Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 405those affections; therefore, those who are not in charity are not inany affection in which heaven is, for charity or love towards theneighbor is affection; consequently those who are not in charityhave no place in heaven, but are out of it; and such of them as havebeen in evils and falsities are conjoined according to their loves oraffections, to those who are in internals 1, and thither they are castdown.[2] That such a lot awaits those who are in faith alone and in nocharity, was foretold by the Lord in many passages. Thus inMatthew:Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, andcast into the fire; therefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Noteveryone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdomof the heavens, but he that doeth the will of My Father who is in theheavens. Many shall say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we notprophesied by Thy name, and by Thy name cast out demons, and inThy name done many powers? And then will I confess unto them, Inever knew you; depart from Me all ye workers of iniquity. Everyonethat heareth My words and doeth them, I will liken to a prudent man,who built his house upon a rock. And everyone that heareth My wordsand doeth them not, shall be likened to a foolish man who built hishouse upon the sand (7:19–27).Here those who are in faith from charity, and those who are in faithand in no charity are described; those who are in faith from charity,by “the tree bearing good fruit,” and by “the house that was builtupon a rock;” “fruits” moreover signify in the Word the works ofcharity and a “rock” faith from charity; but those who are in faithseparate from charity are meant by “the tree that bringeth forth nogood fruit,” and by those “building a house upon the sand,” “evilfruit” moreover signifies in the Word evil works, and “sand” faithseparate from charity. Of such it is said that they will say, “Lord,Lord, open to us,” but that the reply will be, “I never knew you;depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity.”[3] In like manner in Luke: