Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 446things that are of Juan’s interior life, for works proceed from theseand are their effects (see above n. 157–185); here, therefore, theysignify the life of faith alone, because this is treated of in what iswritten to this church. To each of the churches it is said first, “Iknow thy works,” and in every case “works” signify the things ofthe church there treated of (see above, n. 98); therefore what nowfollows describes what the life of faith alone is or the life of faithseparate from charity.231. That thou art neither cold nor hot, signifies that it is betweenheaven and hell, because it is without charity. This is evident fromthe signification of “cold,” as meaning to be not in spiritual lovebut in infernal love (of which presently); also from the significationof “hot,” as meaning to be in spiritual love (of which alsopresently). From this it is clear that “to be neither cold nor hot”signifies to be neither in infernal love nor in spiritual love, butbetween the two, and he who is between the two is between helland heaven.[2] That those who are in faith alone, or in faith separate fromcharity, are in this state, has not been known; but it is evident thatthey are so, from the particulars of what is written to the angel ofthis church, and moreover from this, that those who are in faithseparate from charity live for themselves, the world, and appetite,and those who so live are in infernal love; and yet these, by readingthe Word, by hearing discourses therefrom, by receiving the HolySupper, and by many things from the Word that they merely retainin the memory, look towards heaven; and when they do this, theyare in some spiritual heat; but yet because this is not spiritual heat,or spiritual love, since they do not live according to the Word;consequently they are neither hot nor cold. Moreover, they thusdraw the mind in two directions, for by the things that are from theWord they turn themselves towards heaven, and by the things thatare of the life they turn themselves towards hell, thus they haltbetween the two. When such as these come into the other life, theyare eager for heaven, saying, that they have had faith, have read theWord, heard sermons, often attended the Holy Supper, and bythese things ought to be saved. But when their life is explored, it is