Divine truth proceeds and is born from Divine good.
But after the Lord had fully glorified Himself,
which was done
when He endured the last of temptation on the cross,
He then made His Human also Divine good,
that is, Jehovah;
and thereby the Divine truth itself
proceeded from His Divine Human.
The Divine truth is what is called the "Holy Spirit,"
and is the holy which proceeds from the Divine Human.
From this is evident
what is meant by the Lord's words in John:

The Holy Spirit was not yet,
because Jesus was not yet glorified.
(John 7:39)

AC 7463 - Why Pharaoh Relented Then Hardened His Heart

AC 7463 [1-2]

As regards the presence and the removal
of truth Divine with the evil,
be it known that truth from the Divine
sometimes appears to them,
and this through the presence of an angel near them;
but truth from the Divine
does not flow in with them through the interiors,
as with the good,
because with them the interiors have been closed;
but it affects their exteriors only.
When this happens they are in fear,
and from this in humiliation,
for the presence of truth from the Divine
strikes them with dismay,
and inspires them with fear as of death;
but when truth from the Divine is removed
they return into their former state and are devoid of fear.
This is what is meant by
the presence of the appearance of truth Divine,
and by its removal.
This also was represented by Pharaoh,
in that when Moses was present
he humbled himself and promised to let the people go,
that they might sacrifice to Jehovah;
but when Moses had gone forth from him
he made heavy his heart;
for as shown above,
Moses represented the law Divine, or truth Divine.

That the law Divine is the same as truth Divine,
is because the "law Divine" signifies the Word,
and thus truth Divine.

AC 7433 - The Noisome Fly; AC 7437 - Thinking; AC 7439 - Mercy

AC 7433 - The Noisome Fly - Exodus 8:17-18

. . . "behold I send against you, and against your servants,
and against your people, and into your houses,
the noisome fly"
means that they would have malevolent falsity
in all things and in each;
"and the houses of the Egyptians
shall be filled with the noisome fly,
and also the land whereon they are"
means that the falsities of malevolence
will take possession of all things of the natural mind;
and I will sever in that day the land of Goshen,
upon which My people stands,
that no noisome fly be there"
means that they shall not be able to infest
by falsities of malevolence
those who are of the spiritual church,
although they will be near them . . .

AC 7437 [3] - Thinking

. . . those who are in evils
cannot do otherwise than think from evils to falsities.
It is the same also with those who are in a state of good,
in that they cannot do otherwise
than think from good to truths;
for good and truth are conjoined,
and also evil and falsity,
insomuch that he who knows that anyone is in good,
can (he) know that he is in the truth of his good;
and that he who is in evil is in the falsity of his evil;
and that he is in this falsity
in proportion as he excels
in the gift of reasoning and perverting.
And also, in proportion as he is in the fear
of the loss of reputation
for the sake of gain and honors,
and in proportion as he desires
to be in the freedom of doing evil.
Strange to say,
after such persons have
for some time
defended evils by means of falsities,
they at last persuade themselves
that evils are goods,
and that falsities are truths.

AC 7439 [3] - Mercy

. . . a person must be prepared for heaven
by his whole life in the world,
and that this is done of the Lord's mercy,
and that none are admitted into heaven
from mercy alone,
regardless of how they have lived in the world.

AC 7410 - Dust & Lice; AC 7430 - The Finger of God

AC 7410 - Dust & Lice (Exodus 8:13-14)

. . . "and Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod,"
means the power of internal truth through external truth;
"and smote the dust of the land,"
means that things damned were removed;
"and there was lice on man and on beast,"
means the interior and exterior evils
derived from cupidities (greeds for money);
"all the dust of the land
became louse in all the land of Egypt,"
means that these evils were from
the things that had been damned;
"and the magicians did so with their enchantments,
to bring forth lice,"
means an endeavor to pervert Divine order,
and to portray the like in these things also;
"and they could not,"
means in vain . . .

