Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 315and prayers, and gestures at such times, are either the result of habitfrom infancy, and are thence become familiar, or they are from aprinciple that such external things contribute everything tosalvation, or they are a consequence of their being no business forthem at home and abroad on holy days, or of a fear of beingregarded as irreligious by their companions. But worship with thosewho live a moral life from a spiritual origin is altogether different,for it is truly a worship of God, for their prayers are elevated toheaven and are heard, for the Lord leads their prayers throughheaven to Himself. (But more;may be seen on these subjects in thework on Heaven and Hell, n. 468, 484, 529, 530–534; and above,in the explanation of Revelation, n. 107.) These things arepremised, because what is written to the angel of this church treatsof those who live a moral but not a spiritual life, for the reason thatthey have little regard for the knowledges of spiritual things.183a. These things saith He that hath the seven spirits of God,signifies the Lord from whom are all the truths of heaven and of thechurch. This may appear from the fact that it is the Lord who ismeant, because it is the Son of man who said these things, as well asthose said to the angels of the other churches; and the Son of manis the Lord in respect to the Divine Human (see n. 63, 151). By“the seven spirits of God” all the truths of heaven and of the churchare meant, because “the Spirit of God” in the Word signifies Divinetruth proceeding from the Lord. “Spirit” is mentioned in manypassages in the Word, and “spirit,” when used in reference to man,signifies Divine truth received in the life, thus it signifies man’sspiritual life; but in reference to the Lord, by “spirit” is meant theDivine that proceeds from Him, which is called by the general termDivine truth. But since few at this day know what is meant by“spirit” in the Word, I will first show by passages from the Wordthat “spirit,” in reference to man, signifies Divine truth received inthe life, thus man’s spiritual life. But because there are two thingsthat constitute man’s spiritual life, namely, the good of love and thetruth of faith, in many passages in the Word mention is made of“heart and spirit,” and also of “heart and soul;” and by “heart” thegood of love is signified, and by “spirit” the truth of faith; the letteris also signified by “soul,” for this means in the Word man’s spirit.