The Meaning of Noah and the Flood
By OffTheLeftEye Staff
Is the Noah’s Ark story in the book of Genesis really about God destroying creation? A spiritual Bible interpretation of the story reveals its true meaning.
In this video, host Curtis Childs guides us through the revelations about the Old Testament parable that eighteenth-century philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg had during his spiritual experiences. Swedenborg’s perspectives transcend literal interpretations to provide a hopeful lesson about salvation. While it may seem like the Bible story is about God destroying creation, Swedenborg’s spiritual perspectives suggest that it symbolizes God’s still-ongoing efforts to save us from self-destruction.
Arcana Coelestia #907
907. Verse 17 Every wild animal of all flesh that is with you - birds, and beasts, and every creeping thing that creeps over the earth - bring out with you, and let them spread out into the earth and be fruitful, and multiply over the earth.
'Every wild animal of all flesh that is with you' means everything that has been made living within the member of this Church. Here, as previously, 'birds' means things of his understanding and 'beasts' those of his will, both of which belong to the internal man. 'Every creeping thing that creeps over the earth' means corresponding things of a like nature residing with the external man. 'Bring out with you' means their state of freedom. 'And let them spread out into the earth' means the action of the internal man into the external. 'Be fruitful' means increases in good, 'and multiply' increases in truth. 'Over the earth' means with the external man.