AC 7430 - The Finger of God

This is the finger of God.
(Exodus 8:15)

That this means that the power was from the Divine,
is evident from the meaning of "the finger of God,"
as being power from the Divine;
that "finger" denotes power
is because the fingers belong to the hands,
and by "hands" is meant power . . ..

AC 7406 - Moses Begged the Lord and the Lord Took Away the Frogs

AC 7406

And Jehovah did according to the word of Moses.
(Exodus 8:12)

That this means that it was so done
according to the word of the Lord,
is evident from the fact
that what Moses supplicated
was indeed from the mouth of Moses,
but still was from the Lord;
for whatever a person thinks and then speaks,
and whatever he wills and then does,
flows in,
the person being merely a recipient organ;
just so it was with what Moses spoke and did;
therefore here by
"Jehovah did according to the word of Moses"
is meant that it was so done
according to the word of the Lord.

(That "Jehovah" in the Word denotes the Lord,
see n. 1343, 1736, 2921, 3023,
3035, 5663, 6281, 6303, 6905.)

 

AC 7378 - Exodus Chap. 8 - Frogs Con't, Lice, Noisome Fly; AC 7381 - Internal & External Law

AC 7378 - Exodus Chap. 8 - Frogs Con't, Lice, Noisome Fly

Reasonings from mere falsities are meant by "the frogs;"
which subject is continued in this chapter . . ..
The fourth degree is
that they were in evils
which destroyed every good with them,
also whatever they had from natural good;
these are meant by the lice from the dust of the land.
The fifth degree is
that they were in falsities from these evils,
whereby every truth would be destroyed;
these are signified by the noisome fly.

AC 7381 [2-3]

As the internal law which Moses represents
is truth accommodated to angels,
and the external law which Aaron represents
is truth accommodated to people,
I may here say something about them.
Truth accommodated to angels
is for the most part incomprehensible to people,
as is evident from the fact
that things are seen and said in heaven
such as eye has never seen, nor ear has ever heard.
The reason is that the things said among the angels
are spiritual things
which have been abstracted from natural things,
and consequently are remote from
the ideas and expressions of human speech;
for a person has formed his ideas
from the things in nature, and indeed in grosser nature,
that is, from those
which he has seen in the world and upon the earth,
and has touched by sense,
which things are material.
The ideas of interior thought with a person,
although they are above material things,
nevertheless terminate in material things,
and where they terminate, there they appear to be,
and from this he perceives that which he is thinking.
From this it is evident how the case is
with that truth of faith, and what is its quality,
which falls into the thought of a person,
and is called the external law,
and is represented by Aaron.

To illustrate this by an example:
A person cannot possibly think
without the idea of time and space,
which idea adheres
to almost everything which he thinks;
if ideas from time and space
were taken away from a person,
he would not know what he is thinking;
and scarcely whether he is thinking.
But in the ideas of the angels
there is nothing from time and space,
but instead of these there are states . . ..

 

AC 7352 - "Frogs" - Reasoning; AC 7356 - The Chief Delights of the Evil

AC 7352 - "Frogs" - Reasoning

And the river shall make frogs to creep forth.
(Exodus 7:28)

That this means that there will be
reasonings from these falsities,
is evident from the meaning of "the river of Egypt,"
as being falsity;
and from the meaning of "frogs,"
as being reasonings.

That "frogs" denote reasonings
is because they are in waters,
where they make a chattering noise and croak,
and are also among things unclean.
What reasoning from mere falsities is,
shall be illustrated by some examples.

