I get this guy. So refreshing. Why did I just learn of his existence? This philosophy or theology makes so much sense, it hangs together so well in such a precise and self evident way that it astounds and delights me. But it is weird in that listening to these videos is making me feel like the top of my head is on fire. I've experienced my share of odd spiritual things in my life, but this is new.
I am new to the study of Swedenborg so please don't think I am trying to be "Offensive". ( I watched October 3rd 2016 live streaming broadcast and chuckled at the ' OFFENSIVE stamp that came on the screen. . Newscasters should use that stamp for all of the Political broadcastings lol ) This is very Interesting and perplexing... From traditional biblical teachings.. Angels were created before mankind and they were never human. In Colossians 1:15-16, Jesus Christ created the visible and invisible world including angels and powerful establishments in both visible and invisible worlds as "thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities." Not trying to be argumentative.. just very confused about how Angels, if they were once human..________________ uhh my mind is blank trying to do the math to bridge the gap . So.. . Quantum leap point.! There must have been a time when humans were on the earth and there were no Angels YET. . If all Angels were once human. That would mean that they would have had to live on the earth as a human and die a human death. So at one time.. Heaven was without Angels. I do understand the metaphysical analogy of the inner kingdoms' Heart and Lungs.. Government in the Body as well as government in the Heaven(s) ... Makes so much sense to me since the body is the Temple of God ....and Man( kind) was made in the Image of God. Pondering.. Thank you for your work.
I had a translator tell me last night that I am an angel for helping the person he was translating for. I have to say it was the best compliment ever. Every opportunity to help someone in need is an opportunity to be that person's angel for the day.
I'm always too late in catching up with offTheLeftEye but DAMN I love this channel! I also admit that I'm slightly envious of everyone involved with the Swedenborg Foundation. Spreading ideas that pave the way for good truth, especially with respect to God, is one of my more prominent passions in life - and this foundation is very satisfying for that reason. :) Thanks guys.
It's so great to hear from you! I really appreciate your encouraging message, and of course we are beyond grateful to be doing this work! It sounds like you're passionate about doing the same. I hope we have the chance to connect more in the future!
Absolutely, Ruth, I agree with you! You might like, "How to Get a Home in Heaven," th-cam.com/video/vpAA1tByZXw/w-d-xo.html or "How to Upgrade Your Spiritual Neighborhood," th-cam.com/video/ktYO9l6spHA/w-d-xo.html Both episodes discuss similar ideas - how we create our own reality, spiritually and literally in this life and the next! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, very powerful stuff! God bless!
I have felt for several years that there was a battle going on for my soul every day. Every decision we make is the right one, or the wrong one, and we know which is which. That's precisely why free will is so important. We willingly choose our fate, step by step. Thank you and your team for all that you do.
I'm a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, usually referred to as Mormon. I haven't finished watching this video yet but am intrigued that the 3 levels of heaven are mentioned. We refer to them as the telestial, terrestrial, and the highest as the celestial. I'm grateful to have stumbled upon this video series because I have never heard of Swedenborg. The concepts are interesting to say the least. I grew up learning about Edgar Cayce and am completely convinced of his teachings. I look forward to watching more of this series to see if there are more correlations with my beliefs. As long as the teachings are of love, it is of God.
Good episode. Thank you Curtis🙂……A lot of people I talk to today seem to think we are experiencing the first symptoms of the last days ( Revelation) when the earth resets and repairs itself due to the many factors of this age. Presently, the world looks like it’s a balance between good and evil with each person taking a direction or making a choice. Overpopulation, climate change, viral pandemics and the destruction of the environment, are only just a few of the problems we are facing in the present time. I only hope we choose the right direction instead of the opposite road. We can’t hide our hearts from the angels. Personally, choosing the right path is important. I think prayer 🙏 can help a great deal.❤️🙂🙂
@@offTheLeftEye Yes, I hope so too! 🙂Life can be challenging enough, inside and even outside of our lives. Keeping the faith is especially important today❤️❤️🙂👍
@@julianbristow4793 it certainly is! But worth the effort. Melissa here, and I'd like to share one of my favorite quotes from Swedenborg (sorry if I've shared this before!): "Those who trust in the Divine… are not anxious, let alone worried, when they give thought to the morrow. They remain even-tempered whether or not they realize desires, and they do not grieve over loss; they are content with their lot… They know that for those who trust in the Divine, all things are moving towards an everlasting state of happiness, and that no matter what happens at any time to them, it contributes to that state. It should be recognized that Divine providence is overall, that is, it is present within the smallest details of all, and that people in the stream of providence are being carried along constantly towards happier things, whatever appearance the means may present. Those in the stream of providence are people who trust in the Divine and ascribe everything to Him." (Swedenborg "Arcana Coelestia" §8478) I can't say I always trust as well as this passage suggests, but I'm working on it. Hope that is inspiring to you too, Julian! God bless!
Go to 11:45 in the video where he says, "...Oh! and to further confuse you, in case you haven't clicked away yet,....." ROFL. I am so glad that this guy (name is Curtis Childs) has a bit of humor. The ideas and writings of Swedenborg are DEEP, just as life is deep and complex - but also simple at other times. Therefore, don't worry if you don't catch all of it on the first pass. Our frame of mind as well as our previous background will often influence our ability to comprehend these teachings. Not to worry; it will start to make general sense after a while if you continue exploring.
Wow! this was profound teaching; I am truly blessed. I have been meditating on Jesus's teaching that the Kingdom is within you. I came across the Gospel of Thomas on the Kingdom is within us: " Jesus said, 3 "If your leaders say to you, 'Look, the (Father's) imperial rule is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. 2 If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. 3 Rather, the (Father's) imperial rule is inside you and outside you. 4 When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are children of the living Father. 5 But if you do not know yourselves, then you live in poverty, and you are the poverty." Now it makes sense how the kingdom is within us. This presentation has impacted my meditation indeed, blessing, blessing and blessing. Amen
Very good, these videos are really helping. I’ve been thinking today along the lines of being involved in the Lord’s Kingdom “NOW” and you just said that 48:06 min into the video. This validation is encouraging. Thanks to all of you for your efforts.
So glad to hear it, +Keith Ducharme! In a week the topic of our show will be How to Create Heaven on Earth. Yes we can be involved now! So glad the content is encouraging to you on your path!
Wow! This was a great presentation which requires the mind to see things from different angles. Profound truths require this. Just as Christians use the Bible as the balance for knowing if something is true, Baha'is use the teachings of Baha'u'llah in the same way. I find that Swedenborg's discoveries are generally in line with Baha'u'llah's Revelation. They agree that souls are grouped in the spiritual world according to mind-set, or spiritual development. I have not seen as much detail in Baha'i writings concerning the organization of the next world as Swedenborg gave, but He gave much more than in the Bible or any other Holy Book. So I give Swedenborg the benefit of the doubt. We are still translating Baha'u'llah's writings from Arabic and Persian, so perhaps more detail is there. Or maybe humanity will develop the ability to see for themselves. Baha'u'llah's emphasis is in transforming human beings and human society in this world, but He did answer people's questions concerning what happens when we die. Swedenborg's discovery of the importance of love and justice in the heavenly worlds sounds like Baha'u'llah. Baha'u'llah even aims to bring this physical world into a closer correspondence with the love and justice of the next world. He abolished any form of clergy and instead created elected institutions which will be known as Houses of Justice, with the Universal House of Justice for the world as a whole now existing on the slopes of Mt. Carmel in Israel. My feeling is that there is but one reality, so it all has to fit together. Swedenborg and Baha'u'llah seem to fit together. Swedenborg described the spiritual world of his time and according to his background. Angels today probably would not be seen using horses to get around. Per the question concerning the need to have a Hell, I think that this just reflects the wide scope of spiritual development. Those close to God are in Heaven and those far from God are in Hell, and we exist in a wide spectrum between these extremes. Even if those in Hell evolve closer to God, the ones in Heaven will also be evolving in the same direction, so there will always be this divide between the more developed and less developed souls. My guess is that the developed souls will be tasked with the duty of helping the less developed souls to progress, and in doing so they in turn will grow spiritually. So each group needs the other in the forward progress of their souls.
Curtis said “Heat is the physical representation of love.” I find this fascinating for two reasons. I just watched Kevin Zadai’s NDE story. He says that when angels and even Jesus visit him, now that he’s back on earth, they stand behind him and he feels tremendous heat-but he knows it’s love. Then there’s all the paranormal experiences of people around the world -when demonic entities enter the room they are in they sometimes feel cold spots. Is that a representation of “hate?” It fits.
Yes, Swedenborg reported that sometimes when evil spirits came near he felt extreme coldness -- a representation of an extreme lack of love and goodness, which results in hatred. That's a powerful affirmation in Zadai's NDE story about the actual sensation of heat that comes from divine and heavenly love! Thanks for sharing that!
If there is suppose to be this balance between good and evil, then things will never get better. Shouldn't good, over time, increase and evil decrease??? Isn't that the goal, good over evil? Anyone have thoughts on this?
Excellent point, Scott. The way I understand it is, ideally the balance would be between a sense of self and a sense of all being connected in God, kind of like the balance between right brain awareness and left brain awareness (as eloquently described by Jill Bolte Taylor in "My Stroke of Insight.") And while on earth, there needs to be a balance between the physical, which acts as a stabilizing basis, and the spiritual, from which comes the life force. These are ways, perhaps, how balance for the sake of freewill will be maintained when humanity collectively chooses good over evil, and evil begins to diminish. And what the balance must have been in the beginning of humanity, before evil took hold.
There's something weird going on with the timing of this video (audio video synch), I don't know if you guys can fix it. I love one of the last notes Curtis finished his presentation with. Heaven (and hell) is constantly changing. God doesn't just provide us with a fulfilling, meaningful life, he provides us with an EXCITING life. It's like a big adventure. Heaven is constantly growing and ES mentions that one of the great joys of Heaven is precisely welcoming new people in and getting everybody where they will live their own amazing life. So we're always meeting new people and growing ourselves even as we help everybody else do so. A quick note about the balance of Heaven and hell. This is a mathematical concept, the idea of infinities of different size. Even though hell could in theory be infinitely large, as large as needed, Heaven always encompasses hell, being not just also infinite but also always larger than hell. As Curtis says the "balance" is not a matter of quantity or mass or anything like that but more a conceptual, arrangement thing.
