Arcana Coelestia volume 6

602 Pages·2009·1.87 MB·English

by  Emanuel Swedenborg

Arcana
Coelestia
The heavenly arcana contained in the
Holy Scripture or Word of the Lord
unfolded, beginning with
the book of Genesis
EMANUEL SWEDENBORG
Volume 6
(Numbers 4229–4953)
Translated from the Original Latin by
John Clowes
Revised and Edited by
John Faulkner Potts
STANDARD EDITION
SWEDENBORG FOUNDATION
West Chester, Pennsylvania
© 2009 Swedenborg Foundation
This version was compiled from electronic files of the
Standard Edition of the Works of Emanuel Swedenborg as
further edited by William Ross Woofenden. Pagination of
this PDF document does not match that of the
corresponding printed volumes, and any page references
within this text may not be accurate. However, most if not
all of the numerical references herein are not to page
numbers but to Swedenborg’s section numbers, which are
not affected by changes in pagination. If this work appears
both separately and as part of a larger volume file, its
pagination follows that of the larger volume in both cases.
This version has not been proofed against the original, and
occasional errors in conversion may remain. To purchase the
full set of the Redesigned Standard Edition of Emanuel
Swedenborg’s works, or the available volumes of the latest
translation (the New Century Edition of the Works of
Emanuel Swedenborg), contact the Swedenborg Foundation
at 1-800-355-3222, www.swedenborg.com, or 320 North
Church Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania 19380.
Contents
Editor’s Preface
Genesis 32
The Last Judgment
Genesis 32
The Grand Man and Correspondence
Genesis 33
The Last Judgment
Genesis 33
The Grand Man and Correspondence
Genesis 34
The Last Judgment
Genesis 34
The Grand Man and Correspondence
Genesis 35
The Last Judgment
Genesis 35
The Grand Man and Correspondence
Genesis 36
The Last Judgment
Genesis 36
The Grand Man and Correspondence
Genesis 37
The Last Judgment
Genesis 37
The Grand Man and Correspondence
Genesis 38
The Last Judgment
Genesis 38
The Grand Man and Correspondence
Critical Notes
ARCANA COELESTIA 2965
Editor’s Preface
This edition of Arcana Coelestia is based on the translation of J.
Clowes and his revisers, as further revised by J. F. Potts. The text
for this edition was electronically scanned from the Foundation’s
Standard Edition. This process has allowed the book to be
completely redesigned and set in a new and more readable typeface.
Certain stylistic changes have also been introduced. These include
modernized spelling and punctuation as well as substituting new
words for terms whose meanings have become obscure or have
changed since the nineteenth century. Arabic numerals have
replaced roman numerals in Bible passages, and certain capitalized
words, including pronouns referring to God, have been lowercased
to reflect contemporary usage. All these changes have been carefully
made in order to make the book easier to read and use while
preserving the dignity and power of the original Latin. On the
whole, however, the Clowes/Potts translation has not been
materially altered.
Volume 6 of Arcana Coelestia continues Swedenborg’s verse-by-
verse exposition, or commentary, of the biblical text of the book of
Genesis. As was the custom in his day, Swedenborg referred to the
Psalms as the book of David, and to the Pentateuch (Genesis,
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) as the books of
Moses. In this volume Swedenborg also continues his practice of
inserting topical articles or “continuation” passages between each
chapter of the textual exegesis. The page number of the start of
each of these continuations is listed in the table of contents.
The reader may also wish to read the “Prefatory Notes by the
Reviser” in the first volume of this work, as it contains further
details about the publishing history of this first and largest of
Swedenborg’s theological works. It also discloses a critical decision
made by Potts regarding his translating of the several words used by
Swedenborg to refer to “knowledge.” The reader needs to know
that this translation pattern was not followed by other translators of
Swedenborg.
ARCANA COELESTIA 2966
As with previous printings, the bold numerals in brackets ([2],
[3], etc.) indicate divisions of Swedenborg’s longer numbered
sections that were added for the convenience of the reader by John
Faulkner Potts in his six-volume Swedenborg Concordance (London:
Swedenborg Society, 1888–1902).
William Ross Woofenden
Sharon, Massachusetts
ARCANA COELESTIA 2967
Genesis 32
THE LAST JUDGMENT
4229. In volume 31 a commencement was made with the
explication of the Lord’s predictions in the twenty-fourth chapter
of Matthew concerning the last judgment, the explication being
prefixed to the last chapters of that volume, and being continued as
far as the thirty-first verse of the chapter in the evangelist just
referred to (see n. 3353–3356, 3486–3489, 3650–3655,
3897–3901, 4056–4060). The internal sense in a summary of these
predictions of the Lord plainly appears from the explications
already given, namely, that prediction is there made concerning the
successive vastation of the church, and the ultimate setting up of a
new church, in the following order:
1. That the members of the church would begin not to know
what good and truth are, and would dispute about them.
2. That they would hold them in contempt.
3. That at heart they would not acknowledge them.
4. That they would profane them.
5. And because the truth of faith and the good of charity would
still remain with some, who are called the “elect,” a description
is given of the state of the faith as it then existed.
6. Next of the state of the charity.
7. And finally the commencement of a new church is treated
of, which is meant by the words that were last explained:
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He shall send forth his angels with a trumpet and a great voice, and
