Swedenborgism

[Lois]

Okay so I got the go head to post a thread on Swedenborgism.

I've done very little research on them but from what I do know as of yet it was founded by Emanuel Swedenborg.
He was supposedly a great clairvoyant. His church is called the Church of New Jerusalem.

Swedenborgism claims to represent the only true interpretation of the Bible.

Swedenborg teaches that heaven and hell is a temporal state of mind.

They believe that Jesus was just a man and not God.

They are considered to be a cult.

They also believe that all paths lead to God.

They also supposedly practice umm “conjugal love” or "free love".

They do not believe there is a devil.

They believe in mysticism and mind sciences

This is not everything that I have found that they believe.

This is just a short list to get us started.

[mjmselim]

(06-25-2012 11:31 PM)Lois Wrote:  Okay so I got the go head to post a thread on Swedenborgism.

I've done very little research on them but from what I do know as of yet it was founded by Emanuel Swedenborg.
He was supposedly a great clairvoyant. His church is called the Church of New Jerusalem.

Swedenborgism claims to represent the only true interpretation of the Bible.

Swedenborg teaches that heaven and hell is a temporal state of mind.

They believe that Jesus was just a man and not God.

They are considered to be a cult.

They also believe that all paths lead to God.

They also supposedly practice umm “conjugal love” or "free love".

They do not believe there is a devil.

They believe in mysticism and mind sciences

This is not everything that I have found that they believe.

This is just a short list to get us started.

Thanks Lois. Its fair only to say I am not a follower of Swedenborg, but was greatly influenced by him for several years as I read and considered his claims and doctrines. I did read some of his major works, and listened to several more, using their lending library for 5 years. It has been my habit since my earliest years in Christ to examine others claims from direct contact with them, reading their publications and rejecting others opinions except to guide or warn me toward the truth in Scripture. Emanuel Swedenborg came to my attention as I met certain Christians and theological or religious students. Being ignorant in those days of most of what was outside the Bible I was intrigued to find that his books were in used book stores, which I began to frequent. But it was about 1973 that I chanced upon his Concordance that I took note of his peculiar place. Ten years later I began to study his writings. Perhaps I should name the books that affected me the most:
1. Arcana Coelestia (Heavenly Secrets): Genesis and Exodus
2. Apocalypse (Book of Revelation) explained... spiritual sense
3. True Christian Religion Containing Universal Theology of New.....
4. His Doctrines, True Worship, Conjugial (not conjugal) Love (True Celestial Marriage), Psychology, Animal Kingdom, Spiritual Relations (Visions, Visitations, Dreams), etc.
I sought to understand and wondered at his heresies. I visited the center and church that came from him. The repudiation of his doctrine was not difficult, but the allurement of the spirit was great. And I found countless misrepresentations of the man and his words.
It is because he truly fathered so much of what is called neo-gnosticism and thence new age that I am willing to discuss his doctrines as it subverts or confuses or contradicts Scripture.
Its late, I must work early during the week, but I will check in at evening and move along with what issues in dialog. Christ alone is Truth in God.

[Lois]

mjmselim,


I've read that Swedenborgism is mainly in Europe but that more and more people are becoming involved with it in the US.

Just to drop a few names here..that I came across.
It's been said in many places on the net that Dr Oz from The Doctor Oz Show says, that "Swedenborg was a major influence on him."

Dr Oz has ties to Oprah,has been linked to Rick Warren and also Joel Osteen.Joel actually appears on his show.(There is a video of it on the site)
If you do a search on Dr Oz's site,you will find, like I did that He and his wife reference Swedenborg's teachings often.Joel Osteen and Rick Warren are also referenced many times on his site.

I wasn't going to post a link but I think maybe I should.I'm not hot linking it, so you would have to copy and paste it to see the results for yourself.

