Inner Meaning

From This point on, the term Lord is used in only one way: to refer to the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ; and the name “Lord” is used without any additions.

He is acknowledged and revered as Lord throughout heaven because he possesses all power in heaven and on earth.

He also commanded this when he said, “You address me as ‘Lord.’ You speak correctly, because so I am” (John 13:13). And his disciples called him Lord after the resurrection.

In the whole of heaven no one knows of any other Father than the Lord, since the Father and the Lord are one. As himself said:

“I am the way and the truth and life.” Philip says, “Show us your Father.” Jesus says to him, “After all the time I’ve spent with you, don’t you know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen my Father. How then can you say, ‘Show us your Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in my Father and my Father in me? Believe me, that I am in my Father and My Father is in me.” (John 14:6,8,9,10,11)

From Secrets of Heaven, Volume 1 (Sections 14,15)

Will and Understanding

We have two abilities that make up our life, one called will and the other understanding. They are distinguishable, but they are created to be one. When they are one, they are called mind; so they are the human mind, and it is there the entirety of our life is truly to be found.

Just as all things in universe (those that agree with the divine design)trace their origin back to goodness and truth, so everything in us traces its origin back to our will and understanding. This is because whatever good we have depends on our will and whatever truth we have depends on our understanding. These two faculties, these twin living parts of us, receive and are acted upon by what is good and true: our will receives and is acted upon by everything that is good, and our understanding receives and is acted upon by everything that is true.

Goodness and truth can be found nowhere else in us but in these faculties.

from Regeneration, Spiritual Growth and How It Works

Sacred Scripture or the Word

Some people love the Lord’s word and live a kind and charitable life. Others believe what it says in a simple-hearted way, without making assumptions that undermine the religious truth of its inner meaning. When the Word is read by either kind of person, it is displayed by the Lord before angel’s eyes with tremendous beauty and charm, accompanied by visual representations and adapted with inexpressible variety to every phase they are then passing through.

The beauty and charm are so great that every single facet is perceived as alive. This vital energy is the life that lies within the Word and that gave birth to the Word when it was sent down from heaven. For this reason, the Lord’s Word by its very nature conceals spiritual and heavenly messages within, no matter how unpolished it seems in the letter.

This inner messages lie open to the view of good spirits and of angels when people on earth read the Word.

from Secrets of Heaven, Volume 2 (section 1767)

Notes: Emanuel Swedenborg died on this date, March 29, 1772, 244 years ago.