• That a person reasons from mere falsities
  who attributes all things to nature,
  and scarcely anything to the Divine;
  when yet all things are from the Divine,
  and nature is only the instrumental means
  by which the Divine works.
• He reasons from mere falsities
  who believes that a person is like a beast,
  only more perfect,
  because he can think;
  and thus that a person will die like a beast;
  by thus denying the conjunction
  of a person with the Divine
  through the thought which is of faith,
  and the affection which is of love,
  and consequently his resurrection and life eternal,
  such a person speaks from mere falsities.
• In like manner is one who believes that there is no hell.
• And also he who believes that all a person has
  is the delight of this world's life,
  and therefore he must enjoy this,
  because when he dies, he dies altogether.
• He reasons from mere falsities
  who believes that all things depend
  upon his own sagacity, and on fortune;
  and not on the Divine Providence,
  except such as is universal.
• And also he who believes that religion
  is good for nothing except to keep the simple in bonds.
• Especially do they reason from mere falsities
  who believe that the Word is not Divine.
  

In short, all those reason from mere falsities
who utterly deny truths Divine.

AC 7356 - The Chief Delights of the Evil

It is moreover one of the chief delights of the evil
to spread falsities,
to confirm them,
to deride truths,
and especially to seduce others.

 

AC 7317 - Waters Into Blood; AC 7318 - What Is the Falsification of Truth?

AC 7317 - Waters Into Blood

And they shall be turned into blood.
(Exodus 7:17)

That this means that they shall falsify truths,
is evident from the meaning of "blood,"
as being truth falsified;
for "blood" in the genuine sense
denotes the truth proceeding from the Lord,
thus the holy of faith;
this is meant by "blood" in the Holy Supper;
but in the opposite sense "blood"
denotes violence done to Divine truth,
and as this violence is done by means of falsifications,
"blood" denotes the falsification of truth.

AC 7318 - What Is the Falsification of Truth?

What the falsification of truth is
shall be illustrated by some examples.

• Truth is falsified when from reasonings
  it is concluded and said
  that because no one can do what is good from himself,
  therefore good effects nothing toward salvation.
  
  
• Truth is also falsified when it is said
  that all the good which a person does regards himself
  and is done for the sake of recompense,
  and this being so,
  works of charity are not to be done.
  
  
• Truth is falsified when it is said
  that because all good is from the Lord,
  therefore a person ought to do nothing of good,
  but should await influx.
  
  
• Truth is falsified when it said
  that truth can exist in a person
  without the good which is of charity,
  thus faith without charity.
  
  
• Truth is falsified when it is said
  that no one can enter into heaven
  except one who is miserable and poor;
  also when it is said,
  unless he gives all he has to the poor
  and reduces himself to miseries.
  
  
• Truth is falsified when it is said
  that everyone can be admitted into heaven from mercy,
  no matter how he has lived.
  
  
• Truth is still more falsified when it is said
  that there has been given to a person the power
  of admitting into heaven whomsoever he pleases.
  
  
• Truth is falsified when it is said
  that sins are wiped and washed away like filth by water;
  
  
• and truth is still more falsified when it is said
  that a person has the power of remitting sins,
  and that when they have been remitted,
  they are altogether wiped away,
  and the person is pure.
  
  
• Truth is falsified when it is said
  that the Lord has taken all sins upon Himself,
  and so has taken them away,
  and that thus a person can be saved,
  no matter what his life is.
  
  
• Truth is falsified when it is said
  that no one is saved
  except one who is within the church.
  The reasonings by which such falsification is effected,
  are that they who are within the church
  have been baptized,
  have the Word, know about the Lord,
  about the resurrection, life eternal, heaven, and hell,
  and thus they know what the faith is
  by which they can be justified.
  

There are countless such things as these,
for there is not a single truth which cannot be falsified,
and the falsification confirmed by reasonings from fallacies.

AC 7296 - Misuse of Order; AC 7298 - Fallacies

AC 7296 - Misuse of Order

A misuse of order and of correspondences
exists when things that belong to order
are not applied to good ends but to evil ones,
for example to exercising control over others
and bringing about their destruction;
for salvation, thus the doing of good to all,
is the end that order holds in view.
From this one may see what one is to understand
by a misuse of order, meant by 'the sorcerers'.

AC 7298 - Fallacies

. . . in proportion as fallacies
cause truths not to be noticed,
so dullness induced.

