From Swedenborg's Works

 

Doctrine of the Lord #2

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2. Specifically, the Word meant here is the same Word that was given through Moses and the Prophets, and the Evangelists, as can be clearly seen from the fact that it embodies the very same Divine truth from which angels acquire all their wisdom, and from which people acquire their spiritual intelligence. For this same Word that people have in the world is also the one that angels have in heaven. Only the one people have in the world is natural, while in heaven it is spiritual.

So, because it embodies Divine truth, it embodies the emanating Divinity as well. And this Divinity not only emanates from the Lord, but also embodies the Lord Himself.

Because it embodies the Lord Himself, therefore He alone is the subject in each and every thing written in the Word. From Isaiah to Malachi not one thing is to be found that does not have to do with the Lord, or in an opposite sense, something opposed to Him.

[2] The reality of this is something no one has yet seen, but it is nevertheless possible for everyone to see it, provided he is aware of it, and when reading gives thought to it, and if he knows moreover that the Word contains not only a natural sense but also a spiritual one, and that the names of persons and places in the natural sense symbolize something connected with the Lord, and so something having to do with heaven and the church received from Him, or something opposed to them.

Since each and every thing in the Word has to do with the Lord, and the Word is the Lord because it embodies Divine truth, it is clear why we are told, “And the Word...became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory.” Also why we are told, “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be children of light.... I have come as a light into the world; whoever believes in Me does not abide in darkness.” The light is Divine truth, thus the Word.

As a result, everyone, even at this day, who turns to the Lord alone when he reads the Word, and prays to Him, is enlightened as regards it.

  
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Published by the General Church of the New Jerusalem, 1100 Cathedral Road, Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania 19009, U.S.A. A translation of Doctrina Novae Hierosolymae de Domino, by Emanuel Swedenborg, 1688-1772. Translated from the Original Latin by N. Bruce Rogers. ISBN 9780945003687, Library of Congress Control Number: 2013954074.

The Bible

 

John 1:14

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14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #1155

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1155. 'The sons of Javan' means others again with whom there existed external worship derived from the worship existing with the nation Javan. This in like manner becomes clear in the Prophets where they are named in connection with real things and mean nothing other than those things. The reason the sons of Gomer and the sons of Javan are named, but not the rest of the seven mentioned in verse 2, is that the sons of the one have reference to the branch of spiritual things, and the sons of the other to the branch of celestial things. The fact that 'the sons of Gomer' has reference to the branch of spiritual things is clear from the places in the Prophets quoted just above, while the fact that 'the sons of Javan' has reference to the branch of celestial things will be evident from what follows. The branch of spiritual things differs from that of celestial through this - that spiritual have regard to truths of faith but celestial to the goods of faith which are the expressions of charity. Although the world is totally ignorant of these differences they are nevertheless very well known in heaven, not only indeed as regards general but also as regards specific differences. In heaven not the smallest difference exists which is not distinct and separate within a perfect ordering. The world knows only of the existence of forms of worship, and the fact that these vary from one another. And even then it knows only of differences in externals. In heaven however the very differences themselves which are countless are plain to see, and indeed the internal nature of them.

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