Rick Warren search results on Dr Oz's site--- doctoroz.com/search?q1=Rick+Warren

Joel Osteen's search results on Dr Oz's site--- doctoroz.com/search?q1=Joel+Osteen

Search results of Swedenborg on Dr Oz's site-- doctoroz.com/search?q1=Swedenborg

Just in case someone might think I'm making it up,I thought I would just go ahead and show were I got my info from.


Anyway,I personally had never heard of it until you mentioned it so I had to start looking into it..and all this other stuff came up.
I thought it would be good to show how these guys that are thought to be Christians are linked to and are being influenced by Swedenborg's teachings.

[mjmselim]

(06-26-2012 01:09 PM)Lois Wrote:  mjmselim,


I've read that Swedenborgism is mainly in Europe but that more and more people are becoming involved with it in the US.

Just to drop a few names here..that I came across.
It's been said in many places on the net that Dr Oz from The Doctor Oz Show says, that "Swedenborg was a major influence on him."

Dr Oz has ties to Oprah,has been linked to Rick Warren and also Joel Osteen.Joel actually appears on his show.(There is a video of it on the site)
If you do a search on Dr Oz's site,you will find, like I did that He and his wife reference Swedenborg's teachings often.Joel Osteen and Rick Warren are also referenced many times on his site.

I wasn't going to post a link but I think maybe I should.I'm not hot linking it, so you would have to copy and paste it to see the results for yourself.

Rick Warren search results on Dr Oz's site--- doctoroz.com/search?q1=Rick+Warren

Joel Osteen's search results on Dr Oz's site--- doctoroz.com/search?q1=Joel+Osteen

Search results of Swedenborg on Dr Oz's site-- doctoroz.com/search?q1=Swedenborg

Just in case someone might think I'm making it up,I thought I would just go ahead and show were I got my info from.


Anyway,I personally had never heard of it until you mentioned it so I had to start looking into it..and all this other stuff came up.
I thought it would be good to show how these guys that are thought to be Christians are linked to and are being influenced by Swedenborg's teachings.

It does not surprise me; a book could be written on his influence on major figures in the world since the 1800's; many chapters in biographical works on him records surprising names; example easily recalled are John "Appleseed" Chapman; William Blake; Helen Keller; Immanuel Kant (as critic); John Wesley (love-hate);etc.
Perhaps I could relate his conversion and how that lead to his peculiar place and ways. We are awaiting our 3rd daughter's birth of her first child any minute now; my time seems to be controlled at the moment. The nature of spiritual influences, especially of spirits, is most difficult to trace, and often one does not know that they are infected and captivated by a contender of Christ. I see that John the Apostle was given the place of manifesting love and truth against this spiritual power and attraction. The lines between madness and ministry can be so blurred. I will admit that the Charismatics in some of there extreme groups are snared into a delusion that Swedenborg clearly defines in a most remarkable manner.

[mjmselim]

Well I survived; my daughter after 48 hours by C section had a healthy lively boy; I contracted the flu by driving my other daughters around while they were sick; turned into pneumonia that I am still recovering. Thanks to God and with antibiotics I'll live. I had prepared to post on Swedenborg's conversion and its implications; of course these past 5 days has allowed me to revisit and reread some matters, also to test anew my spirit and understanding. If the Lord overrules I should be able posts tomorrow his confession and experience, and their claim of its merit. Grace.

[Lois]

(07-12-2012 02:22 AM)mjmselim Wrote:  Well I survived; my daughter after 48 hours by C section had a healthy lively boy; I contracted the flu by driving my other daughters around while they were sick; turned into pneumonia that I am still recovering. Thanks to God and with antibiotics I'll live. I had prepared to post on Swedenborg's conversion and its implications; of course these past 5 days has allowed me to revisit and reread some matters, also to test anew my spirit and understanding. If the Lord overrules I should be able posts tomorrow his confession and experience, and their claim of its merit. Grace.

Congratulations on the new arrival!

I'm sorry to hear you and your family have been ill..the flu can be pretty nasty and pneumonia as well.I'll be praying for you.
No rush on posting.I am interested in what you have to say though.