 

AC 7273 - Signs and Wonders

AC 7273

And I will multiply my signs and My wonders.
(Exodus 7:3)

That this means warnings of every kind,
nor shall anything be wanting,
is evident from the meaning of "signs and wonders,"
as being confirmations of the truth,
and also means of Divine power;
here warnings;
for thereby they both (Moses & Aaron) saw
that they were in falsities,
and saw the Divine power,
and in this way were warned.

The reason why it is said that to those who are in falsities
warnings are given of every kind,
nor shall anything be wanting,
is that the condemnation of those who are in evils
is not effected in a moment
when they come into the other life,
but after they have first been visited, that is, examined.
The examinations are made
in order that they themselves may take notice
that they cannot but be condemned,
because they have not lived differently,
and also in order that spirits and angels may know
that they have been of such a character;
so that they can no longer be excused
either by themselves or by others.
The order in accordance with which they are examined
is the order of truth Divine,
which is such that nothing whatever is wanting.
The order of truth Divine,
which is for the evil who are being condemned,
differs from that of truth Divine for the good
who are being saved.
The difference is,
that the order for the evil who are being condemned,
is of truth Divine separated from Divine good,
thus from mercy,
because they have not received the Divine good,
and thus have rejected mercy.
But the order which is for the good
who are being saved,
is of truth Divine conjoined with Divine good,
thus with mercy;
because they have received the Divine good,
thus the mercy of the Lord.
As the evil are examined in accordance with order,
by degrees, so also are they judged and condemned.
This shows that warnings of every kind are given,
in order that nothing may be wanting
before they are condemned to hell.
These then are the things which are meant
by the signs and wonders wrought in Egypt,
before the firstborn were slain,
and the Egyptians perished in the sea Suph;
for the sea Suph denotes hell.

AC 7264-7265 - Exodus 7 Is About Different Vastations

AC 7264-7265

The subject treated of in the internal sense in what follows
is the vastation,
and at last the damnation,
of those who are in falsities and evils.
The process of their devastation is described
by the eleven plagues
brought on the Egyptians and their land.

In this chapter
the subject treated of in the internal sense
is the first three degrees of vastation.
The first, which is
that mere fallacies began to reign with them,
from which came falsities,
is described by the serpent
into which the rod of Aaron was turned.
The second, which is
that truths themselves became falsities with them,
and that falsities became truths,
is described by the blood
into which the waters were turned.
The third degree, which is
that from falsities they reasoned against
the truths and goods of the church,
is described by the frogs out of the river.

 

AC 7225 - "Uncircumcised" or Unclean or Impure

AC 7225 [2-3]

. . . "to be uncircumcised" denotes to be impure;
and as everything impure is from impure loves,
which are the love of the world and the love of self,
therefore by "uncircumcised" is meant
that which impedes the influx of good and truth.
Where these loves are,
the inflowing good and truth are extinguished,
for they are contraries, like heaven and hell.
So by the "uncircumcised ear" is meant disobedience,
and by the "uncircumcised heart"
the rejection of good and truth,
which is especially the case
when these loves have fortified themselves with falsity
as with a wall.

That Moses, because he stammered,
calls himself "uncircumcised in lips,"
is for the sake of the internal sense,
that thereby might be meant
that those who are in falsities,
who are represented by Pharaoh,
would not listen to the things that would be said to them
from the law Divine,
because those who are in falsities
call the truths which are of the law Divine, falsities;
and the falsities which are contrary to
the truths of the law Divine
they call truths,
for they are wholly in the opposite.
Consequently by them the truths of doctrine
are not perceived otherwise than as impure;
even heavenly loves appear to them impure.

AC 7233 - The Enlightened Intellectual

AC 7233 [3]

For the enlightened intellectual discriminates
between apparent truths and real truths,
especially between falsities and truths,
although it does not judge about real truths in themselves.

