Arcana Coelestia #59
59. The reason only edible and green plants are mentioned here as food for the natural man is this: While a person is being regenerated and becoming spiritual he is involved constantly in conflict, which is why the Lord's Church is called militant. For before regeneration started, evil desires were in control, since the whole person consisted entirely of evil desires and resulting falsities. During the process of regeneration his desires and falsities cannot be done away with instantly, since that would amount to destroying the whole person; indeed he has not acquired any other life for himself. So for a long time evil spirits are left with him to activate his desires, and so release them in countless ways. Indeed the spirits are left there to do this in order that those desires may be turned by the Lord towards something good, and in this way the person may be reformed. In the hour of conflict evil spirits are present who absolutely hate everything that is good and true, that is, every element of love and faith in the Lord - elements that alone are good and true because they contain eternal life. These evil spirits leave a person with no other food than that which is compared to edible and green plants. But the Lord gives him a food as well that is compared to the plant yielding seed and to the tree in which there is fruit. These are periods of peace and calm attended by their forms of delight and happiness. This cycle occurs repeatedly.
[2] If the Lord did not protect man moment by moment, and in every shortest instant, he would immediately perish, for there is such murderous hatred reigning in the world of spirits against all forms of love and faith in the Lord as to defy description. I can positively declare that this is so, because for several years now, although still in the [physical] body, I have also been in the next life in the company of spirits. I have been surrounded by evil spirits, even the worst of them, sometimes by thousands, who have been allowed to pour out their venom and molest me in every possible way, but who nevertheless could do no harm to the tiniest hair on my head, so well did the Lord protect me. From all these years of experience I have become thoroughly informed about the character of the world of spirits and also about the conflict which people who are being regenerated must inevitably undergo if they are to attain the happiness of eternal life. But because nobody from just a general description can be so well informed as to have a faith free from doubt, these matters in the Lord's Divine mercy will therefore be noted in greater detail later on.
Acts 4
1
And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
2
Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3
And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
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Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
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And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
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And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
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And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
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Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
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If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
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Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
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This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
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Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
13
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
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And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
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But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
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Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
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But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
18
And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
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But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
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For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
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So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
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For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
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And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
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And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
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Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
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The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
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For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
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For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
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And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
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By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
31
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
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And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
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And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
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Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
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And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
36
And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
37
Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