[Vic]

Well, silly me. I previewed my post a few hours ago and must have forgotten to actually post it.

on the new baby boy! Glad your daughter and he are doing well now. So sorry about the illness. It can sure knock a person down for awhile so don't rush trying to get doing more posts. All in good time. Looking forward to reading what you have to share.

[mjmselim]

Congratulations on the new arrival!

I'm sorry to hear you and your family have been ill..the flu can be pretty nasty and pneumonia as well.I'll be praying for you.
No rush on posting.I am interested in what you have to say though.



[/quote]

Thanks Lois and Vic for the heartfelt thoughts. The Doc said today that I cannot go back to the shoeshop till next week, maybe. So If eyes and ears wish me to indulge I'm available.

(The Swedenborg Society, the New Church related to his doctrines, the Royal Academy of Sciences, Stockholm. Sweden, are my primary sources of Swedenborg's writings and doctrines. Their approval of his authentic writings and manuscripts published after his death has guided me in my own interest. Many good biographies and analyzers of his works and life, I restrict myself to one of the most thorough by one outside their fold yet acknowledged as being accurate and complete, namely William White, in his two volume work and revised and combined in the second edition, which is what I use.)

1. He tells us in his old age (83) 1771: ""Since the Lord cannot manifest Himself in person, and yet He has foretold that He would come and establish a New Church, which is the New Jerusalem, it follows, that He will effect this by the instrumentality of a Man, who is able not only to receive the Doctrines of that Church in his Understanding, but also to make them known by the Press." (White)

2. In 1768: "I am aware that many who read these pages will consider them products of my fancy; but I solemnly declare they are not fictions, but truly done and seen, and that I saw what I describe, not in sleep, but in perfect wakefulness." (White, from Conjugial Love Num. 1)

3. In 1749: "Of the Lord's divine mercy, it has been granted me to be constantly and uninterruptedly in company with Spirits and Angels, hearing them converse with each other, and conversing with them. Thus I have heard and seen things in another life which are astonishing, and which have never come to the knowledge of any man, nor entered his imagination." (White, from Arcana Coelestia Num. 5)

4. To the Rev. Thomas Hartley, in 1769, he wrote:
"My sole view in this resignation was, that I might be more at liberty to devote myself to the new function to which the Lord had called me. A higher degree of rank was offered me, but this I declined, lest it should be the occasion of inspiring me with pride." (White)

5. "That the Lord manifested Himself before me His servant, that He appointed me to this office, and afterwards opened the sight of my spirit, and so let me into the Spiritual World, permitting me to see the Heavens and the Hells, and converse with Angels and Spirits, and this continually for many years, I attest in truth; and further, that from the first day of my call to this office, I have never received anything relating to the Doctrines of that Church from any Angel, but from the Lord alone, while I was reading the Word." (White, from True Christian Religion, No. 779.)

6. (Swedenborg writing in third person): ""For many years before his mind was opened and he was enabled to speak with Spirits, there were not only dreams informing him of the matters that were written, but also changes of state when he was writing, and a peculiar extraordinary light in the writings. Afterwards there were many visions when his eyes were shut; light miraculously given; Spirits influencing him as sensibly as if they touched his bodily senses; temptations also from evil Spirits, almost overwhelming him with horror; fiery lights; words spoken in early morning; and many similar events." (White, from Spiritual Diary, No. 2,951)

7.(Swedenborg):"Flames of various sizes and of different colour and splendour were seen by him, and this so often, that for several months when writing a certain work, scarcely a day passed in which there did not appear before him flames as vivid as those of a common fire, which were so many attestations of the truth of what he was writing: and this was before the time when Spirits began to speak with him as man with man." (White, from his Adversaria (Notes) on Genesis and Exodus.)

8. (Swedenborg): (White, from Spiritual Diaries, 1744.)

"24 x 25 March.—I stood beside a machine moved by a wheel. The spokes entangled and forced me upward, and there was no escape.