But the intellectual cannot be enlightened
unless it is believed
that love to the Lord and charity toward the neighbor
are the principal and essential things of the church.
He who proceeds from the acknowledgment of these,
provided he himself is in them,
sees innumerable truths;
indeed he sees very many secrets disclosed to him,
and this from interior acknowledgment,
according to the degree of the enlightenment
from the Lord.

AC 7205 - "Stretched Out Arm"

AC 7205

And I will redeem you with a stretched out arm.
(Exodus 6:6)

That this means leading forth from hell
by virtue of Divine power,
 is evident from the meaning of "redeeming,"
as being to bring forth from hell,
and from the meaning of a "stretched out arm,"
as being Divine power.
. . . "arm" denotes power;
but that a "stretched out arm"
denotes omnipotence or Divine power,
is because
when an arm appears stretched out in the heavens,
there is represented power from the Divine;
and when not stretched out, but bent,
there is represented power in a general sense.
So then it is, that in the Word,
Divine power is very often expressed by
a "stretched out arm," and by a "strong hand,"
as in these passages:

I have made the earth, the man, and the beast,
that are upon the faces of the earth,
by My great power and by My stretched-out arm.
(Jeremiah 27:5)

I will lead you out from the peoples,
and will gather you
out of the lands wherein you are scattered,
by a strong hand and by a stretched-out arm.
(Ezekiel 20:34).

AC 7191 - Before Punctuation

AC 7191

And God spoke unto Moses.
(Exodus 6:2)

That this means
what is new but continuous with what was before,
is evident from the fact
that we often read in continuation of the text,
"Jehovah said," and "Jehovah spoke,"
as also in this chapter, verse 1,
"Jehovah said unto Moses,"
in this verse, "God spoke unto Moses,"
and similarly in verses 10, 13, 28, 29,
and also in other places,
which repetition means nothing else
than something new that begins there,
which, however, is to be connected with what goes before.

Be it known that the Word in its original tongue
is devoid of stops (punctuation),
and therefore instead of them there were such phrases;
and instead of the lesser stops or distinctions
there was "and,"
which is the reason why this occurs so frequently.
Angelic speech also is continuous,
with stops indeed,
but such that what precedes
is wonderfully connected with what follows;
for angelic ideas are very full of realities,
and of countless things that are unutterable,
and to a person, while in the world, incomprehensible;
and therefore the endings of the preceding periods
can be fully connected
with the beginnings of the following ones;
and in this way one series can be formed out of many.
Astonishing and incredible to say,
the form of heaven is represented
in the angelic discourse,
and therefore in all angelic discourse
there is a harmony like that of songs,
which at every stop closes in a word of one syllable,
thus in a unity;
and I have been told that the reason of this is
that each and all things in heaven
have relation to the one God as to their end.
From all this also it was evident
that everything of thought
and of the consequent discourse
flows in through heaven from the Lord,
and that from this
there is such a harmony in discourse closing in a unity.

AC 7186 - Evil Is Removed by Degrees

AC 7186 [1, 3]

That "Jehovah said unto Moses,"
means instruction about the law Divine,
is because at the end of the preceding chapter
it was believed from the law Divine,
that it would come to pass
that those who are of the spiritual church
would be immediately liberated from infestations;
when yet it is according to order
that the evil who infest
should be removed by degrees,
and that they who are of the spiritual church
should be liberated by degrees;
for such is the Divine order;
and therefore such is the law Divine;
for all law Divine is of order,
insomuch that whether we say the law Divine,
or the law of Divine order, it is the same.

Those who believe that a person
can be immediately introduced into heaven,
and that this is solely of the Lord's mercy,
are very much mistaken.
If this were possible,
all whatsoever who are in hell
would be raised into heaven,
for the Lord's mercy extends to all.
But it is according to order
that everyone carries with him his life
which he had lived in the world,
and his state in the other life is according to this,
and that the mercy of the Lord flows in with all,
but is diversely received,
and by those who are in evil, is rejected;
and as in the world
they have permeated themselves with evil,
they also retain it in the other life,
nor is amendment possible in the other life,
for the tree lies where it has fallen.
From all this it is evident
that it is according to order
that those who have lived in good,
and with whom there are also gross and impure things
which pertain to the love of the world and the love of self,
cannot be associated with those who are in the heavens
until these things have been removed.
From all this it is evident
that liberation from infestations
is effected successively by degrees.

