Arcana Coelestia # 1786
1786. That 'a vision' means inmost revelation, which is an accompaniment of perception, becomes clear from the nature of visions, in that these take shape each one in accordance with the state of the beholder. A vision appearing to those whose interiors are closed takes an entirely different shape from a vision to those whose interiors are open. For example, when the Lord appeared to the whole congregation on Mount Sinai, that appearing was a vision which was different for the people from what it was for Aaron, and was different for Aaron from what it was for Moses; and a vision for the prophets was different again from what it was for Moses. Many kinds of visions are possible, which will in the Lord's Divine mercy be spoken about later on. Visions are more perfect the more interior they are. With the Lord they were the most perfect of all, because at that time He had a perception of all things in the world of spirits and in the heavens, and had direct communication with Jehovah. This communication is represented, and in the internal sense is meant, by the vision in which Jehovah appeared to Abram.
Genesis 15
1
After these things the word of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Don't be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."
2
Abram said, "Lord Yahweh, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?"
3
Abram said, "Behold, to me you have given no seed: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir."
4
Behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir, but he who will come forth out of your own body will be your heir."
5
Yahweh brought him outside, and said, "Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." He said to Abram, "So shall your seed be."
6
He believed in Yahweh; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.
7
He said to him, "I am Yahweh who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it."
8
He said, "Lord Yahweh, how will I know that I will inherit it?"
9
He said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon."
10
He brought him all of these, and divided them in the middle, and laid each half opposite the other; but he didn't divide the birds.
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The birds of prey came down on the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.
12
When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. Now terror and great darkness fell on him.
13
He said to Abram, "Know for sure that your seed will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred years.
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I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth,
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but you will go to your fathers in peace. You will be buried in a good old age.
16
In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full."
17
It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.
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In that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your seed I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates:
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the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites,
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the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,
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the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites."