"25 x 20.—I wanted medicine for my disease. I got a number of pence to buy it with. I took half of them, and selected some from the other half; but gave all back again. The man said he would buy me something for my cure. This signifies my corporeal thoughts as coins wherewith I tried to cure myself; but it was of no use.

"3x4 April.—I appeared to ride off on horseback, and it was shown me whither I should go; but wherever I looked it was dark, and I lost myself in the darkness. It became light, and I perceived I had gone astray. Saw the way I ought to go, through forests and groves, and beyond them the sky. I awoke. Then came thoughts of present and eternal life, and all seemed full of grace. I burst into tears because I had loved Him so little, but rather angered Him continually—He who had led me and at last shown me the path to the kingdom of grace.

"6x7 April.—N.B., N.B., N.B. I went to Delft, and all day continued in deep spiritual thought, deeper and lovelier than I had ever experienced. It was the work of the Spirit .
"Half an hour after I had gone to bed, I heard a tumbling noise under my head. I thought it was the Tempter going away. Immediately a violent trembling came over me from head to foot with a great noise. This happened several times. I felt as if something holy were over me. I then fell asleep, and about twelve, one, or two the tremblings and noise were repeated indescribably. I was prostrate on my face and wide awake. I perceived I was thrown down, and wondered what was meant."

(In what follows we shall understand the Nota Bene set thrice over the entry.)

"I spoke as if awake, but felt these words put into my mouth—
"' Thou almighty Jesus Christ, who by thy great mercy deigns to come to so great a sinner, make me worthy of thy grace.'
"I kept my hands together in prayer, and a hand pressed them firmly. I continued praying, saying—
"' Thou hast promised to have mercy upon all sinners, and thou canst not but keep thy word.'
"At that moment I sat in His bosom and saw Him face to face. It was a face holy and beyond description: He smiled: and I believe His face was like this whilst on earth.
"He asked whether I had a certificate of health. I answered, 'Lord, thou knowest better than I.'—' Do then,' He said, which signified, as far as I could make out, to love Him really, or do what I had vowed. God give me grace to do so! I saw it exceeded my own power, and I awoke trembling.
"Again I came into a state neither sleeping nor waking. I thought, what can this be? Have I seen Christ, God's Son? It would be sinful to doubt, yet we are commanded to try the spirits.
'' I found I had been purified, soothed and protected by the Holy Spirit throughout the night, and that I had fallen on my face and prayed, not from myself, for the words were put into my mouth, and all was holy.
"Wherefore I concluded it was the Son of God who came down with a noise like thunder, who stretched me on the ground, and evoked the prayer.
"So I cried for mercy: I could not utter more: yet afterwards I prayed for love which is Jesus Christ's and not my own.
"All the while tremblings came over me.
"At daybreak I fell asleep, and it came into my mind, how Christ unites himself to mankind. My thoughts were holy and unsearchable: I cannot write what passed: I only generally know I had such thoughts.

"7x8 April.-—Somebody at table asked whether any one could be melancholy who had plenty of money. I laughed inwardly at the question. Had it been addressed to me I should have answered, that one who has abundance may not only be melancholy, but suffer melancholy in the highest degree. I wondered how any one could put such a question.
"I can the better testify on this head, for, by the grace of God, abundance of all I require has been allotted me. I can live in plenty on my income, can accomplish whatever I desire, and have a surplus.
"Saw a bookseller's shop, and thought immediately that my books would do more than others.
"All the while I am in society, and no one sees the least change in me, which is of God's mercy. I am not allowed to speak of the high grace which has fallen to my lot. I perceive it would set people thinking and talking for and against me, and nurture my self-love.

"8x9 April.—A dog appeared on my knee. I wondered because it talked and asked about its former master Swabe. I woke and called on Christ for mercy because of the pride I cherish.

"10x11 April.—I slept upwards of eleven hours, and throughout the morning was in my usual state of inward delight."Iam still weak in mind and body, for I know nothing but my own unworthiness and wretchedness, which torments me.

