Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 507conjunction with those who are in a life according to the doctrine,but with those who are in a life according to the Word.[2] It is said, “As many as I love I reprove and chasten,” but bythis it is meant not that it is the Lord who reproves and chastens,but infernal spirits, who are in principles of like falsity; it is thesewho chastise, that is, tempt men. God tempts no one, as is wellknown; this, therefore, must be thus understood, although in theletter it is said of God that He leads into temptation, that He doesevil, that He casts into hell, and many like things. From this it isclear that Divine truth in the Word is but little understood exceptthrough its spiritual sense, or through doctrine from those whohave been in illustration. In respect to temptations, man comes intothem when he is let into what is his own (in suum proprium), forthen spirits from hell who are in the falsities of his principle and inthe evils of his love join themselves to him and hold his thoughtstherein; but the Lord holds his thoughts in the truths that are offaith and in the goods that are of charity, and as he then is also inconstant thought about salvation and heaven, there thence arises inhim interior anxiety of mind and combat, which is calledtemptation. But those who are not In truths and goods, thus not inany faith from charity, cannot be let into temptations, for there isnothing with them that combats with falsities and evils. From thisit is that at this day there are few who are tempted, and that it islittle known what spiritual temptation is. (This is more fullyexplained in the Arcana Coelestia; see extracts therefrom in theDoctrine of the New Jerusalem, n. 196–201.)247. Be zealous, therefore, and repent, signifies that they must havecharity. This is evident from the signification of “being zealous,” asbeing to act from spiritual affection, for this affection is zeal in thespiritual sense; and as charity is this affection itself, it is said, “bezealous and repent,” which signifies that they must have charity.Moreover, no one is let into spiritual temptation unless he is inspiritual affection, which is called charity; for unless he is in that,no combat arises with falsities and evils, because there is no zeal inbehalf of truths and goods. Since by temptation not only are evilssubdued and falsities removed, but also truths are implanted in