The Bible

 

Genesis 12:5

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5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went to go forth into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Coronis (An Appendix to True Christian Religion) #48

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48. But it is impossible for man to acknowledge God, or anything pertaining to Him, unless God had manifested Himself in a Personal Human Form; for the Nature of the world surrounds him, and he does not see, feel or breathe anything but what is from it and in contact with the organs of his body. From this his mind conceives and adopts a Rational which lies in the interior bosom of Nature, as an embryo in the womb; nor does it see anything until it struggles forth, and receives sight. How, then, can a man in this state by any method look through Nature, and acknowledge anything that is above her - as is everything Divine, heavenly and spiritual, and hence everything religious, which in themselves are above natural things? Wherefore it is an absolute necessity that God should manifest Himself, and thereby cause Himself to be acknowledged, and after acknowledgment should inspire man with His Divine spirit, and by this received in the heart lead him, even at length to Himself in heaven; which cannot possibly be effected except by instruction. Must not also an emperor, or a king, first cause himself to be acknowledged and crowned, before he enters on his government? And before he is crowned, is he not provided with the insignia of authority, robed and anointed? and must he not bind the people to himself by agreed compacts, sworn to by both sides, whereby the people become the king's, and the king the people's? Must not a bridegroom first cause himself to be seen, before he proposes betrothal, and afterwards marriage? Must not a father present himself before his babe, and embrace and kiss him, before the babe can say, "Abba, father?" and so in other cases. Still more must the Lord Jehovih, who is King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 17:14), the Bridegroom and Husband of the Church (Rev. 21:9), and consequently the Father of all her offspring. By the "Lord Jehovih" is meant the Lord our Saviour and Redeemer: He is called the "Lord Jehovih" in Daniel, and in the Prophets again and again.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.

The Bible

 

Revelation 21:9

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9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, who were loaded with the seven last plagues came, and he spoke with me, saying, "Come here. I will show you the wife, the Lamb's bride."