"13x14.—Saw my sister Hedwig, with whom I would have nothing to do, which signifies that I ought not to busy myself with the Animal Economy, but leave it.
"All day I was in double thoughts, which tried to destroy the spiritual life by scoffing: the temptation was very strong. By the grace of the Spirit I succeeded in fixing my mind on the cross and on Christ crucified. As often as I did so, the double thoughts subsided. God be praised, who gave me such a weapon! May God grant that I may always have my crucified Saviour before my eyes! I dare not look upon my Jesus, Him I had seen, for I am an unworthy sinner."

"14 x 15 April.—I seemed to move quickly down a staircase. I only lightly touched the steps, but reached the bottom safely. There came a voice from my dear father, 'You are creating alarm, Emanuel!' He said it was wrong, but would let it pass. This denotes that yesterday I had made too free use of the cross of Christ.
"Dr. Morsus appeated to be courting a handsome girl. She let him do what he liked with her, and I joked with her because of her easy consent. She was a handsome girl, and grew taller and prettier. This means that I should obtain information and meditate about the muscles.
"I had an extraordinary deep sleep for twelve hours. When I awoke I had the crucified Jesus and His cross before my eyes. The Spirit came with high, holy and ecstatic power and raised me higher and higher, so that had I ascended farther I should have dissolved in joy.

"17 x 18 April.—I had horrible dreams: how an executioner roasted the heads which he had struck off, and hid them one after another in an oven which was never filled. It was said to be his food. He was a big woman who laughed, and had a little girl with her.
"I was now and then in interior anxieties, and sometimes in despair, though assured of the forgiveness of my sins. I slept more than ten hours in the night. By God's grace I have had preternatural sleep throughout the half year.

"18 x 19 April.—I do not know if it be not the highest gift to be kept from meddling with Faith. However the Lord permits some to have intellectual assurances preceding Faith. Happy are they who believe and do not see! This I have clearly written in the Prologue to the Animal Kingdom.

"19 x 20 April.—I rose wholly God's; God be thanked and praised! I will not be my own.

"21 x 22 April.—As to the luxury, riches and honours at which I had aimed, I now think
them empty vanities, and that he is happier who has none of them and lives contented.

"22 x 23 April.—In the morning I had horrid thoughts: the Evil One had got hold of me, yet I had confidence he was outside of me and would let me go. I then fell into damnable thoughts, the worst that could be. At last Jesus Christ was presented to my interior sight,
and the influence of the Holy Spirit came over me, and I knew the Devil had gone away.
"The day after this I was now and then in combat with double thoughts. In the afternoon I was mostly in pleasant spirits and thought of God, though I was in worldly business. I was then travelling to Leyden.

"24 x 25 April.—I was through the whole night, nearly eleven hours, neither asleep nor awake, in a curious trance. I knew I was dreaming, but my thoughts were kept bound, which made me sweat.

"25 x 26 April.—A woman and a man appeared sitting in a boat ready for sail. He had a cap which I took from hira. He led me to a beautiful room where there was some wine. It signifies perhaps that I shall take my work to England."

(Erotic entries are frequent; some so pronounced as to be fit only for a medical journal; which set forth at length, would doom this biography to existence under lock and key in judicious households.) (White))

"26 x 27 April—A married woman desired to possess me, but I preferred an unmarried. She was angry and chased me, but I got hold of the one I liked. I was with her and loved her: perhaps it signifies my thoughts.
"There was a woman with much and beautiful property,in which we walked, and she wished to marry me. It is Piety, and I think also Wisdpm, who owned the estate. I was with her, and showed her my love in the usual way: it appeared to be before marriage.
"It was shown me that I ought not to pollute myself with books concerning Theology and kindred matters; because all this I have in God's Word and from the Holy Spirit.