Fascinating, about the quantities within infinity. It sounds like you understand such things. For me the concept of million vs billion vs trillion is pretty fuzzy. But the notion of everyone living their best life, welcoming newcomers with great joy sounds irresistible. -Lori
Hi Michael -- Here's an excerpt from Swedenborg's "Apocalypse Revealed" (new title, "Revelation Unveiled"), §548, about Gabriel and Michael: "Michael does not mean some archangel, and neither does Gabriel or Raphael, but ministries in heaven are meant. The ministry that is Michael there is performed by people who confirm from the Word that the Lord is God of heaven and earth, that God the Father and the Lord are one as soul and body are one, that one must live according to the Ten Commandments, and that a person then possesses charity and faith. . . . "Gabriel, on the other hand, means the ministry performed by people who teach from the Word that Jehovah came into the world and that the humanity that he took on there is the Son of God and Divine. The angel who announced this to Mary is accordingly called Gabriel (Luke 1:19, 26-35). "People who are engaged in these ministries are also called Michaels and Gabriels in heaven." Different, I know -- but there you have it!
@@TheCubeMusic Perhaps a good thing to ask is why you are curious. How will it apply to your life That often helps me when I am befuddled. How do I hope to use this new truth? Blessings Cube as you seek answers to guide you.
Not according to Swedenborg, Rob. He sees the existence of each human as starting at conception. In that way we are FINITE (because though we have an eternal spiritual life from here on out, we had a definite starting point), while only GOD is infinite, who is and was "always there" with no beginning and no end. The concept of a pre-life existence seems to be very popular, along with the idea of soul contracts, but as the mission of our channel is to share what Swedenborg wrote about, we don't have much to contribute to that topic. Interesting to ponder, though!
While watching the different beats of the heart, it got me wondering. Can this be mirrored in this world -- for example, it is said that my heartbeat is relaxed, slow, not rapid at all... is this is clue to which angel family I belong to?
Hi there :) I have a slight concern - Swedenborg says that there are no physical differences between the angels, he also states that there are no lead messengers (archangels), they only differ to the extent of which they accept God. There is another guy here on TH-cam, he overdosed on drugs, he didn't really have much faith, nor did he know any of the "archangels" or what they looked like. His brother's wife prayed specifically for archangel Michael to protect him, which he did not know about until after his encounter with the angel. I am a huge Swedenborg fan, but somehow I disagree with him in regards to his description of the angels. Personally, I have experienced a lot of influence in mind and spirit from this angel in particular, without even knowing it. I only started to take note of it when I started to read up on him. I'm 100% confident that archangels do exist & that they are larger in size than the average human being (probably due to their level of acceptance of God & their divinity). If you could enlighten me on a few facts of which I'm not aware or have missed, I would greatly appreciate it. Here is the link to the video, it's extremely moving in my opinion: th-cam.com/video/bh0VPG5xCyA/w-d-xo.html Thank you in advance for your time. :)
I really appreciate your message and honor your concerns here! And I did watch the first chunk of that TH-cam video-- very moving! Swedenborg observed that angels have tremendous power and ability to dispel evil and also connect with humans. And their power comes directly from the Lord-- in fact, angels lose power to the degree that they think otherwise! See this episode for more on power loss: th-cam.com/video/JKKGgKqCzXU/w-d-xo.html Now, Swedenborg does assert that when specific angels are mentioned in the Word (like Gabriel, Michael, etc), they represent not single angels but rather a community of them. And the names Gabriel or Michael actually represent the unique qualities of that community. Here's a passage from Swedenborg's book True Christianity that speaks to this: "The nature of names in the spiritual world makes it clear that someone's "name" does not mean her or his name alone but also her or his full nature. In that world, people all stop using the names they were given in baptism in this world and the names they received from their parents or their family. All there are named for what they are like. Angels get a name that indicates the moral and spiritual life they have. In fact, the Lord was referring to angels in the following passage: Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The sheep hear the shepherds voice and he calls his sheep by name and leads them out." (John 10:3, 11) "Gabriel" and "Michael" are not the names of two people in heaven - these names mean all the angels in heaven who have wisdom about the Lord and who worship him. The names of people and places in the Word do not mean people and places either; they mean aspects of the church. Even in our world a "name" means more than just a name - it also means what someone is like. People's natures get attached to their names. We often say, "They're doing it for their name" or "to make a name for themselves." "Those are big names" means that those people are famous for characteristics they possess, such as creativity, scholarship, achievements, or the like. It is common knowledge that people who insult or libel other people's names are in fact insulting or libeling the actions of the other people's lives. The two are conceptually linked. Such attacks ruin the reputation of people's names. Likewise, someone who says the name of a monarch, a duke, or a great person with disrespect also dishonors the person's majesty and dignity. It is equally true that someone who mentions anyone's name with a tone of contempt also disparages the deeds of that person's life-this applies to everyone. Every country has laws that forbid us to abuse, attack, or insult anyone's name (meaning anyone's nature and reputation)." So it's not that Michael does not exist, but rather that name is representative of a collective of angels that are united in a community. And their shared understanding is that no single angel can operate autonomously with power of their own, but rather operate in fellowship to spread love and wisdom to any and all that are willing to receive it. What do you think?
hi Curtis, i know it's been a while but life/existence got in the way. i have a question>>>>>if a person dies ,unconscious(like a drug overdose) does the soul wake to consciousness, knowing their body/space suit has died?
Hi Gullible's Travails, welcome back! Swedenborg does share stories of people who do not yet know they are dead, or even others who have been told and then forget or ignore it. I have read accounts of Swedenborg speaking with spirits who do not believe in God or an afterlife, and Swedenborg reminds them that they are dead, that they were told this and introduced to the spiritual world, but that because they would rather not believe in spiritual things, they've denied themselves the truth so they can live in their own delusions. From True Christianity 77: "Some satans from hell longed to talk with angels from heaven in order to convince them that everything comes from nature and that God is only a word, unless it means nature. They were given permission to ascend. Some angels came down from heaven into the world of spirits to hear what they had to say. Once they spotted the angels, the satans hurried furiously toward them and said, "You are called angels because you believe there is a God and that nature is nothing in comparison. Yet what you believe runs contrary to all the evidence of the senses. Have any of your own five senses ever detected anything other than nature?" The satans said these and many other harsh things. The angels then brought back to the satans' remembrance that they were now alive after their own death, although they had not believed such a thing was possible. The angels showed them the magnificent and dazzling things that exist in heaven, and pointed out that such things exist in heaven because all the people there believe in God. Then they showed them the hideous and filthy things that exist in hell, and pointed out that such things exist in hell because all the people there believe in nature [alone]. By seeing the contrast, the satans were convinced for the time being that there is a God and that he created nature. Nevertheless, as they sank back down, their love for evil returned and closed off their intellect at the top. As a result they came back into their original belief that everything comes from nature and nothing comes from God." So that's an idea to sit with! You can read more of that at newchristianbiblestudy.org if you want. And here are some episodes to delve into: "Spirits Don't Know What They Are," th-cam.com/video/IppbNlG9hyY/w-d-xo.html "Why Some People in the Afterlife Don't Know They're Dead" th-cam.com/video/bRYJUXQ4-Xc/w-d-xo.html "What Happens After You Die" th-cam.com/video/leqhswYE57c/w-d-xo.html "What It's Like After We Die" th-cam.com/video/RZaOR2xnD_w/w-d-xo.html Hope that helps!
Thank you -Please make a video regarding instructions, if that is possible. How to actually live, the process, the Rules to live by, to keep, i request this because many insights are only helpful if they are applicable to our everyday situations. i have intuitions of conscience, and faith, yet there is a missing connection of how to keep self-control, to resist, to rely upon God without getting distracted by the 'hell', by the flesh, by ego, habits, addictions, or by old self-delusions, etc.. how to do be consistent with good deeds, right intention, while we can, while we're here. sorry if this request is vague, i'm trying to be specific, God Bless all, i'm sincerely concerned and trying to get it right
+Abstract I hear you. The request makes total sense to me. An accessible, simplified practical life-guide based on Swedenborg's philosophy is really needed, and I'm in the beginning stages of producing something that might fit that. In the mean time, I do hope to do some show episodes on it--there are just so many topics to cover! Thanks for taking the time to write, and for sharing some of your experience here.
+Abstract For me, the 12 steps covered some of the path of life (rules) questions, while I am reading Swedenborg and trying to live into the big spiritual picture.
I wonder how did the Swedenborg see the spirit for example is it a light, shadow or noise. I would like to know how did he see the Spirit or angels? Thank you Swedenborg team.
Swedenborg could be very pithy and poignant every now and then. Talking about the levels of angels there's an enormous amount of mind-numbing abstraction. It makes them (angels) seem aloof, and class-divided almost to the point of the Hindu caste system. Then there's that beautiful little bit about the two angels meeting, each of them running to see who could reach the other one first. I love God and I try to reflect that in my actions, but it's people I think of when I feel love, and even pets I've had. There was that documentary about the Amish on PBS, and how one of them mentioned when she prays she can't seem to get low enough, so happily grateful she feels. That's the most clearly defined emotion I have in respect to God, just an immense gratitude. Even when life is arduous, it never goes away. But I just wondered if anyone else gets foggy trying to home in on God in a specific way.
+MrLolita33 Thanks for sharing! Yes, the distinctions can seem divisive in abstract, but it does seem that when he describes the actual interactions, they're saturated with love.
+Carolyn Norton When I say 'foggy' I'm referring to my own inability to conceptualize God. Like thinking about infinity. Directing love towards people I think about the experiences shared, and what is touchingly unique about them, and how they've positively affected me. I feel like God himself should have street cred inside my mind, that He should get his just due. But God is everything, and so I have trouble pinpointing anything mentally.
