Heaven and Hell - Swedenborg Foundation

HEAVEN AND HELL 296
eye” is not at present known, because the knowledge that
teaches what is signified in the spiritual sense by the things said
in the literal sense of the Word has not up to this time been
disclosed. In every particular of the Word there is a spiritual
sense and also a natural sense; for the Word was made to
consist wholly of correspondences between natural and
spiritual things in order that conjunction of heaven with the
world, or of angels with men might thereby be effected, direct
conjunction having ceased. This makes clear who in particular
are meant in the Word by the “rich man.”
[4] That the “rich” in the Word mean in the spiritual sense
those who are in knowledges of truth and good, and “riches”
the knowledges themselves, which are spiritual riches, can be
seen from various passages (as in Isa. 10:12–14; 30:6, 7; 45:3;
Jer. 17:3; 48:7; 50:36, 37; 51:13; Dan. 5:2–4; Ezek. 26:7, 12;
27:1 to the end; Zech. 9:3, 4; Ps. 45:12; Hos. 12:9; Rev. 3:17,
18; Luke 14:33; and elsewhere). Also that the “poor” in the
spiritual sense signify those who do not possess knowledges of
good and of truth, and yet desire them (Matt. 11:5; Luke 6:20,
21; 14:21; Isa. 14:30; 29:19; 41:17, 18; Zeph. 3:12, 13). All
these passages may be seen explained in accordance with the
spiritual sense in Arcana Coelestia (n. 10227).
It is permissible to enter from spiritual truth into knowledges which
pertain to the natural man, but not the reverse, because there can be spiritual
influx into the natural, but not natural influx into the spiritual (n. 3219,
5119, 5259, 5427, 5428, 5478, 6322, 9110). The truths of the word and of
the church must first be acknowledged, after which it is permissible to
consider knowledges, but not before (n. 6047).