"30 April x 1 May.—My deceased brother Eliezer appeared to be with me. He was attacked by a boar which laid hold of him and bit him. I tried to drag the boar down with a hook, but was not able. After this I went up and saw him lying between two boars which were eating his head, and he got nobody to help him. I ran past. I believe it signifies that the day before I had indulged too much in eating, and consumed abundantly, which is a work of the flesh and not of the Spirit; it is living like swine, which Paul forbids."

"19 x 20 May.—By several providential leadings, I was brought to the church of the Moravian Brethren, who regard themselves as the true Lutherans. They tell each other they feel the operation of the Holy Spirit, and trust only in the grace of God and the blood and merits of Christ. They are simple-minded in their doings. I shall say more about them another time, for as yet I am not permitted to enter into brotherhood with them. Their church was represented to me three months before, just as I have seen it since, and all the Brethren were dressed as clergymen." (White, from Diary 1744). (( Here Swedenborg met with and interacted with the Moravians and the Methodists and Wesley.....))


If it is desired I would like to touch upon the problems that his followers and any considering Swedenborg in what occured from 1743-1745 in which his conversion took place. There are pages torn out and missing from his Diary, he himself conceals the details of his change, he never set records straight but left it hidden. And of course he must be measured by Scripture in each of the claims and omissions.

[mjmselim]

1. We learn from Swedenborg's own words about his conversion this: That the Lord must use the instrumentality of a special man; that his witness by pen and mouth were truly done and seen in a wakeful state; that of the Lord' mercy he constantly uninterruptedly has been in company with Spirits and Angels, entered another life, never granted any other man; that this new function made other vocations not desirable; that the Lord manifested Himself Swedenborg His servant, that He appointed him to this office, and afterwards opened the sight of his spirit, and let into the Spiritual World, to see the Heavens and the Hells, and converse with Angels and Spirits, and this continually for many years, in truth; and that from the first day of his call to this office, he never received anything relating to the Doctrines of that Church from any Angel, but from the Lord alone, while reading the Word; For many years before his mind was opened and he was enabled to speak with Spirits, there were not only dreams informing him of the matters that were written, but also changes of state when he was writing, and a peculiar extraordinary light in the writings. Afterwards there were many visions when his eyes were shut; light miraculously given; Spirits influencing him as sensibly as if they touched his bodily senses; temptations also from evil Spirits, almost overwhelming him with horror; fiery lights; words spoken in early morning; and many similar events. Flames of various sizes and of different colour and splendour were seen by him, and this so often, that for several months when writing a certain work, scarcely a day passed in which there did not appear before him flames as vivid as those of a common fire, which were so many attestations of the truth of what he was writing: and this was before the time when Spirits began to speak with him as man with man. He went to Delft, all day continued in deep spiritual thought, deeper and lovelier than he had ever experienced. It was the work of the Spirit ."Half an hour after he had gone to bed, he heard a tumbling noise under his head. He thought it was the Tempter going away. Immediately a violent trembling came over him from head to foot with a great noise.
This happened several times. he felt as if something holy were over him. He then fell asleep, and about twelve, one, or two the tremblings and noise were repeated indescribably. He was prostrate on his face and wide awake. he perceived he was thrown down, and wondered what was meant.
He describes his experiences:
"I spoke as if awake, but felt these words put into my mouth—
"' Thou almighty Jesus Christ, who by thy great mercy deigns to come to so great a sinner,
make me worthy of thy grace.'
"I kept my hands together in prayer, and a hand pressed them firmly. I continued praying,
saying—
"' Thou hast promised to have mercy upon all sinners, and thou canst not but keep thy word.'
"At that moment I sat in His bosom and saw Him face to face. It was a face holy and beyond description: He smiled: and I believe His face was like this whilst on earth.
"He asked whether I had a certificate of health. I answered, 'Lord, thou knowest better than
I.'—' Do then,' He said, which signified, as far as I could make out, to love Him really, or do what I had vowed. God give me grace to do so! I saw it exceeded my own power, and I awoke trembling.
"Again I came into a state neither sleeping nor waking. I thought, what can this be? Have I seen Christ, God's Son? It would be sinful to doubt, yet we are commanded to try the spirits.
'' I found I had been purified, soothed and protected by the Holy Spirit throughout the night, and that I had fallen on my face and prayed, not from myself, for the words were put into my mouth, and all was holy.
"Wherefore I concluded it was the Son of God who came down with a noise like thunder, who stretched me on the ground, and evoked the prayer.
"So I cried for mercy: I could not utter more: yet afterwards I prayed for love which is Jesus Christ's and not my own.
"All the while tremblings came over me.
"At daybreak I fell asleep, and it came into my mind, how Christ unites himself to mankind. My thoughts were holy and unsearchable: I cannot write what passed: I only generally know I had such thoughts.
Somebody at table asked whether any one could be melancholy who had plenty of money. I laughed inwardly at the question. Had it been addressed to me I should have answered, that one who has abundance may not only be melancholy, but suffer melancholy in the highest degree. I wondered how any one could put such a question.
"I can the better testify on this head, for, by the grace of God, abundance of all I require has been allotted me. I can live in plenty on my income, can accomplish whatever I desire, and have a surplus.
"Saw a bookseller's shop, and thought immediately that my books would do more than others.
"All the while I am in society, and no one sees the least change in me, which is of God's mercy. I am not allowed to speak of the high grace which has fallen to my lot. I perceive it would set people thinking and talking for and against me, and nurture my self-love.
I woke and called on Christ for mercy because of the pride I cherish.
I slept upwards of eleven hours, and throughout the morning was in my usual state of inward delight. "I am still weak in mind and body, for I know nothing but my own unworthiness and wretchedness, which torments me. which signifies that I ought not to busy myself with the Animal Economy, but leave it.
By the grace of the Spirit I succeeded in fixing my mind on the cross and on Christ crucified. As often as I did so, the double thoughts subsided. God be praised, who gave me such a weapon! May God grant that I may always have my crucified Saviour before my eyes! I dare not look upon my Jesus, Him I had seen, for I am an unworthy sinner.
This means that I should obtain information and meditate about the muscles. "I had an extraordinary deep sleep for twelve hours. When I awoke I had the crucified Jesus and His cross before my eyes. The Spirit came with high, holy and ecstatic power and raised me higher and higher, so that had I ascended farther I should have dissolved in joy.......