Are the 3rd level angles born here in this plan we are on as well? If so, are they more innocent and kind then most people here, or are they the same as the rest of us?
Great question, Kobby! Swedenborg did talk about feasts and food in the afterlife, saying that we need "spiritual nourishment," rather than physical, and that it will satisfy us in much the same way food does! He does talk about Elijah - anything in particular you are looking for? A great place to do some research into Swedenborg's writings, or into Bible passages that you want to search the inner meaning, is newchristianbiblestudy.org - I do a lot of research there! Also, our sometimes host and panelist Dr. Jonathan Rose ran a Bible study that went through various chapters of the Bible and looked at the inner meaning. I am sure Elijah comes up in there. Check out, www.spiritandlifebiblestudy.com/ for recorded episodes of those studies! Hope that is useful to you! Blessings.
It would help me understand the concepts of all the Heavens if you could tell me exactly which Heaven offers Starbucks? Specifically the ones that are opened 24 hrs/day and offer free Pumpkin Spice Lattes??
is there a way for people in hell to work their way out of hell in Swedenborg's view? Like a person who loves God their whole life but has made a lot of mistakes, maybe one big one...could they work their way up to heaven if they try? Thank you for your work. It gives so much hope.
It isn't about deeds, i.e., work, but about what one loves. Think about it. What do you most love, seriously. What gives you the most intense pleasure or joy. That is exactly where you will be in the spiritual world. Can one "work" oneself out of loving what one loves?
Double Dragon, I see your point, and it is a great argument. I just keep thinking about Bible verses, such as "Faith without works is dead." I have a disability that keeps me from being able to go out into the world and spread the gospel like I have always wanted. I have felt called to be a nun, but they work so hard physically, I would be of no use. (because I cannot.) I stay sick bc my body kills my own cells. God gives me the most intense longing and pleasure, but I keep thinking that I might not make it to heaven bc I might be thought of as "lazy" or "didn't try hard enough" by those spirits that decide what to do w you when u die. The ONLY thing in life that gives me true pleasure is the hope that one day I might get to go to be with God again. I really long to go home. I never leave my house. God and Jesus are the only things that give me joy. I think about it all day every day and learn about it as much as I can. but "Faith w/o works is dead." That verse, from Paul, I think, keeps ringing in my ears...so do my BIG mistakes. of which there may be more than I even have ever considered. Maybe I need more faith in forgiveness. ...? Thanks for answering.
I'm pretty new to Swedenborg's thoughts on these things, too, but I'm sure Curtis can tell you which video to watch to find that he believed that such thoughts come from evil spirits, who want nothing more than to see you suffer. How more to suffer than to believe you are damned because you can't do a thing, what ever that things happens to be. So seriously, who is to say you won't ever be able to do what you long to do? You just can't do it in the way you envision now, getting up, walking over there, and delivering that particular message. Swedenborg would have interpreted that passage, "Faith without LOVE" as in "love your neighbor as yourself" to be a dead faith. He interprets all of it to be a state of mind. You are what you love and you become in the spirit what you love in this life. So why not just say a prayer to God this way, "God, here I am, as you made me. Use me to do your work. Show me what that work is that I can do in this body! And I will trust you and put myself in your hands." And when you hear in your mind that voice that says, "you are damned because Faith without Works is Dead,' just tell it back, "YOU don't get to determine what 'works' means! That is for God alone to determine!" :)
Thanks so much for your thoughts. I did say the prayer, and maybe I will find out one day that I am doing what I was meant to do. Maybe raising my children to be Christians is what my purpose is. It is hard, being isolated. My husband works 6 days a week or we couldn't get by and of course the govt won't give me a scrap to help, no food, no disability, even w proof. I think working families should be given help if they need it, not people who haven't worked in years! I don't want to ask the govt for help, but when I stopped working, bc I got laid off, we barely had /have money for food after bills. (every day peanut butter and bread, for years.) But I have come to enjoy it, believe it or not, but my health is a problem. I need fruit and veggies, and so do my kids. anyway, I will pray that prayer again, and I think the video you mean may be the one about how evil spirits affect us. God Bless you for replying with a kind message!
@@offTheLeftEye the three heaven kingdoms are compared to the glory of the stars , moon, sun. The sun being represented by the celestial kingdom. The order is Celestial, terrestrial, and tellestrial. You can find some of this in 2nd corinthians
@@zachmoss8896 Thanks for explaining this. Here is a video about when God is like the sun and the moon. th-cam.com/video/nINjEiVR9bc/w-d-xo.html There is much to ponder. Take care, Zach.
So when someone dies, like our loved ones, and they “go to Heaven” if Heaven is within us, but our spirit goes to one of the layers…is there an actual place in the Heavens? Is it near us or far away?
Thank you for your curiosity Tru Lee. Here is a playlist of videos about heaven that will help. th-cam.com/play/PLgtFTXGqZdSngp4_pz7VaYnlWzl2-tEcS.html Your questions are worth hunting for answers. A short answer is that distance is different in the spiritual world. "Thought brings presence" is one quote I love.
Good requires evil to maintain balance? Wouldn’t that make evil good? I think what you are referring to is the alchemical process of testing the metal in the forge and honing it. Many people experiencing this process (myself included) feel we are being subjected and abandoned to evil. Evil is the rebellion or rejection response we tend to have to this process. Truth with “goodness” = tolerance and compassion, but does not alter Truth. I think I understand what you are trying to communicate, but as usual, language is limited which why we must develop intuition, which is the product of the above stated alchemical process. Jesus tolerated and showed great compassion to humans until they told him how “good” they were, where he gently pointed out the Truth. Did He create a new level of Heaven for us where perfection is not required but is a process to be continued without the hindrance of a flesh and blood body?
Good does not require evil, but *freewill* requires a balance of good and evil so that we are free to choose between them. And freewill is crucial. However, God does not allow any evil to exist or take action unless God can bring good out of it. That is the "testing" and "honing" process that you are referring to, which is an excellent analogy! In that case, the evil that is acting up is being used by God to purify and strengthen the goodness. Regarding heaven and perfection, Swedenborg learned that actually, angels in heaven are not perfect, and are continuing to learn and grow and purify. But it certainly will be easier to evolve in heaven, where we're not burdened by the physical body and all that attaches to it. So, perfection is not what God is looking for! God is looking for a willingness to progress in the direction of heavenly love, and every possible method of help is available there in the afterlife-first in the "world of spirits" between heaven and hell, and then in whatever level of heaven a person finds a home in. And yes, God has created three major levels of heaven, with great variety within each, so that every person can find a place that matches their state of mind, and where they can best learn and grow. You might enjoy our episode "Spiritual Detoxing" th-cam.com/users/results?search_query=spiritual+detoxing+swedenborg
offTheLeftEye I had never considered perfection to mean “completion” but rather incorruptibility. I do believe angels to be incorruptible. To know God as they do means never to doubt or question his judgement but to contemplate the lessons within their tasks and ascend. I do like your explanation about God using evil or the doubt and rebellion of less enlightened to hone the faith of His followers. I feel more empowered and compassionate than rejected.
I do have one question Swedenburg View of hell. And the hell Jesus told us to avoid at all costs someplace we never want to go. Why are the views of Swedenburg not the same as what Jesus taut us the same? If he is getting his information from Angels?
+james dempster Hi, James! Swedenborg also emphasizes that hell is somewhere to avoid. He gives many descriptions of terrible conditions of life in hell, and emphasizes the importance of repentance and turning to the Lord so that we will not be manipulated by hell and pulled down. We understand the descriptions to be the same as Jesus is saying, but Swedenborg wrote that he was guided (by Jesus Christ) to understand the symbolism of what Jesus had been saying, which has often been misunderstood. What specifically are you seeing as a disagreement between what Jesus says about hell and what Swedenborg wrote?
Hi. May I ask? If God rules supreme. Why wasnt the universe created with booth God and "Satan", the opposite? You said that everything has to be balanced, and I belive that. It seams in the works of Swedenborg that the only "monopole" is God naturally wishing us good. But how come that in the same time the universe was created that the two oppositss developed? Getting my drift? I like God and want to bee on his path as long as I live. But shurely, there must be a inbalance in the universe if God has the upper arm, and our thinking and deeds draws us to hell. I am just curios of how you see about it?. Neo Stratospey, Avesta, Sweden.
Great questions, Neo Stratospey! I recommend two episodes that I hope can help clarify this concept: "Spiritual Warfare: The Battle Between Heaven and Hell" th-cam.com/video/COwnnC5J5ms/w-d-xo.html and, "7 Laws of Divine Providence" th-cam.com/video/yCwj4YotzHA/w-d-xo.html Swedenborg didn't believe in an individual devil, but he did use the terms "satans" or "demons" to describe the inhabitants of hell. Collectively, hellish beings create an energy that contrasts the nature of heaven, which is love and light and wisdom. While on earth, we are in equilibrium between these states, and learn overtime to gravitate towards one or the other, and develop our inner loves. The episode about spiritual warfare talks more about that. The episode of Divine Providence talks about the invisible force that God uses to maintain balance in the world, and how those forces work! Let us know how these resonate!
People have differing opinions about that, but Swedenborg reports that angels do not come back to be people on earth again. He says that our physical bodies and existence are just an outer shell to get our individual spirits started, and, once that physical layer has been shed, the person lives permanently in the spiritual world, continuing to learn and grow and evolve. Once a person has evolved into an angel, they do not devolve back down to an earthly level. They still go through cycles of development, but it all happens in levels in the spiritual world. However, angels are certainly involved with helping people on earth to develop a spiritual and heavenly mindset!
I see, yes I read somewhere that Swedenborg does not think they exist, because angels get their substance entirely from being dependent. The angels that fight in the war of heaven? I listened that Lucifer is the desire to become god to overpower all, not confused on this. Albeit; "Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back. . . he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him." That people interpret one third of the stars being one third of angels. But the stars are the thoughts turned into falsity by being struck out of their correct context. So does it mean there are severely deceived angels? That the devil is so bad that he can manipulate good angels?
