Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 458the Word, and have labored to connect these with other falsities bymeans of the fallacies of reason.236b. [3] I will also say something from experience about thesethings. Some spirits who were believed by others when they lived asmen in the world to be men of learning, were examined to ascertainwhether they knew what spiritual faith is. They said that theyknew. They were therefore sent to those who were in that faith; andwhen they were given communication with these they perceivedthat they had no faith, and did not know what faith is. They werethen asked what they now believe about faith alone, on which thewhole doctrine of their church is founded, but they were ashamedand dumb-founded. There were also many of the learned of thechurch who were asked about regeneration, whether they knewwhat it is; they replied that they knew that it is baptism, since theLord says, that “unless a man is born of water and spirit, he cannotenter into the kingdom of God;” but when it was shown them thatbaptism is not regeneration, but that “water and spirit” mean truthsand a life according to them, and that no one can enter heavenunless he is regenerated through these, they went away confessingtheir ignorance. Again, when they were asked about angels, aboutheaven and hell, about the life of man after death, and many othermatters, they knew nothing, and these things were all like thickdarkness in their minds. They therefore confessed that they hadbelieved that they knew all things, but they now know that theyknow scarcely anything. Knowing something means, in thespiritual world, knowing something of truth; but knowing falsitiesis not knowing, because it is not understanding and being wise.They were afterwards told that this is meant by the Lord’s words,“Because thou sayest I am rich, and have gotten riches, andknowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor andblind and naked.”[4] The “rich” in the Word signify those who are in truths,because spiritual riches are nothing else; and therefore “riches” inthe Word signify the knowledges of truth and good, and “the rich”those who are in intelligence thereby; as can be seen from thefollowing passages. In Ezekiel: