Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 159My mother and my brethren are they who hear the Word of Godand do it (Luke 8:21);and in many other places. In these passages, “hearing” signifiessimply hearing, which is knowing and understanding. “Hearing,”in common discourse, has this meaning when one is said “to hear”a thing; but it means both understanding and doing when it is said“give ear to,” or “hearken to,” also “listen to.” Moreover, those whohave separated life from faith are like those of whom the Lordspeaks in Matthew:Seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do theyunderstand (Matt. 13:13–15; Ezek. 12:2).109. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life,signifies that he who receives in the heart shall be filled with thegood of love and with heavenly joy therefrom. This is evident fromthe signification of “overcoming,” as being to receive in the heart(of which in what follows); also from the signification of “eating,”as being to be appropriated and to be conjoined (see ArcanaCoelestia, n. 2187, 2343, 3168, 3813, 5643); and from thesignification of “the tree of life,” as being the good of love andheavenly joy therefrom (of which also in what follows). “Toovercome” is to receive in the heart, because everyone who is toreceive spiritual life must fight against evils and falsities whichbelong to his natural life; and when he overcomes these he receivesin the heart the goods and truths which belong to the spiritual life.To receive in the heart is to receive in the will and love, for “heart”in the Word signifies the will and love (see Arcana Coelestia, n.2930, 3313, 7542, 8910, 9050, 9113, 10336). To receive in theheart, then, is to do these from the will or love; this is what ismeant by “overcoming.”[2] “The tree of life” signifies the good of love and heavenly joytherefrom, because “trees” signify such things as are with man in hisinteriors, which are of his mind [mens] or disposition [animus];“boughs” and “leaves” signifying those things that are of theknowledges of truth and good, and “fruits” the goods of lifethemselves. This signification of trees draws its origin from the