Doctrine of Holy Scripture - Swedenborg Foundation

DOCTRINE OF HOLY SCRIPTURE 206the church; and like things instead of the names of the Lord’stwelve disciples; instead of Zion and Jerusalem, the church inrespect to the Word and doctrine from the Word; instead of theland of Canaan, the church itself; instead of the cities therein onthis side and beyond Jordan, various things of the church and of itsdoctrine; and so with all the other names. It is the same with thenumbers; neither do these appear in the Word that is in heaven,but instead of them the things to which the numbers that are inour Word correspond. It is evident from these examples that theWord in heaven is a Word that corresponds to our Word, and thusthat the two are a one, for correspondences make a one.72. It is a wonderful thing that the Word in the heavens is sowritten that the simple understand it in simplicity, and the wise inwisdom, for there are many points and marks over the letters,which as has been said exalt the meaning, and to these the simpledo not attend, nor are they even aware of them; whereas the wisepay attention to them, each one according to his wisdom, even tothe highest wisdom. In every larger society of heaven, a copy of theWord, written by angels inspired by the Lord, is kept in itssanctuary, lest being elsewhere it should be altered in some point.In respect to the fact that the simple understand it in simplicity andthe wise in wisdom, our Word is indeed like that in heaven, butthis is effected in a different way.73. The angels acknowledge that all their wisdom comes throughthe Word, for they are in light in proportion to their understandingof the Word. The light of heaven is Divine wisdom, which to theireyes is light. In the sanctuary where the copy of the Word is kept,there is a flaming and bright light that surpasses every degree oflight in heaven that is outside of it. The cause is the same as abovementioned; it is that the Lord is in the Word.74. The wisdom of the celestial angels surpasses that of thespiritual angels almost as much as this surpasses the wisdom ofmen, and the reason is that the celestial angels are in the good oflove from the Lord, while the spiritual angels are in truths ofwisdom from him, and wherever there is the good of love there