@@lukecronquist6003 great question! I looked up that passage - Revelation 12:9! Swedenborg learned that the Bible is written symbolically, so these events have deeper, spiritual meanings, that apply to our spiritual lives. Here is what he wrote about "the dragon and his angels" in Revelation 12:9, in his book, "Apocalypse Revealed" no. 552: " 'It was cast to the earth, and its angels were cast out with it.' This symbolically means that they were cast into the world of spirits, which is midway between heaven and hell, from which a direct conjunction is formed with people on earth. The earth to which the dragon is said to have been cast means the world of spirits, because this world lies directly under the heavens, and when anyone is cast out of heaven, he does not sink immediately into hell, but onto the land in this world that is the nearest one beneath. For this world is midway between heaven and hell, being situated below the heavens and above the hells. ....The people in this world all communicate directly with people on earth. The dragon and its angels consequently communicate with people caught up in falsities and their accompanying evils, owing to the heresy they have accepted regarding faith alone. The text accordingly says later in verse 12 of this chapter, 'Therefore rejoice, O heavens...! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has a short time.' (Revelation 12:12) We are also told in verses 13-17 that the dragon pursued the woman into the wilderness, and went off to make war with the rest of her offspring. It should be known that in respect to his affections and consequent thoughts, everyone is present in a society with people in the world of spirits, and indirectly through them with people either in heaven or in hell. Everyone's life depends on that conjunction." Swedenborg believed that we are in constant communication with spirits, who influence our thoughts and feelings (like the old image of a devil on one shoulder, and an angel on the other!) and we choose who we want to listen to. The dragon and his angels symbolize a false mentality about God - in a nutshell, that faith can exist without charity, or loving action, or love to the neighbor. God IS love, so this idea that love and faith can be separated contradicts God entirely! The events in Revelation symbolically describe the end of one spiritual era, and rise of another, and portray events that happened in the spiritual world. For more information about that, see this short clip, "When Did The Last Judgment Take Place? And What Happened?" th-cam.com/video/Spl_WXqI1ho/w-d-xo.html For more on the dragon in revelation, see this short clip: "The Symbolism of the Red Dragon in Revelation" th-cam.com/video/WXwmmqk6O9s/w-d-xo.html That clip is from the full length episode, "The Four Strangest Creatures in Revelation" th-cam.com/video/XVA1SxDnRgQ/w-d-xo.html For more on the world of spirits that Swedenborg mentions in the above passage, check out this short clip, "Welcome to the World of Spirits" th-cam.com/video/8RcfriDRPX4/w-d-xo.html And finally, we did an episode about Lucifer! Check it out here: th-cam.com/video/V7JMUhYqgHs/w-d-xo.html I hope that's helpful to you - please let us know what you think, or if you have any questions! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts with us! God bless!
@@TammySoulJourney Okay, if you find the particular place, and can tell me how many minutes into the show it is, I can find it and answer your question. This show was made a few years ago, so we'd have to go remind ourselves what particular information is in it. It might be that what you are talking about is the fact that we can never reach the full level of God's divinity, because it is beyond all human comprehension, but we can keep getting closer and closer to God's Infinite Divine Love forever!
@@TammySoulJourney Let me put it another way. Think about your relationship with Johnny. Didn't it grow deeper over time? And don't you think it can keep on getting deeper when you are reunited in heaven? It's that way with our relationship with God. It can keep on getting deeper forever.
How does it work if the spirit has a brain injury? or cannot control their movements. Like if they have cerebral palsy or Parkinson's disease? When Higgins is talking about the medulla it's not that person's choice to have a problem with their brain and it's not evil spirits because people are born with brain disabilities.
Hi Amy, that's a really good question. Swedenborg wrote about this in the book Divine Providence. Here are two passages that you may find helpful. "The reason no one is reformed in a state of mental illness is that mental illness deprives us of rationality and therefore of the freedom to act rationally."; "The reason no one is reformed in a state of serious physical illness is that at such times our reason is not in a state of freedom. The state of the mind depends on that of the body. When the body is afflicted, the mind is as well, if only by being out of touch with the world." In essence, when we are in a state of either physical or mental illness, our freedom is infringed. It is only when we have spiritual freedom and our rational faculties that we pave a path towards heaven or hell. Yet this doesn't mean that the spirit is injured; when we transition into the spiritual world, our spirit is set free from the limitations of the natural world and can develop in the world of spirits. Once this is underway, such a spirit would then progress toward an eternal home fitting of their development and ultimate affection. On another note, I want to make clear that our rationality being functional and impaired is something that can fluctuate in our lifetime and it isn't necessarily a one-to-one thing that brain injury or impairment of motor function means permanent loss of rationality for our lives in this world. I imagine that there are instances when someone is physically or mentally impaired (maybe car accident, or something else), but with the help of professionals, can regain their rational faculties and continue growing on a spiritual level even though their physical impairment isn't necessarily permanently gone. Sorry for such a long-winded answer! This is obviously a very complex question and I wish to respect and honor the sensitivities surrounding it.
offTheLeftEye I guess I am confused because some of the most inspirational, kind, spirits/people I have come in contact with are dealing with physical or mental limitations. I myself have depression and I have to take medicine. I wish I didn't but I do feel like there is a demon inside me talking me down. So all in all this thinking brought upon me by watching some of these videos made me start telling those negative voices to shut the heck up and yell at them to get out of my brain. It's a constant battle.
Sometimes Angels like challenges so they will lower their vibration to help others,but it comes at a price,but your rewards come when you go back to heaven,awakening soul knowledge even Angels still learning.Hearbreak and loneliness because your energy is so high you can't always stand to be in crowds and like to be alone more.But try to help humanity raise it's vibration ,new earth,new life,people free of illnesses, remember stress is a killer,be at peace .,renew your spirit.my name here linda,my name there is alyssa, researched it it means she knows,I say inner knowing,remembered.
I appreciate your emphasis on working to make humanity better-- Swedenborg wrote that creating a heaven from the human race was the greatest end goal for us. There's something very powerful about having a goal like that.
We all should strive for this end goal,for every person enlightened it's closer to heaven that's what I say,with truth comes freedom of the human race maybe I won't see it but I hope so.i do know something big happening feel it in my stomach,gut feeling.stay safe.
my last trip to Heaven was really fun, I love to sing and create music, while there I was singing all kinds of great songs, Someone asked me how is it that you can come up with so many songs? I said its easy they just come to me, To prove it I came up with a new song out of the blue to show this person how easy it is, I was on a high just singing like a bird... But I had to return to the body my spirit felt so large, like a giant and I wondered how I was going to squeeze my great big spirit back into my tiny body (I am not tiny I weigh 390 and am 6.2 tall) but my body was quite small next to my spirit I felt. After this Heavenly trip a few nights later I had some Hellish trips as well, One was very sexual in nature, being forced into many sex acts with men and women both, I was shown how people are sexually abused in Hell for being sexually immoral in life, Two gay men were sexually abused over and over again as I was shown they ended up clinging to one another in total friendship no longer desiring homosexual sex, but just wanting friendship (btw I am gay myself) so I am not trying to cast judgment on gay people, But I was shown what becomes of sexually immoral people (both gay and straight) by being sexually abused over and over again they come out of it no longer wanting to be sexually immoral. The next Hell I seen had to do with people who are tormented in life by evil spirits, People that have no real faith in God in their earthly lives... They go to a Hell where they are told you either become a tormentor yourself in the after life or you will be tormented again and again. These souls roam the earth looking for victims to torment, but they can not torment believers in Christ if they do so God will punish them, Like Swedenborg I have been shown the other side as well, but at this point of my life I have not gone as deep into it as Swedenborg I am only 44 years old maybe as I grow older and more mature I will get to see more if its Gods will for me. But yes I believe Swedenborg was shown the other side and everything he had to say about it is true.
I have seen a lot maybe someday I will write a book about it, but I don't want to be famous like Swedenborg, I'm very sure I am not the only one who the Lord has revealed some of the secrets of the after life too, I'm just one of many that the Lord sometimes talks to.
And Swedenborg didn't want to be famous, either. :) I admire your humility, Gerald, and your desire just to share what you've been seeing. The goal is that eventually, every person will be able to find the voice of the Lord in their own heart and mind, and we can all help each other know God more and more clearly.
I got the book “Secrets of Heaven” and Heaven and Hell and as I was reading them both I absolutely do not understand anything that either book are saying.
They can be tough going, Jennifer, especially in the older translations. And it's a completely different way of thinking for many people! That's why we started our channel -- to try to give people some support in understanding these ideas. If you want to keep attempting to read, make sure you have the New Century Edition translations -- at least they use updated language and simpler sentence structure. But if those ARE the ones you have, don't feel bad if it feels just too hard to wade through. You can learn a lot about Swedenborgian content on our channel (and in other places) without having to read it yourself. Let us know if we can answer any questions or be more of a support somehow! Blessings to you on your journey.
No, Reaper, not necessarily. You'd still be a person, and the ties of love will keep relationships alive. See some of the other responses to your questions under other episodes.
If Swedenborg believed in the Bible, how could he say people married on earth will also be married in heaven? When in the Bible it says we won’t be given in marriage. Knowing that completely discredited him, to me.
I honor the frustration you feel about this topic. Have you seen our short clip addressing this very subject? You may find it useful. th-cam.com/video/Nfy6JNC4BwQ/w-d-xo.html
offTheLeftEye I ended up watching another video on this channel that further explained it. I do kind of feel like this channel has a lot of info but I get the feeling it sort of worships everything Swedenborg says. It’s like giving up one religion to follow this one. My question to you is, if God did in fact give Swedenborg all this info directly or through spiritual guidance. Why didn’t you go through the same type of enlightenment? Why do humans always end up following everything a man says rather then getting enlightenment for themselves through God/Jesus/ Holy Spirit
Those who wrote down the words in the Bible were servants of the Lord. Swedenborg also called himself a "servant of the Lord" writing down what he was taught and shown after a powerful vision of Christ, and a calling to a mission. What he wrote down was not in any way supposed to replace each person's own individual quest for a relationship with God. On the contrary, it is only supposed to support people's individual journeys by providing more information about the bigger structure we are all operating in, so that we can better navigate our own unique spiritual path to a relationship with God. Our channel is here to share what Swedenborg wrote down, for viewers to decide about for themselves. Our channel is run by a non-profit book publisher, not a church, so we are not asking anyone to adhere to a religion, or to accept anything that does not ring true to them. We are simply sharing the concepts, for viewers to accept or reject according to what their heart tells them to do. So I hope you always feel free to accept what resonates with you, and to set aside the rest. We are not interested in putting any pressure on anyone!