they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the end of
the heavens even to the end thereof (Matt. 24:31),
by which is meant the commencement of a new church (see n.
4060e).
4230. When the end of an old church and the beginning of a
new church is at hand, then is the last judgment. This is the time
that is meant in the Word by the “Last Judgment” (see n.
2117–2133, 3353, 4057), and also by the “coming of the son of
man.” It is this very coming that is now the subject before us, as
referred to in the question addressed to the Lord by the disciples:
Tell us when shall these things be, especially what is the sign of thy
coming, and of the consummation of the age? (Matt. 24:3).
It remains therefore to unfold the things predicted by the Lord
concerning this very time of his coming and of the consummation
of the age which is the last judgment; but in the preface to this
chapter only those contained in verses 32 to 35:
Now learn a parable from the fig tree. When her branch is now
become tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that the summer is
nigh. So also ye, when ye see all these things, know that it is nigh, even
at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away
till all these things be accomplished. Heaven and earth shall pass away,
but my words shall not pass away (Matt. 24:32–35).
The internal sense of these words is as follows.
4231. Now learn a parable from the fig tree. When her branch is
now become tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that the summer
is nigh;
signifies the first of a new church; the “fig tree” is the good of the
natural; her “branch” is the affection of this; and the “leaves” are
truths. The “parable from which they should learn” is that these
things are signified. He who is not acquainted with the internal
sense of the Word, cannot possibly know what is involved in the
ARCANA COELESTIA 2969
comparison of the Lord’s coming to a fig tree and its branch and
leaves; but as all the comparisons in the Word are also significative
(n. 3579), it may be known from this signification what is meant.
A “fig tree” wherever mentioned in the Word signifies in the
internal sense the good of the natural (n. 217); that her “branch” is
the affection of this is because affection springs forth from good as
a branch from its trunk; and that “leaves” are truths may be seen
above (n. 885). From all this it is now evident what the parable
involves, namely, that when a new church is being created by the
Lord, there then appears first of all the good of the natural, that is,
good in the external form together with its affection and truths. By
the good of the natural is not meant the good into which man is
born, or which he derives from his parents, but a good which is
spiritual in respect to its origin. Into this no one is born, but is led
into it by the Lord through the knowledges of good and truth.
Therefore until a man is in this good (that is, in spiritual good), he
is not a man of the church, however much from a good that is born
with him he may appear to be so.
[2] So also ye, when ye see all these things, know that it is nigh,
even at the doors;
signifies that when those things appear which are signified in the
internal sense by the words spoken just before (verses 29–31), and
by these concerning the fig tree, then it is the consummation of the
church, that is, the last judgment, and the coming of the Lord;
consequently that the old church is then being rejected, and a new
one is being set up. It is said, “at the doors,” because the good of
the natural and its truths are the first things which are insinuated
into a man when he is being regenerated and is becoming the
church.
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all
these things be accomplished;
signifies that the Jewish nation shall not be extirpated like other
nations, for the reason shown above (n. 3479).
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[3] Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass
away;
signifies that the internals and the externals of the former church
would perish, but that the Word of the Lord would abide. (That
“heaven” is the internal of the church, and “earth” its external, may
be seen above, n. 82, 1411, 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118, 3355e). By
the Lord’s “words” are plainly meant not only these now spoken
respecting his coming and the consummation of the age, but also
all that are in the Word. These words were said immediately after
what was said about the Jewish nation, because that nation was
preserved for the sake of the Word, as may be seen from the
number already cited (n. 3479). From all this it is now evident that
the beginnings of a new church are here foretold.
GENESIS 32
1. And Jacob went to his way, and the angels of God ran to meet
him.
2. And Jacob said when he saw them, This is the camp of God; and
he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
3. And Jacob sent messengers before him, to Esau his brother unto the
land of Seir, the field of Edom.
4. And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye say unto my lord
Esau: Thus saith thy servant Jacob, I have sojourned with Laban, and
have tarried until now.
5. And I had ox and ass, flock and manservant and handmaid; and I
send to tell my lord, to find grace in thine eyes.
6. And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy
brother, to Esau, and moreover he cometh to meet thee, and four
hundred men with him.
7. And Jacob feared exceedingly, and was distressed; and he halved
the people that was with him, and the flock, and the herd, and the
camels, into two camps.
8. And he said, If Esau come to the one camp, and smite it, then
there will be a camp left for escape.
9. And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my
father Isaac, O Jehovah, that saith unto me, Return unto thy land, and
to thy birth, and I will do well with thee;