Heaven and Hell - Swedenborg Foundation

HEAVEN AND HELL 338
them; and such from that desire are also called hungry. 255
Those that have conceived an idea of the small extent of heaven
from the Word not understood believe it to be in one place,
where all are gathered together; when, in fact, heaven consists
of innumerable societies (see above, n. 41–50). Such also have
no other idea than that heaven is granted to everyone from
mercy apart from means, and thus that there is admission and
reception from mere favor; and they fail to understand that the
Lord from mercy leads everyone who accepts him, and that he
accepts him who lives in accordance with the laws of divine
order, which are the precepts of love and of faith, and that the
mercy that is meant is to be thus led by the Lord from infancy
to the last period of life in the world and afterwards to eternity.
Let them know, therefore, that every man is born for heaven,
and that he is received that receives heaven in himself in the
world, and he that does not receive it is shut out.
255. By the “poor,” in the Word, those are meant who are spiritually
poor, that is, who are ignorant of truth and yet wish to be taught (n. 9209,
9253, 10227).
Such are said to hunger and thirst, which is to desire knowledges of
good and of truth, by which there is introduction into the church and into
heaven (n. 4958, 10227).