156. And endurance. That this signifies conjunction with the external, and in such case combat is evident from the signification of endurance when said of those who are in the internal and external of the church, who are here treated of, as denoting the conjunction of the internal with the external, and then combat. The reason why this is signified by endurance is, that the conjunction of the internal with the external, or of the spiritual man with the natural, is effected by means of temptations, otherwise they are not conjoined; therefore the combat by which that conjunction is effected, because a man then suffers and sustains it, is signified by endurance. (That the internal man is conjoined with the external by means of temptations, which are spiritual combats, may be seen in Arcana Coelestia 10685; and in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 190, 194, 199.)

194. Crises of the spirit help goodness in us gain control over evil and truth gain control over falsity. They help reinforce truths and join them to goodness and at the same time shatter evils and the falsities that arise from them. They also serve to open our inner, spiritual self and bring our earthly self under its control, break up our love for ourselves and for the world, and tame the cravings that arise from them.

Once this has been done, we come into enlightenment and gain a perception of what is true and what is good, and of what is false and what is evil. This gives us intelligence and wisdom, which then keep growing day by day.