AC 7167 - The Law Divine

AC 7167

For the law Divine
is truth Divine proceeding from the Lord,
and that which proceeds from the Lord
is Divine good and truth;
and Divine good is love and charity,
and Divine truth is faith.

AC 7155 - "They Saw They Were in Evil"; AC 7161 - Odor and Stink

AC 7155 - "They Saw They Were in Evil

. . . that by "they saw that they were in evil" (Exodus 5:19)
is meant that they perceived themselves
to be near damnation.
For as those who are in despair
suppose that they can no longer endure the assaults,
they think that they must need
to deliver themselves up as captives to falsities,
such being the state of despair;
but then they begin to be relieved,
and to be led as it were out of thick darkness into light.

AC 7161 - Odor and Stink

. . . the meaning of "odor,"
as being the perceptivity of what is grateful;
and as "odor" denotes the perceptivity of what is grateful,
it denotes the perceptivity of faith and charity,
for these are grateful;
and because these are grateful,
compliance is most grateful,
for compliance is the very good itself of faith and charity;
so here it is that by "odor" is here meant compliance.

As "odor" denotes all that which is grateful to the Lord,
so "stink" denotes that which is ungrateful to the Lord,
consequently "stink" denotes aversion,
and also abomination.
Moreover, "stink" actually corresponds to
the aversion and abomination which are of falsity and evil.
As "stink" denotes that which belongs to aversion,
it is used in the Word to denote aversion . . ..

AC 7131 - Stubble for Straw; AC 7153 - What Seems to Matter Little

AC 7131 - Stubble for Straw

To gather stubble for straw.
(Exodus 5:12)

That this means to find some truth of memory-knowledge,
is evident from the meaning of "stubble for straw,"
as being the truth of memory-knowledge,
for "stubble" denotes such truth
as is accommodated to the memory-knowledge
that is signified by "straw."
That "stubble" denotes such truth
is because it is the stalk in the top of which is the seed,
and by "seeds" in the Word are meant truths and goods;
thus by the stalk which is beneath them
is meant the general vessel of truth,
consequently the truth of memory-knowledge;
for the memory-knowledges of faith and charity
are indeed truths, but general truths,
thus are the recipient vessels
of particular and singular truths,
as can also be seen by everyone.

AC 7153 - What Seems to Matter Little

These then are the things contained in these verses
in the internal sense,
and which to people
may perhaps appear as of but little moment,
and also disconnected;
nevertheless they are each of them
essential to the subject treated of,
and cohere most beautifully.
That this is so is perceived by the angels,
for they see the series and connection of things
in the light of heaven,
together with countless secret things
that are shaped from interior truths,
giving rise to a form that is most beautiful and pleasing;
which cannot possibly be done by a person,
because interior truths have been hidden from him,
and consequently he cannot connect them together;
but they appear to him disconnected,
and therefore, as just said, of little moment.

AC 7122 - The Combat for Our Soul

AC 7122

. . . before truths and goods can appear,
and the person can then be associated
with those who are in heaven,
it is necessary that these evils and falsities be uncovered,
so that he may see them and know them,
and thus learn what is true and what is good.
This cannot possibly be done
without combat with the evils and falsities in himself;
which combat takes place actually,
the evil spirits exciting falsities and evils,
and the angels excusing if the end has been good,
and instilling truths.
This is perceived as if it were in himself,
as is the case with temptation in a person,
which is felt no otherwise than as being in him,
when yet it is
the combat of angels with evil spirits outside of him.

