Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 140To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These thingssaith he that is holy, he that is true, I know thy works (Rev. 3:7–8);To the angel of the Laodicean church write: These things saith theAmen, the faithful and true witness, I know thy works (Rev. 3:14–5).[3] As it is here said everywhere, “I know thy works,” it is clearthat “works” signify, in general, all things of the church; and as allthings of the church have reference to love and faith, thereforethese are what are meant in the spiritual sense by “works.” Theseare meant in the spiritual sense by “works,” because every work ordeed or act, that to appearance is done from the body, is not donefrom the body, but is done by means of the body from man’s willand thought, for not a particle of the body moves itself except fromthe will and thought. From this it is that “works” signify, not thethings that appear in outward form, but the things of will andthought. That this is so is known to everyone who reflects. Whothat is wise regards a man from his deeds alone, and not from hiswill? If the will is good he loves the deeds; but if the will is evil hedoes not love the deeds. He sees the deeds also, but interprets themaccording to the intention of the will. He who is spiritual attendsstill less to the deeds, but explores the will; for the reason alreadygiven, that deeds in themselves are nothing, but all that they are isfrom the will, for deeds are the will in act. It is said “will,” but inthe spiritual sense love is meant, for a man wills what he loves, andhe loves what he wills. Man’s will is only the receptacle of his love.(See what is said and shown in Doctrine of the New Jerusalem, onthat faculty of man, n. 28–35; and in Heaven and Hell, n. 358,470–484.)[4] Because “works” or deeds in the Word signify specifically thethings that proceed from man’s love or will, it is often said in theWord that a man shall be judged and it shall be rendered unto himaccording to his works; and the meaning is according to works inthe internal form, not in the external; as in the following passages:The son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with hisangels, and then shall he render unto everyone according to his works(Matt. 16:27).