Arcana Coelestia #24
24. Verse 6 And God said, Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let there be a distinguishing of the waters from the waters.
After the Spirit of God, which is the Lord's mercy, has brought out into the daylight cognitions of truth and good, and has shed the light of dawn to reveal that the Lord does exist, and that He is good itself and truth itself, and that no good or truth exists except from the Lord, a distinction is at that point made between the internal man and the external man, and so between cognitions which reside with the internal man and the facts which belong to the external man. The internal man is called 'an expanse, and the cognitions residing with the internal man are called 'the waters above the expanse', while the facts belonging to the external man are called 'the waters below the expanse'.
[2] Until his regeneration starts a person is not aware of even the existence of the internal man, let alone the identity of the internal man. Submerged in bodily and worldly concerns he imagines there is no difference between the two. Furthermore he has submerged in those same concerns the things that belong to the internal man and has made one thorough obscurity out of things that are distinct and separate. For this reason it is first said, 'Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters', and then, 'Let there be a distinguishing of the waters from the waters', and not a distinguishing of the waters. But this is followed immediately by the statement, Verses 7-8, And God made the expanse and He made a distinction between the waters that were under the expanse and the waters that were above the expanse; and it was so. And God called the expanse Heaven.
[3] The second thing therefore that a person notices when being regenerated is that he is starting to become aware of the existence of the internal man, or that what reside in the internal man are goods and truths which are the Lord's alone. And since the external man during regeneration is such as still imagines that he is the source of the good deeds he performs, or of the truth he utters, and since such a person, by means of them, is led by the Lord to do good and to speak truth as if they were his own, therefore the identification of those under the expanse comes first, and the identification of those above the expanse follows. It is also a heavenly arcanum that the Lord uses those things that are man's own - both his illusions of the senses and his desires - to lead and direct him towards the things that are goods and truths. Every single movement of regeneration is accordingly a progression from evening to morning - from external man to internal, that is, from earth to heaven. This is why the expanse, or internal man, is now called 'heaven'.
1 Corinthians 10
1
Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2
And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3
And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4
And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
5
But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6
Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7
Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8
Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9
Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10
Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
14
Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
15
I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
16
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
17
For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
18
Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the alter?
19
What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
20
But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
21
Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
22
Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
23
All things are lawful for me, but All things are not expedient: All things are lawful for me, but All things edify not.
24
Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
25
Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
26
For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
27
If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
28
But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
29
Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's Conscience?
30
For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
31
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32
Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
33
Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