@@TammySoulJourney I see! :D Many these episodes were made years ago, and we don't remember what all Curtis was saying in them. But we're always happy to have you drop in, too!
Interesting! When Lucifer fell from the Third Heaven. He took over the Second Heaven. Wonder how that works ? With the Evil Kingdom on one side and Gods Kingdom on the other side?
According to what Swedenborg wrote, everyone begins in heaven after they die; then they sort themselves out according to that which they love. So of course, if one were evil incarnate, he (or she) would fall through the second and then the third heaven on their way down to wherever they truly belong.
Try it on for size. Does it make sense? Does it feel right? Does it coincide with what you know to be right and true? Do you feel loved when you offer assistance and kindness to another human being, and that kindness is accepted? If fear abated? Is goodness and mercy increased in your own experience of your own life? What is the fruit that you see from living this way? Is it truth? Figure it out by living it!
The celestial Angels are transformed physically and emotionally. The natural spirits suppress a lot of those emotions that from God perspective is not good for the soul. These spirits will end up working harder years hundreds of years to reach transformation. The celestial Angels allow God in and point these emotions out therefore the celestial Angels feel every action feeling emotion that is withing no matter how awful it is on order to release from the soul, once this is done God sends his love through his conduit the holy spirit to that person.
Curtis Child Sweden burg intelectualize a lot of what he wrote down. The Divine is more of an emotional experience some of wish is hard to put in words but understood by those who receive Divine Love from God. These are the teachings that Jesus though before his word got twisted and changed.
+Carolyn Norton ..I know some of this information through personal experiences. Through prayer, and out of body experiences. When this things where happening to me I started praying for answers and I was led to Divinetruth.com There Alan Jackson Miller explain a lot of the same things that I was going through . Things that the church does not teach or plainly call hellish.
+Carolyn Norton I had the same ration when I first ran into the channel. But I started listening to their youtub videos and reading the material carefully. If he is Jesus and she Mary, that is not as important to me but what they are teaching. After studying his material for over 5 years a lot of what he talks about are the same as what I have been experiencing, no other religion or spiritualist is close to the teachings provided by Alan Jackson J Miller and Mary. Also through their Web page they have other read materials/books from other author's experiences including Swedenborg. No I have not thought of sharing my NDE. It was a long time ago when I was a little girl and some memory is blurry, but I do remember clearly piping out if my body and seeing myself in the electrical outlet getting electricuted because I had put a Bobby pin in the outlet. I also saw how I was being brought back to my body when the paramedic where reviving me. I also saw my body laying in the hospital silver table and the doctor injected my back to remove some liquid that had accumulated. I know this is true because my mother confirmed that I was dead. She was telling the story to me and some of the things I saw if I was unconscious I would not know.
Carolyn Norton I mentioned some in my previous reply. I saw my own physical body stuck in the outlet getting electricuted, my spirit body was appr. 3ft behind my physical body. The peremedics trying to resucitar me. The doctor removing liquid from my back. Also saw my mother fear and panic and how she hit the outlet box with a broom. When she did that my physical body fell down on the floor.
+Carolyn Norton don't remember on this NDE since it's still blurry. I get bits and pieces here and there. I have had heaven experiences during my sleep state. I only can go in the spirit world to those locations where my own souls condition will allow. Just like Swedenborg, and Angel in a better condition than me took me to a beautiful hevenly place but the angel provided some of his loving energy in order for me to wistand being there since my own condition was less than the Angel
Oh the literal interpretation of things will always fail as its foundation. Swedenborg is intentionally speaking in symbolism and alagorical term not just analogies to things out there. When you are an ideologue, this will always happen with the Mystics. A phenomenological take doesn't mean the same thing as an eye witness account of something. Same things happen with Jung, Gebser, whitehead in the New Age Community
Sounds like the Good Place, my new favorite TV show. however, it all sounds too much like earth, too much work!!! I hope there is a place for me to do nothing but sleep. too many hoops to jump through and over. thanks but no thanks.
Swedenborg learned from speaking directly to angels that they had all started out as humans on earth. He was told that the idea that angels are a separate race is due to a misunderstanding of Scripture. For instance, if you read the passage in Isaiah chapter 14 that mentions the fall of "Lucifer", you can see in context that it is talking about the fall of the king of Babylon, not the fall of an angel. And when Jesus says "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven" in Luke 10:18, he is talking about demons who had been making their way into the lower borders of heaven, but by his work while on earth, Jesus caused them to be cast down from heaven (just as he was also casting demons out of some people on earth). So it is not a phrase about an angel who had lived in heaven and then fell, but it is about demons who were trying to sneak their way into heaven, but were cast down.
Different points of faith, I guess, Robert. On this channel, we take Genesis's Creation story as symbolic, but I can't help noticing that the creation of angels was not mentioned in that story. Our belief is that angels are people who have chosen to walk with God. Blessings to you in your beliefs.
Its a real shame that you seriously don't don't realize that space isn't real. I can no longer watch this channel. If you habnt figured that simple thing out, then how can anything you say be Legitimate,
We wish you well, wherever you're going, TOM. Can you tell me what makes you conclude that we don't realize that space isn't real? We believe that the spirit/spiritual world is what's truly real, which does not partake of time and space.
I get this guy. So refreshing. Why did I just learn of his existence? This philosophy or theology makes so much sense, it hangs together so well in such a precise and self evident way that it astounds and delights me. But it is weird in that listening to these videos is making me feel like the top of my head is on fire. I've experienced my share of odd spiritual things in my life, but this is new.
So glad that the information is resonating with you. And hopefully that fire you're experiencing indicates a positive new enlightenment!
I am new to the study of Swedenborg so please don't think I am trying to be "Offensive".
( I watched October 3rd 2016 live streaming broadcast and chuckled at the ' OFFENSIVE stamp that came on the screen. . Newscasters should use that stamp for all of the Political broadcastings lol )
This is very Interesting and perplexing... From traditional biblical teachings.. Angels were created before mankind and they were never human.
In Colossians 1:15-16, Jesus Christ created the visible and invisible world including angels and powerful establishments in both visible and invisible worlds as "thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities."
Not trying to be argumentative.. just very confused about how Angels, if they were once human..________________ uhh my mind is blank trying to do the math to bridge the gap . So.. . Quantum leap point.! There must have been a time when humans were on the earth and there were no Angels YET. . If all Angels were once human.
That would mean that they would have had to live on the earth as a human and die a human death. So at one time.. Heaven was without Angels.
I do understand the metaphysical analogy of the inner kingdoms' Heart and Lungs.. Government in the Body as well as government in the Heaven(s) ... Makes so much sense to me since the body is the Temple of God ....and Man( kind) was made in the Image of God.
Pondering.. Thank you for your work.
GracesCorner I think Swedenborg says not all humans are from earth.
Curtis is perfect for presenting this intense data
He does have a way about him, doesn't he, Ms Writer? So glad his style resonates with you!
Thank you Swedenborg team, looking forward to listening
blessings and gratitude...I listen to these often....for is not there another layer to all understanding..bless you for spreading the word...
+Eliza de vries So glad to have you watching! Blessings to you too!
This is truly an amazing thing, regarding rigidness and flexibility. It just explained life to me. I'm blown away.
i would like to think that we all could be each others angels...
So Swedenborg said angels were once people? So were there no angels until man was created or Adam was not the first man?
I had a translator tell me last night that I am an angel for helping the person he was translating for. I have to say it was the best compliment ever. Every opportunity to help someone in need is an opportunity to be that person's angel for the day.
So True..
So inspiring, great and fantastic information.wonderful presentation
So glad it felt meaningful to you, Nakitende! Thanks for letting us know!
I'm always too late in catching up with offTheLeftEye but DAMN I love this channel!
I also admit that I'm slightly envious of everyone involved with the Swedenborg Foundation. Spreading ideas that pave the way for good truth, especially with respect to God, is one of my more prominent passions in life - and this foundation is very satisfying for that reason. :) Thanks guys.
It's so great to hear from you! I really appreciate your encouraging message, and of course we are beyond grateful to be doing this work! It sounds like you're passionate about doing the same. I hope we have the chance to connect more in the future!
I believe that we are constantly building our kingdom through our intentions and thoughts- in every moment.
Absolutely, Ruth, I agree with you! You might like, "How to Get a Home in Heaven," th-cam.com/video/vpAA1tByZXw/w-d-xo.html or "How to Upgrade Your Spiritual Neighborhood," th-cam.com/video/ktYO9l6spHA/w-d-xo.html
Both episodes discuss similar ideas - how we create our own reality, spiritually and literally in this life and the next! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, very powerful stuff! God bless!
What a clear and loving presentation...I want MORE!
So glad you enjoyed it +kathleen deyo! New episodes every week!
this is deep..Ill need to watch this again...cheers
I have felt for several years that there was a battle going on for my soul every day. Every decision we make is the right one, or the wrong one, and we know which is which. That's precisely why free will is so important. We willingly choose our fate, step by step.
Thank you and your team for all that you do.
You're very welcome +Kirsten Rowe! And thanks so much for sharing your thoughts!
So clear and easy to understand, thank you!
+paypaymojo You're very welcome! So glad you enjoyed it!
I'm a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, usually referred to as Mormon. I haven't finished watching this video yet but am intrigued that the 3 levels of heaven are mentioned. We refer to them as the telestial, terrestrial, and the highest as the celestial. I'm grateful to have stumbled upon this video series because I have never heard of Swedenborg. The concepts are interesting to say the least. I grew up learning about Edgar Cayce and am completely convinced of his teachings. I look forward to watching more of this series to see if there are more correlations with my beliefs. As long as the teachings are of love, it is of God.
