Heaven and Hell #122
122. To the angels the sun of the world appears like a dense darkness opposite to the sun of heaven, and the moon like a darkness opposite to the moon of heaven, and this constantly; and for the reason that the world's fieriness corresponds to the love of self, and the light from it corresponds to what is false from that love; and the love of self is the direct opposite of the Divine love; and what is false from that love is the direct opposite of the Divine truth; and the opposite of the Divine love and the Divine truth is to the angels thick darkness. Therefore, in the Word, to worship the sun and moon of this world and bow down to them, signifies to love self and the falsities that spring from the love of self, and it is said that such would be cut off. (Deuteronomy 4:19; Deuteronomy 16:3-5; Jeremiah 8:1, 2; Ezekiel 8:15, 16, 18; Revelation 16:8; Matthew 13:6). 1
Fusnotat:
1. [Swedenborg's footnote] The sun of the world is not seen by the angels, but in its place something dark behind, opposite to the sun of heaven or the Lord (Arcana Coelestia 7078, 9755).
In the opposite sense the sun signifies the love of self (2441); and in this sense "to worship the sun" signifies to worship what is contrary to heavenly love or to the Lord (2441, 10584).
To those in the hells the sun of heaven is thick darkness (2441).