AC 7090 - Temptations and the Church Militant

AC 7090 [3-4]

At this day also,
those who are of the church and have filled their ideas
with worldly and also with earthly things,
and have caused the truths of faith
to be joined to such things,
are let down to the lower earth,
and are also in combats there;
and this until these worldly and earthly things
have been separated from the truths of faith,
and such things have been implanted
as will prevent their being further joined together.
When this is over,
they are lifted up from there into heaven;
for until such things have been removed,
they cannot possibly be with the angels,
because these worldly and earthly things
are darkness and defilements,
which do not accord with the light and purity of heaven.
These worldly and earthly things
cannot be separated and removed
except by means of combats against falsities.
These combats take place in this way:
they who are in the lower earth
are infested by the fallacies and derivative falsities
which are sent forth from the infernals round about,
but are refuted by the Lord through heaven;
and at the same time truths are instilled,
and these truths appear
as if they were in those who are in the combats.

So it is that the spiritual church is to be called "militant."
But at this day it is rarely a militant church
with anyone in the world,
for while the person of the church lives in the world
he cannot endure combat,
because of the crowd of evil ones
in the midst of whom he is;
and because of the flesh in which he is,
which is weak.
In the other life
a person can be kept firmly in the bonds of conscience,
but not so in the world;
for if in the world he is brought into anything of despair,
as those are wont to be who are in combats,
he forthwith bursts these bonds;
and if he bursts them,
he then yields;
and if he so yields,
it is all over with his salvation.
So it is that few within the church at this day
are admitted by the Lord
into combats for truths against falsities.
These combats are spiritual temptations.

AC 7089 - The Divine Law

AC 7089

By the Divine law which Moses represents
is meant the Word such as it is in its internal sense,
thus such as it is in the heavens;
but by doctrine is meant the Word
such as it is in its literal sense,
thus as it is on the earth;
how much these differ,
can be seen from what has been thus far unfolded
in respect to the internal sense of the Word.

Take as an illustration the ten commandments,
which specifically are called the "Law."
The literal sense of these is that parents are to be honored,
that murder is not to be committed,
nor adultery, nor theft, and so on;
but the internal sense is that the Lord is to be worshiped;
that hatred must not be felt;
that truth must not be falsified;
and that we must not claim for ourselves
that which belongs to the Lord.
This is how these four commandments of the Decalogue
are understood in heaven,
and the rest also in their own way.
For in the heavens
they know no other Father than the Lord;
therefore by that parents are to be honored,
they understand that the Lord is to be worshiped:
neither do they know in the heavens what killing is,
for they live to eternity;
but instead of killing they understand feeling hatred,
and injuring the spiritual life of anyone;
neither do they know in the heavens
what it is to commit adultery,
and therefore instead they perceive
that which corresponds, namely, not to falsify truth;
and instead of stealing
they perceive not to take anything away from the Lord,
and claim it to themselves,
as for instance good and truth.

Such is this law, and the whole Word too, in the heavens;
thus such it is in the internal sense;
indeed, it is still deeper,
for most things that are thought and said in the heavens
do not fall into words of human speech,
because in the heavens is a spiritual world
and not a natural;
and the things of the spiritual world
transcend those of the natural world,
as immaterial things transcend those which are material.
Yet as material things correspond to immaterial,
the latter can be set forth by means of material things,
thus by natural speech,
but not by spiritual speech.
For spiritual speech is not a speech of material words,
but of spiritual words,
which are ideas modified into words in the spiritual aura,
and represented by variations of heavenly light,
which light in itself is nothing
but Divine intelligence and wisdom
proceeding from the Lord.
From all this it can be seen
what is meant in its genuine sense
by the Divine law which Moses represents,
and what by the doctrine derived from there,
which Aaron represents.