Good episode. Thank you Curtis🙂……A lot of people I talk to today seem to think we are experiencing the first symptoms of the last days ( Revelation) when the earth resets and repairs itself due to the many factors of this age. Presently, the world looks like it’s a balance between good and evil with each person taking a direction or making a choice. Overpopulation, climate change, viral pandemics and the destruction of the environment, are only just a few of the problems we are facing in the present time. I only hope we choose the right direction instead of the opposite road. We can’t hide our hearts from the angels. Personally, choosing the right path is important. I think prayer 🙏 can help a great deal.❤️🙂🙂
Amen to that, Julian! May we all find the strength and courage to choose the right path!
@@offTheLeftEye Yes, I hope so too! 🙂Life can be challenging enough, inside and even outside of our lives. Keeping the faith is especially important today❤️❤️🙂👍
@@julianbristow4793 it certainly is! But worth the effort. Melissa here, and I'd like to share one of my favorite quotes from Swedenborg (sorry if I've shared this before!):
"Those who trust in the Divine… are not anxious, let alone worried, when they give thought to the morrow. They remain even-tempered whether or not they realize desires, and they do not grieve over loss; they are content with their lot… They know that for those who trust in the Divine, all things are moving towards an everlasting state of happiness, and that no matter what happens at any time to them, it contributes to that state.
It should be recognized that Divine providence is overall, that is, it is present within the smallest details of all, and that people in the stream of providence are being carried along constantly towards happier things, whatever appearance the means may present. Those in the stream of providence are people who trust in the Divine and ascribe everything to Him."
(Swedenborg "Arcana Coelestia" §8478)
I can't say I always trust as well as this passage suggests, but I'm working on it. Hope that is inspiring to you too, Julian! God bless!
Go to 11:45 in the video where he says, "...Oh! and to further confuse you, in case you haven't clicked away yet,....." ROFL. I am so glad that this guy (name is Curtis Childs) has a bit of humor. The ideas and writings of Swedenborg are DEEP, just as life is deep and complex - but also simple at other times. Therefore, don't worry if you don't catch all of it on the first pass. Our frame of mind as well as our previous background will often influence our ability to comprehend these teachings. Not to worry; it will start to make general sense after a while if you continue exploring.
Saying @ 1:00:20 "no one there care" love it
So much to learn and grasp.
Yes, Destiny! Hope these ideas inspire you to do so!
Another brilliant video. I think its down to the host, really likeable , believable .
Very, very well done! I love to learn so we know where I will be at in heaven. Many thanks and may God bless everyone.
Happy to know this made sense to you, Ken, and added to your understanding of what's to come. You're very welcome, and may God bless you as well!
I will look into the videos, thanks.
Wow! this was profound teaching; I am truly blessed. I have been meditating on Jesus's teaching that the Kingdom is within you. I came across the Gospel of Thomas on the Kingdom is within us: " Jesus said, 3 "If your leaders say to you, 'Look, the (Father's) imperial rule is
in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you.
2 If they say to you, 'It is
in the sea,' then the fish will precede you.
3 Rather, the (Father's) imperial rule
is inside you and outside you.
4 When you know yourselves, then you will be
known, and you will understand that you are children of the living Father. 5
But if you do not know yourselves, then you live in poverty, and you are the
poverty."
Now it makes sense how the kingdom is within us. This presentation has impacted my meditation indeed, blessing, blessing and blessing. Amen
Thanks for sharing this view, Alienaire. Good to ponder! Glad this video had a positive effect in your life!
Very good, these videos are really helping. I’ve been thinking today along the lines of being involved in the Lord’s Kingdom “NOW” and you just said that 48:06 min into the video. This validation is encouraging. Thanks to all of you for your efforts.
So glad to hear it, +Keith Ducharme! In a week the topic of our show will be How to Create Heaven on Earth. Yes we can be involved now! So glad the content is encouraging to you on your path!
Wow! This was a great presentation which requires the mind to see things from different angles. Profound truths require this. Just as Christians use the Bible as the balance for knowing if something is true, Baha'is use the teachings of Baha'u'llah in the same way. I find that Swedenborg's discoveries are generally in line with Baha'u'llah's Revelation. They agree that souls are grouped in the spiritual world according to mind-set, or spiritual development. I have not seen as much detail in Baha'i writings concerning the organization of the next world as Swedenborg gave, but He gave much more than in the Bible or any other Holy Book. So I give Swedenborg the benefit of the doubt. We are still translating Baha'u'llah's writings from Arabic and Persian, so perhaps more detail is there. Or maybe humanity will develop the ability to see for themselves. Baha'u'llah's emphasis is in transforming human beings and human society in this world, but He did answer people's questions concerning what happens when we die. Swedenborg's discovery of the importance of love and justice in the heavenly worlds sounds like Baha'u'llah. Baha'u'llah even aims to bring this physical world into a closer correspondence with the love and justice of the next world. He abolished any form of clergy and instead created elected institutions which will be known as Houses of Justice, with the Universal House of Justice for the world as a whole now existing on the slopes of Mt. Carmel in Israel. My feeling is that there is but one reality, so it all has to fit together. Swedenborg and Baha'u'llah seem to fit together. Swedenborg described the spiritual world of his time and according to his background. Angels today probably would not be seen using horses to get around. Per the question concerning the need to have a Hell, I think that this just reflects the wide scope of spiritual development. Those close to God are in Heaven and those far from God are in Hell, and we exist in a wide spectrum between these extremes. Even if those in Hell evolve closer to God, the ones in Heaven will also be evolving in the same direction, so there will always be this divide between the more developed and less developed souls. My guess is that the developed souls will be tasked with the duty of helping the less developed souls to progress, and in doing so they in turn will grow spiritually. So each group needs the other in the forward progress of their souls.
Curtis said “Heat is the physical representation of love.” I find this fascinating for two reasons. I just watched Kevin Zadai’s NDE story. He says that when angels and even Jesus visit him, now that he’s back on earth, they stand behind him and he feels tremendous heat-but he knows it’s love. Then there’s all the paranormal experiences of people around the world -when demonic entities enter the room they are in they sometimes feel cold spots. Is that a representation of “hate?” It fits.
Yes, Swedenborg reported that sometimes when evil spirits came near he felt extreme coldness -- a representation of an extreme lack of love and goodness, which results in hatred. That's a powerful affirmation in Zadai's NDE story about the actual sensation of heat that comes from divine and heavenly love! Thanks for sharing that!
If there is suppose to be this balance between good and evil, then things will never get better. Shouldn't good, over time, increase and evil decrease??? Isn't that the goal, good over evil? Anyone have thoughts on this?
Excellent point, Scott. The way I understand it is, ideally the balance would be between a sense of self and a sense of all being connected in God, kind of like the balance between right brain awareness and left brain awareness (as eloquently described by Jill Bolte Taylor in "My Stroke of Insight.") And while on earth, there needs to be a balance between the physical, which acts as a stabilizing basis, and the spiritual, from which comes the life force. These are ways, perhaps, how balance for the sake of freewill will be maintained when humanity collectively chooses good over evil, and evil begins to diminish. And what the balance must have been in the beginning of humanity, before evil took hold.
@@offTheLeftEye that was a beautiful answer, thank you.
There's something weird going on with the timing of this video (audio video synch), I don't know if you guys can fix it.
I love one of the last notes Curtis finished his presentation with. Heaven (and hell) is constantly changing. God doesn't just provide us with a fulfilling, meaningful life, he provides us with an EXCITING life. It's like a big adventure. Heaven is constantly growing and ES mentions that one of the great joys of Heaven is precisely welcoming new people in and getting everybody where they will live their own amazing life. So we're always meeting new people and growing ourselves even as we help everybody else do so.
A quick note about the balance of Heaven and hell. This is a mathematical concept, the idea of infinities of different size. Even though hell could in theory be infinitely large, as large as needed, Heaven always encompasses hell, being not just also infinite but also always larger than hell. As Curtis says the "balance" is not a matter of quantity or mass or anything like that but more a conceptual, arrangement thing.
Fascinating, about the quantities within infinity. It sounds like you understand such things. For me the concept of million vs billion vs trillion is pretty fuzzy. But the notion of everyone living their best life, welcoming newcomers with great joy sounds irresistible. -Lori
ps thank you for the feedback about being out of sync...
Good evening Curtis. I would like to ask you : Does Swedenborg say we are multidimentional beings ? Thanks. :)
I love this channel thank u
Thank you for the kind words! We feel blessed and grateful to have you in the audience. Wishing you all the best!
One of the most complex episodes Swedenborg and Life
+Richard Smith True!
What does Archangel Michael correspond to what is Archangel Michael ?
Hi Michael --
Here's an excerpt from Swedenborg's "Apocalypse Revealed" (new title, "Revelation Unveiled"), §548, about Gabriel and Michael:
"Michael does not mean some archangel, and neither does Gabriel or Raphael, but ministries in heaven are meant. The ministry that is Michael there is performed by people who confirm from the Word that the Lord is God of heaven and earth, that God the Father and the Lord are one as soul and body are one, that one must live according to the Ten Commandments, and that a person then possesses charity and faith. . . .
"Gabriel, on the other hand, means the ministry performed by people who teach from the Word that Jehovah came into the world and that the humanity that he took on there is the Son of God and Divine. The angel who announced this to Mary is accordingly called Gabriel (Luke 1:19, 26-35).
"People who are engaged in these ministries are also called Michaels and Gabriels in heaven."
Different, I know -- but there you have it!
@@offTheLeftEyeOkay trying to understand thanks 🙏🏻
@@TheCubeMusic Perhaps a good thing to ask is why you are curious. How will it apply to your life That often helps me when I am befuddled. How do I hope to use this new truth? Blessings Cube as you seek answers to guide you.
If we are spirit, and never die, we’re we always alive even before we were created ? Like a pre existing force, or were we always there like God ?
