Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 533If with a true penitent heart and lively faith we receive that holysacrament (for then we spiritually eat the flesh of Christ, and drink Hisblood), then we dwell in Christ, and Christ in us; and we are one withChrist, and Christ with us.(See also John 6:56. But these things may be better understoodfrom what is shown in the work on Heaven and Hell, n. 11, 12.)From this it follows that as the Divine of the Lord received byangels and by men makes heaven and the church with them, theyare one with the Lord, as He and the Father are one.[3] That the meaning of these words of the Lord, that “He sittethwith His Father in His throne,” may be more clearly seen, it mustbe known that “God’s throne” is heaven (as was shown in thepreceding article), and that heaven is heaven from the Divine thatproceeds from the Lord, and this Divine is called Divine truth, butis Divine good united to Divine truth (as was said above). TheLord Himself is not in heaven, but is above the heavens, and is seenby those who are in the heavens as a sun. He is seen as a sunbecause He is Divine love, and Divine love is seen by the angels assolar fire; this is why “sacred fire” in the Word signifies love Divine.From the Lord as a sun light and heat proceed; the light thatproceeds, since it is spiritual light, is Divine truth; and the heat,since it is spiritual heat, is Divine good. This, namely, the Divinegood, is what is meant by “the Father in the heavens.” (That theLord is the Sun of Heaven, and that the light and heat therefromare Divine truth united to Divine good, may he seen in the workon Heaven and Hell, n. 116–125, 126–140; and that Heaven isHeaven from the Divine that proceeds from the Lord, n. 7–12.)From this what is meant in the Word by “the Father in theheavens” and by “Heavenly Father” can be seen. Thus in Matthew:Do good to your enemies, that ye may be sons of your Father whois in the heavens (5:44, 45).Ye shall be perfect, as your Father in the heavens is perfect (verse48).