AC 7083 - Heat and Light

AC 7083

The heat and light in the natural world
arise from the sun of the world;
but spiritual heat and light, or love and faith,
arise from the sun of heaven.
The sun of heaven is the Lord;
the heat which comes from Him as a sun is love,
and the light which comes from Him as a sun is faith.
That the Lord is light is evident from these words in John:

Jesus said, I am the light of the world,
he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness,
but shall have the light of life.
(John 8:12);

and that the Lord is a sun is evident in Matthew:

When Jesus was transfigured,
His face shone as the sun,
and His garments became white as the light.
(Matthew 17:2)  

AC 7058 - Moses, Aaron, the Lord and the Truth Proceeding

AC 7058 [1, 3]

And Moses told Aaron all the words of Jehovah.
(Exodus 4:30)

That this signifies the influx
of the truth proceeding immediately
from the Divine of the Lord
into the truth which proceeds mediately,
and instruction in the details of doctrine,
is evident from the signification of "telling," as being influx;
from the representation of Moses,
as being the truth proceeding immediately
from the Divine of the Lord;
from the representation of Aaron,
as being the truth proceeding mediately
from the Divine of the Lord;
and from the signification of "all the words of Jehovah,"
as being the details of doctrine.
Instruction is signified by
"Moses told the words to Aaron,"
for instruction from the Divine
is effected by means of influx,
which influx is signified by "telling."
From all this it is evident that
by "Moses told Aaron all the words of Jehovah"
is signified the influx of the truth
proceeding immediately from the Divine of the Lord
into the truth which proceeds mediately,
and instruction in the details of doctrine.

It is said truth proceeding immediately
from the Divine of the Lord,
although in the internal sense
the subject here treated of is the Lord
when He was in the world,
and when He called upon His Father
as separate from Himself.
But how the case herein is,
has been occasionally told before, namely,
that the Divine Itself, or Jehovah, was in Him,
for He was conceived of Jehovah;
and therefore He also calls Him His "Father,"
and Himself His "Son."
But the Lord was then in the human
that was infirm by heredity from the mother,
and insofar as He was in this,
so far Jehovah or the Divine Itself
which was in Him appeared to be absent;
but insofar as the Lord was in the Human glorified,
or made Divine,
so far Jehovah or the Divine Itself was present,
and in the very Human.
From this then it can be known how it is to be understood
that the truth
which had proceeded immediately from the Divine
was from the Divine of the Lord.

AC 7044 - Purification and the Truths of Faith; AC 7048 - Representing or Being a Church; AC 7051 - The Mercy of the Lord

AC 7044 - Purification and the Truths of Faith

The reason why purification
is effected by means of the truths of faith,
is that these teach what is good,
and also what is evil,
and thus what ought to be done,
and what ought not to be done;
and when a person knows these truths,
and wills to act according to them,
he is then led by the Lord,
and is purified by His Divine means.

AC 7048 - Representing or Being a Church

That is one thing to represent a church,
and another to be a church,
is evident from the fact
that even the evil can represent a church,
but none except the good can be a church;
for to represent a church is merely external.

AC 7051 - The Mercy of the Lord

. . . the mercy of the Lord is toward
every person who abstains from evil
and is willing to live in good,
and thus who suffers himself
to be led of the Lord and to be regenerated,
which is effected by the unbroken course of his life.

 

AC 7038 - "To Serve the Lord"

AC 7038

That "to serve the Lord" denotes to perform uses,
is because true worship consists in the performance of uses,
thus in the exercises of charity.
He who believes that serving the Lord
consists solely in frequenting a place of worship,
in hearing preaching there, and in praying,
and that this is sufficient,
is much mistaken.
The very worship of the Lord consists in performing uses;
and during a person's life in the world
uses consist in everyone's discharging aright
his duty in his station,
thus from the heart being of service to his country,
to societies, and to the neighbor,
in dealing sincerely with his fellow,
and in performing kind offices with prudence
in accordance with each person's character.
These uses are chiefly the works of charity,
and are those whereby the Lord is chiefly worshiped.
Frequenting a place of worship,
hearing sermons, and saying prayers,
are also necessary;
but without the above uses they avail nothing,
because they are not of the life,
but teach what the life must be.
The angels in heaven have all happiness from uses,
and according to uses,
so that to them uses are heaven.