Doctrine of Holy Scripture - Swedenborg Foundation

DOCTRINE OF HOLY SCRIPTURE 172them and applied them to faith alone, and not one of them tocharity and love. And thus they would have closed heaven againstthemselves.25. The reason why the spiritual sense of the Word has been atthis day disclosed by the Lord is that the doctrine of genuine truthhas now been revealed; and this doctrine, and no other, is in accordwith the spiritual sense of the Word. This sense, moreover, issignified by the appearing of the Lord in the clouds of heaven withglory and power (Matt. 24:30, 31); which chapter treats of theconsummation of the age, by which is meant the last time of thechurch. The opening of the Word as to its spiritual sense was alsopromised in Revelation. It is there meant by the “white horse,” andby the “great supper” to which all are invited (Rev. 19:11–18).That for a long time the spiritual sense will not be recognized, andthat this is entirely owing to those who are in falsities of doctrine,especially concerning the Lord, and who therefore do not admittruths, is meant in Revelation by the “beast,” and by the “kings ofthe earth,” who should make war with him that sat upon the whitehorse (19:19). By the “beast” are meant the papists, as in chapter17:3; and by the “kings of the earth” are meant the reformed whoare in false things of doctrine.26. (e) Henceforth the spiritual sense of the Word will be impartedsolely to him who from the Lord is in genuine truths. The reason ofthis is that no one can see the spiritual sense except from the Lordalone, nor unless from him he is in genuine truths. For the spiritualsense of the Word treats solely of the Lord and his kingdom; andthis is the sense in which are his angels in heaven, for it is hisDivine truth there. To this sense a man can do violence if he has aknowledge of correspondences, and wishes by means of it and fromself-intelligence to investigate the spiritual sense of the Word. Forthrough some correspondences with which he is acquainted he maypervert the meaning of it, and may even force it to confirm what isfalse, and this would be doing violence to Divine truth, and also toheaven. And therefore if anyone purposes to open that sense fromhimself and not from the Lord, heaven is closed; and then the maneither sees nothing, or else becomes spiritually insane.