Doctrine of Holy Scripture - Swedenborg Foundation

DOCTRINE OF HOLY SCRIPTURE 152such is the nature of the Word does not appear in the sense of theletter, which sense is natural, for the reason that hitherto the manof this world has known nothing about the heavens; andconsequently has not known what the spiritual is, nor what thecelestial is, nor therefore the distinction between them and thenatural.7. The distinction between these degrees cannot be known unlesscorrespondence is known. For these three degrees are altogetherdistinct from each other, like end, cause, and effect, or like prior,posterior, and postreme; yet they make one by correspondences, forthe natural corresponds to the spiritual, and also to the celestial.What correspondence is may be seen in Heaven and Hell, where thesubject of the correspondence of all things of heaven with all thingsof man has been treated of (n. 87–102); and also thecorrespondence of heaven with all things of the earth (n. 103–115).The same will further appear below, from examples adduced fromthe Word.8. As therefore the Word interiorly is spiritual and celestial, it iswritten exclusively by correspondences. And what is thus written isin its ultimate sense written in a style such as is that of the prophetsand evangelists, which, although it may appear common, yetconceals within it Divine and all angelic wisdom.9. (b) The spiritual sense is in all things of the Word, and in everysingle particular of it. This cannot be better seen than by examples,such as the following. John says in Revelation:I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse, and he that sat upon himwas called faithful and true, and in righteousness he doth judge and makewar. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns, andhe had a name written that no man knew but he himself, and he was clothedwith a vesture dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. Andhis armies in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen,white and clean. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written,King of kings and Lord of lords. And I saw an angel standing in the sun, andhe cried with a loud voice, Come and gather yourselves together to the greatsupper, that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and theflesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them,