1. Dat het Woord van het Oude Testament verborgenheden van de hemel bevat, en dat zowel het geheel als elke bijzonderheid daarvan op de Heer betrekking heeft, op Zijn hemel, op de Kerk, op het geloof en de dingen van het geloof, kan geen sterveling uit de letter opmaken. Uit de letter of uit de letterlijke zin ziet niemand iets anders, dan dat het in het algemeen gaat over de uiterlijke dingen van de Joodse Kerk, terwijl er overal een innerlijke zin is, dat nergens in het uiterlijke aan het licht komt, behalve dan het zeer weinige dat de Heer onthuld heeft en aan de apostelen heeft ontvouwd; zo bijvoorbeeld, dat de offeranden de Heer betekenen, het land Kanaän en Jeruzalem en ook het Paradijs, de hemel betekenen, waarom dan ook van het hemelse Kanaän en Jeruzalem gesproken wordt.

Ouvir o áudio em uma nova janela

This week we introduce a new filter into the program which is, "Is it useful?" Something can be true, and can even be kind, but not actually useful to say. That's the focus - can we refrain from saying things that aren't actually useful? This filter is important as we try to bring heaven to earth because the Lord's kingdom is a kingdom of uses. Things only exist if they have a use. There are no frivolous creations! When we speak, we too create, so let's make sure the things we create have a purpose.

(Referências: Arcana Coelestia 1, 4730; Ephesians 4:22-29; James 3:1-12; Matthew 12:33-37)

2758. The truth that genuine conjugial love is heaven is represented in the kingdoms of nature, for nothing exists in the whole natural order which is not in some way representative of the Lord's kingdom in general, since the natural kingdom has its entire origin in the spiritual kingdom. That which is without an origin prior to itself is nothing, for nothing exists without connection from a cause and so from an end. That which is without such connection collapses in an instant and ceases to be anything. This then explains where the representatives of the Lord's kingdom within the kingdoms of nature have their origin. The truth that conjugial love is heaven is evident from the metamorphosis of caterpillars into pupae or chrysalises and then into creatures that fly. For when the time arrives for them to be wedded - which is when they shed their earthly form, or their caterpillar state - they are adorned with wings and become creatures that fly, at which point they are raised up into the air, which is their heaven. In the air they play together, make marriages, lay eggs, and are nourished by the juices from flowers. At that time also they exist in their beauty, for their wings are tinged with gold, silver, and other lovely shades. Such things as these are what the inclination to pair off in marriage produces among such insignificant and tiny creatures.