Not according to Swedenborg, Rob. He sees the existence of each human as starting at conception. In that way we are FINITE (because though we have an eternal spiritual life from here on out, we had a definite starting point), while only GOD is infinite, who is and was "always there" with no beginning and no end. The concept of a pre-life existence seems to be very popular, along with the idea of soul contracts, but as the mission of our channel is to share what Swedenborg wrote about, we don't have much to contribute to that topic. Interesting to ponder, though!
While watching the different beats of the heart, it got me wondering. Can this be mirrored in this world -- for example, it is said that my heartbeat is relaxed, slow, not rapid at all... is this is clue to which angel family I belong to?
+River Flow Honestly, I don't know! But it is some great food for thought!
Hi there :)
I have a slight concern - Swedenborg says that there are no physical differences between the angels, he also states that there are no lead messengers (archangels), they only differ to the extent of which they accept God.
There is another guy here on TH-cam, he overdosed on drugs, he didn't really have much faith, nor did he know any of the "archangels" or what they looked like. His brother's wife prayed specifically for archangel Michael to protect him, which he did not know about until after his encounter with the angel.
I am a huge Swedenborg fan, but somehow I disagree with him in regards to his description of the angels. Personally, I have experienced a lot of influence in mind and spirit from this angel in particular, without even knowing it. I only started to take note of it when I started to read up on him.
I'm 100% confident that archangels do exist & that they are larger in size than the average human being (probably due to their level of acceptance of God & their divinity).
If you could enlighten me on a few facts of which I'm not aware or have missed, I would greatly appreciate it.
Here is the link to the video, it's extremely moving in my opinion: th-cam.com/video/bh0VPG5xCyA/w-d-xo.html
Thank you in advance for your time. :)
I really appreciate your message and honor your concerns here! And I did watch the first chunk of that TH-cam video-- very moving!
Swedenborg observed that angels have tremendous power and ability to dispel evil and also connect with humans. And their power comes directly from the Lord-- in fact, angels lose power to the degree that they think otherwise! See this episode for more on power loss: th-cam.com/video/JKKGgKqCzXU/w-d-xo.html
Now, Swedenborg does assert that when specific angels are mentioned in the Word (like Gabriel, Michael, etc), they represent not single angels but rather a community of them. And the names Gabriel or Michael actually represent the unique qualities of that community. Here's a passage from Swedenborg's book True Christianity that speaks to this:
"The nature of names in the spiritual world makes it clear that someone's "name" does not mean her or his name alone but also her or his full nature. In that world, people all stop using the names they were given in baptism in this world and the names they received from their parents or their family. All there are named for what they are like. Angels get a name that indicates the moral and spiritual life they have. In fact, the Lord was referring to angels in the following passage:
Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The sheep hear the shepherds voice and he calls his sheep by name and leads them out." (John 10:3, 11)
"Gabriel" and "Michael" are not the names of two people in heaven - these names mean all the angels in heaven who have wisdom about the Lord and who worship him. The names of people and places in the Word do not mean people and places either; they mean aspects of the church.
Even in our world a "name" means more than just a name - it also means what someone is like. People's natures get attached to their names. We often say, "They're doing it for their name" or "to make a name for themselves." "Those are big names" means that those people are famous for characteristics they possess, such as creativity, scholarship, achievements, or the like.
It is common knowledge that people who insult or libel other people's names are in fact insulting or libeling the actions of the other people's lives. The two are conceptually linked. Such attacks ruin the reputation of people's names. Likewise, someone who says the name of a monarch, a duke, or a great person with disrespect also dishonors the person's majesty and dignity. It is equally true that someone who mentions anyone's name with a tone of contempt also disparages the deeds of that person's life-this applies to everyone. Every country has laws that forbid us to abuse, attack, or insult anyone's name (meaning anyone's nature and reputation)."
So it's not that Michael does not exist, but rather that name is representative of a collective of angels that are united in a community. And their shared understanding is that no single angel can operate autonomously with power of their own, but rather operate in fellowship to spread love and wisdom to any and all that are willing to receive it.
What do you think?
hi Curtis, i know it's been a while but life/existence got in the way.
i have a question>>>>>if a person dies ,unconscious(like a drug overdose) does the soul wake to consciousness, knowing their body/space suit has died?
Hi Gullible's Travails, welcome back! Swedenborg does share stories of people who do not yet know they are dead, or even others who have been told and then forget or ignore it.
I have read accounts of Swedenborg speaking with spirits who do not believe in God or an afterlife, and Swedenborg reminds them that they are dead, that they were told this and introduced to the spiritual world, but that because they would rather not believe in spiritual things, they've denied themselves the truth so they can live in their own delusions.
From True Christianity 77: "Some satans from hell longed to talk with angels from heaven in order to convince them that everything comes from nature and that God is only a word, unless it means nature. They were given permission to ascend. Some angels came down from heaven into the world of spirits to hear what they had to say. Once they spotted the angels, the satans hurried furiously toward them and said, "You are called angels because you believe there is a God and that nature is nothing in comparison. Yet what you believe runs contrary to all the evidence of the senses. Have any of your own five senses ever detected anything other than nature?" The satans said these and many other harsh things.
The angels then brought back to the satans' remembrance that they were now alive after their own death, although they had not believed such a thing was possible. The angels showed them the magnificent and dazzling things that exist in heaven, and pointed out that such things exist in heaven because all the people there believe in God. Then they showed them the hideous and filthy things that exist in hell, and pointed out that such things exist in hell because all the people there believe in nature [alone]. By seeing the contrast, the satans were convinced for the time being that there is a God and that he created nature. Nevertheless, as they sank back down, their love for evil returned and closed off their intellect at the top. As a result they came back into their original belief that everything comes from nature and nothing comes from God."
So that's an idea to sit with! You can read more of that at newchristianbiblestudy.org if you want. And here are some episodes to delve into: "Spirits Don't Know What They Are," th-cam.com/video/IppbNlG9hyY/w-d-xo.html
"Why Some People in the Afterlife Don't Know They're Dead" th-cam.com/video/bRYJUXQ4-Xc/w-d-xo.html
"What Happens After You Die" th-cam.com/video/leqhswYE57c/w-d-xo.html
"What It's Like After We Die" th-cam.com/video/RZaOR2xnD_w/w-d-xo.html
Hope that helps!
Thank you -Please make a video regarding instructions, if that is possible.
How to actually live, the process, the Rules to live by, to keep,
i request this because many insights are only helpful if they are applicable to our everyday situations. i have intuitions of conscience, and faith, yet there is a missing connection of how to keep self-control, to resist, to rely upon God without getting distracted by the 'hell', by the flesh, by ego, habits, addictions, or by old self-delusions, etc.. how to do be consistent with good deeds, right intention, while we can, while we're here. sorry if this request is vague, i'm trying to be specific, God Bless all, i'm sincerely concerned and trying to get it right
+Abstract I hear you. The request makes total sense to me. An accessible, simplified practical life-guide based on Swedenborg's philosophy is really needed, and I'm in the beginning stages of producing something that might fit that. In the mean time, I do hope to do some show episodes on it--there are just so many topics to cover! Thanks for taking the time to write, and for sharing some of your experience here.
+Abstract For me, the 12 steps covered some of the path of life (rules) questions, while I am reading Swedenborg and trying to live into the big spiritual picture.
I wonder how did the Swedenborg see the spirit for example is it a light, shadow or noise. I would like to know how did he see the Spirit or angels? Thank you Swedenborg team.
thank you for sending me these I wonder does it exist in other languages I want to send this too some friends
Carolyn Norton thank you Caroline.
Swedenborg could be very pithy and poignant every now and then. Talking about the levels of angels there's an enormous amount of mind-numbing abstraction. It makes them (angels) seem aloof, and class-divided almost to the point of the Hindu caste system. Then there's that beautiful little bit about the two angels meeting, each of them running to see who could reach the other one first. I love God and I try to reflect that in my actions, but it's people I think of when I feel love, and even pets I've had. There was that documentary about the Amish on PBS, and how one of them mentioned when she prays she can't seem to get low enough, so happily grateful she feels. That's the most clearly defined emotion I have in respect to God, just an immense gratitude. Even when life is arduous, it never goes away. But I just wondered if anyone else gets foggy trying to home in on God in a specific way.
+MrLolita33 Thanks for sharing! Yes, the distinctions can seem divisive in abstract, but it does seem that when he describes the actual interactions, they're saturated with love.
+Carolyn Norton When I say 'foggy' I'm referring to my own inability to conceptualize God. Like thinking about infinity. Directing love towards people I think about the experiences shared, and what is touchingly unique about them, and how they've positively affected me. I feel like God himself should have street cred inside my mind, that He should get his just due. But God is everything, and so I have trouble pinpointing anything mentally.
Are the 3rd level angles born here in this plan we are on as well? If so, are they more innocent and kind then most people here, or are they the same as the rest of us?
That's something I really like. It makes better sense to. I always thought that my grandmother looked after me . now I know why I feel that way.
You cannot get to heaven out there heaven is within and you have to cultivate heavenly qualities even while here on Earth 🌎
Yes! Agreed. While heaven is a place, it's not in space.
Did swedenborg writes about the feasts in Israel and how they relate to the lord. And the account of elijah
Great question, Kobby! Swedenborg did talk about feasts and food in the afterlife, saying that we need "spiritual nourishment," rather than physical, and that it will satisfy us in much the same way food does! He does talk about Elijah - anything in particular you are looking for?
A great place to do some research into Swedenborg's writings, or into Bible passages that you want to search the inner meaning, is newchristianbiblestudy.org - I do a lot of research there!
Also, our sometimes host and panelist Dr. Jonathan Rose ran a Bible study that went through various chapters of the Bible and looked at the inner meaning. I am sure Elijah comes up in there. Check out, www.spiritandlifebiblestudy.com/ for recorded episodes of those studies!
Hope that is useful to you! Blessings.
@@offTheLeftEye woow woow and thanks Curtis . This will go a long way helping me. Grateful
@@Kobbyahmed You're very welcome!
It would help me understand the concepts of all the Heavens if you could tell me exactly which Heaven offers Starbucks? Specifically the ones that are opened 24 hrs/day and offer free Pumpkin Spice Lattes??
