Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 368such correspondence, see in the work on Heaven and Hell, n.51–58, 73-77, 87–102; and in the Doctrine of the New Jerusalem, n.230–236.) From this it is that “the book of life” is that with manthat corresponds to the heaven with him. Because this remains withman to eternity, if he has become spiritual by means of theknowledges of truth and good applied to life in the world, it is said,“I will not blot his name out of the book of life.” In the worldindeed it may be blotted out if man does not remain spiritual to theend of life; but if he does so remain it cannot be blotted out,because he is conjoined to the Lord by love and faith, and suchconjunction with the Lord as there has been in the world remainswith man after death.[2] From this it can be seen that “the book of life” means thatfrom the Lord which has been written on man’s spirit, that is, onhis heart and soul, or what is the same, on his love and faith; andwhat is written by the Lord in man is heaven. From this it is clearwhat is meant by “the book of life” in the following passages. InDaniel:The Ancient of Days sat, and the books were opened (7:9, 10).The people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found writtenin the book (12:1).In David:Let them be blotted out of the book of lives, and not be writtenwith the righteous (Ps. 69:28).In Moses:Moses said, Blot me, I pray, out of the book which Thou hastwritten. And Jehovah said, Whosoever hath sinned against Me, him willI blot out of the book (Exod. 32:32, 33).In Revelation :