2. Swedenborg reveals that from 1742- 1772 for 30 years he was prepared and called by the Lord and commissioned to the new office as the Lord's Srvant of a Seer and Prophet of a New Church, New Jerusalem, and New World. Born in 1688 was engaged in many scientific and philosophical research and investigations, especially Human Anatomy, in a feverish and desperate quest for the Soul which called the Animal from Latin Anima. That in his mid fifties he was celebrated with the Swedish government and throne, and was employed full and later part time as Assessor of the Mines. He was universal in his education and metaphysical in interests. He was proficient in Latin, almost equal to his Swedish, and published most his works first in Latin, and many unpublished works in manuscripts published posthumously. He could read and write and speak in French, German, and could read in English and a few other languages. His Greek was good but far below Latin, Hebrew he learned in his fifties and never mastered it.

3. Swedenborg was engaged in the search for the soul when he wrote and published the Economy of the Animal Kingdom (Kingdom of the Soul); and while finishing it began anew to write the Animal Kingdom (Soul's Realm), which he first began to lean towards theology and mixing it with his metaphysics. Here too his Rational Psychology took form in his conversion. At this furious pace in reading and writing he wrote his metaphysical-theological little book in three parts titled the Worship and Love of God. Here he abandons all these pursuits to devote himself to Bible and Theology.

4. We must note his writings that lead to his new office; and examine the missing segments of his conversion story, and the new methods he used to shape his message and views, all of course briefly.

Off to work to see if I can handle it.

[Lois]

It sounds like a big mess.He was spirit channeling and it sounds like he allowed himself to be used for automatic writing.(?)

Yikes!