Haha, what's heaven without Pumpkin Spice Lattes? ;)
is there a way for people in hell to work their way out of hell in Swedenborg's view? Like a person who loves God their whole life but has made a lot of mistakes, maybe one big one...could they work their way up to heaven if they try? Thank you for your work. It gives so much hope.
It isn't about deeds, i.e., work, but about what one loves. Think about it. What do you most love, seriously. What gives you the most intense pleasure or joy. That is exactly where you will be in the spiritual world. Can one "work" oneself out of loving what one loves?
Double Dragon, I see your point, and it is a great argument. I just keep thinking about Bible verses, such as "Faith without works is dead." I have a disability that keeps me from being able to go out into the world and spread the gospel like I have always wanted. I have felt called to be a nun, but they work so hard physically, I would be of no use. (because I cannot.) I stay sick bc my body kills my own cells. God gives me the most intense longing and pleasure, but I keep thinking that I might not make it to heaven bc I might be thought of as "lazy" or "didn't try hard enough" by those spirits that decide what to do w you when u die. The ONLY thing in life that gives me true pleasure is the hope that one day I might get to go to be with God again. I really long to go home. I never leave my house. God and Jesus are the only things that give me joy. I think about it all day every day and learn about it as much as I can. but "Faith w/o works is dead." That verse, from Paul, I think, keeps ringing in my ears...so do my BIG mistakes. of which there may be more than I even have ever considered. Maybe I need more faith in forgiveness. ...? Thanks for answering.
I'm pretty new to Swedenborg's thoughts on these things, too, but I'm sure Curtis can tell you which video to watch to find that he believed that such thoughts come from evil spirits, who want nothing more than to see you suffer. How more to suffer than to believe you are damned because you can't do a thing, what ever that things happens to be. So seriously, who is to say you won't ever be able to do what you long to do? You just can't do it in the way you envision now, getting up, walking over there, and delivering that particular message. Swedenborg would have interpreted that passage, "Faith without LOVE" as in "love your neighbor as yourself" to be a dead faith. He interprets all of it to be a state of mind. You are what you love and you become in the spirit what you love in this life. So why not just say a prayer to God this way, "God, here I am, as you made me. Use me to do your work. Show me what that work is that I can do in this body! And I will trust you and put myself in your hands." And when you hear in your mind that voice that says, "you are damned because Faith without Works is Dead,' just tell it back, "YOU don't get to determine what 'works' means! That is for God alone to determine!" :)
Thanks so much for your thoughts. I did say the prayer, and maybe I will find out one day that I am doing what I was meant to do. Maybe raising my children to be Christians is what my purpose is. It is hard, being isolated. My husband works 6 days a week or we couldn't get by and of course the govt won't give me a scrap to help, no food, no disability, even w proof. I think working families should be given help if they need it, not people who haven't worked in years! I don't want to ask the govt for help, but when I stopped working, bc I got laid off, we barely had /have money for food after bills. (every day peanut butter and bread, for years.) But I have come to enjoy it, believe it or not, but my health is a problem. I need fruit and veggies, and so do my kids. anyway, I will pray that prayer again, and I think the video you mean may be the one about how evil spirits affect us. God Bless you for replying with a kind message!
Paul talked about being caught up in the 3rd heaven
Indeed, Zach! Interesting that Paul's experience is the only place (I can think of) in the Bible that mentions it!
@@offTheLeftEye the three heaven kingdoms are compared to the glory of the stars , moon, sun. The sun being represented by the celestial kingdom. The order is Celestial, terrestrial, and tellestrial.
You can find some of this in 2nd corinthians
@@zachmoss8896 Thanks for explaining this. Here is a video about when God is like the sun and the moon.
th-cam.com/video/nINjEiVR9bc/w-d-xo.html
There is much to ponder. Take care, Zach.
So when someone dies, like our loved ones, and they “go to Heaven” if Heaven is within us, but our spirit goes to one of the layers…is there an actual place in the Heavens? Is it near us or far away?
Thank you for your curiosity Tru Lee. Here is a playlist of videos about heaven that will help. th-cam.com/play/PLgtFTXGqZdSngp4_pz7VaYnlWzl2-tEcS.html
Your questions are worth hunting for answers. A short answer is that distance is different in the spiritual world. "Thought brings presence" is one quote I love.
@@offTheLeftEye Thank you
@@trulee663 Keep looking for answers that make sense.
Good requires evil to maintain balance? Wouldn’t that make evil good?
I think what you are referring to is the alchemical process of testing the metal in the forge and honing it. Many people experiencing this process (myself included) feel we are being subjected and abandoned to evil. Evil is the rebellion or rejection response we tend to have to this process.
Truth with “goodness” = tolerance and compassion, but does not alter Truth.
I think I understand what you are trying to communicate, but as usual, language is limited which why we must develop intuition, which is the product of the above stated alchemical process.
Jesus tolerated and showed great compassion to humans until they told him how “good” they were, where he gently pointed out the Truth.
Did He create a new level of Heaven for us where perfection is not required but is a process to be continued without the hindrance of a flesh and blood body?
Good does not require evil, but *freewill* requires a balance of good and evil so that we are free to choose between them. And freewill is crucial. However, God does not allow any evil to exist or take action unless God can bring good out of it. That is the "testing" and "honing" process that you are referring to, which is an excellent analogy! In that case, the evil that is acting up is being used by God to purify and strengthen the goodness.
Regarding heaven and perfection, Swedenborg learned that actually, angels in heaven are not perfect, and are continuing to learn and grow and purify. But it certainly will be easier to evolve in heaven, where we're not burdened by the physical body and all that attaches to it.
So, perfection is not what God is looking for! God is looking for a willingness to progress in the direction of heavenly love, and every possible method of help is available there in the afterlife-first in the "world of spirits" between heaven and hell, and then in whatever level of heaven a person finds a home in. And yes, God has created three major levels of heaven, with great variety within each, so that every person can find a place that matches their state of mind, and where they can best learn and grow.
You might enjoy our episode "Spiritual Detoxing" th-cam.com/users/results?search_query=spiritual+detoxing+swedenborg
offTheLeftEye
I had never considered perfection to mean “completion” but rather incorruptibility. I do believe angels to be incorruptible. To know God as they do means never to doubt or question his judgement but to contemplate the lessons within their tasks and ascend.
I do like your explanation about God using evil or the doubt and rebellion of less enlightened to hone the faith of His followers. I feel more empowered and compassionate than rejected.
@@kathleendircks907 Yes, I like the way you have put that: incorruptible, willing to always trust God and learn from their experiences. Thanks!
I do have one question Swedenburg View of hell. And the hell Jesus told us to avoid at all costs someplace we never want to go. Why are the views of Swedenburg not the same as what Jesus taut us the same? If he is getting his information from Angels?
+james dempster Hi, James! Swedenborg also emphasizes that hell is somewhere to avoid. He gives many descriptions of terrible conditions of life in hell, and emphasizes the importance of repentance and turning to the Lord so that we will not be manipulated by hell and pulled down. We understand the descriptions to be the same as Jesus is saying, but Swedenborg wrote that he was guided (by Jesus Christ) to understand the symbolism of what Jesus had been saying, which has often been misunderstood. What specifically are you seeing as a disagreement between what Jesus says about hell and what Swedenborg wrote?
Hello it's Ben a long time. Let me watch the video again. So I can refresh my mind
Hi. May I ask? If God rules supreme. Why wasnt the universe created with booth God and "Satan", the opposite? You said that everything has to be balanced, and I belive that. It seams in the works of Swedenborg that the only "monopole" is God naturally wishing us good. But how come that in the same time the universe was created that the two oppositss developed? Getting my drift? I like God and want to bee on his path as long as I live. But shurely, there must be a inbalance in the universe if God has the upper arm, and our thinking and deeds draws us to hell. I am just curios of how you see about it?. Neo Stratospey, Avesta, Sweden.
Great questions, Neo Stratospey! I recommend two episodes that I hope can help clarify this concept:
"Spiritual Warfare: The Battle Between Heaven and Hell" th-cam.com/video/COwnnC5J5ms/w-d-xo.html
and, "7 Laws of Divine Providence" th-cam.com/video/yCwj4YotzHA/w-d-xo.html
Swedenborg didn't believe in an individual devil, but he did use the terms "satans" or "demons" to describe the inhabitants of hell. Collectively, hellish beings create an energy that contrasts the nature of heaven, which is love and light and wisdom. While on earth, we are in equilibrium between these states, and learn overtime to gravitate towards one or the other, and develop our inner loves. The episode about spiritual warfare talks more about that.
The episode of Divine Providence talks about the invisible force that God uses to maintain balance in the world, and how those forces work!
Let us know how these resonate!
Do Angels ever come back to earth as people again for whatevr reason?
People have differing opinions about that, but Swedenborg reports that angels do not come back to be people on earth again. He says that our physical bodies and existence are just an outer shell to get our individual spirits started, and, once that physical layer has been shed, the person lives permanently in the spiritual world, continuing to learn and grow and evolve. Once a person has evolved into an angel, they do not devolve back down to an earthly level. They still go through cycles of development, but it all happens in levels in the spiritual world. However, angels are certainly involved with helping people on earth to develop a spiritual and heavenly mindset!
What about fallen angels?
"Fallen angels" aren't part of Swedenborg's cosmology, Luke. What are your thoughts about that concept?
I see, yes I read somewhere that Swedenborg does not think they exist, because angels get their substance entirely from being dependent. The angels that fight in the war of heaven? I listened that Lucifer is the desire to become god to overpower all, not confused on this. Albeit; "Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back. . . he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him." That people interpret one third of the stars being one third of angels. But the stars are the thoughts turned into falsity by being struck out of their correct context. So does it mean there are severely deceived angels? That the devil is so bad that he can manipulate good angels?
@@lukecronquist6003 great question! I looked up that passage - Revelation 12:9!
Swedenborg learned that the Bible is written symbolically, so these events have deeper, spiritual meanings, that apply to our spiritual lives. Here is what he wrote about "the dragon and his angels" in Revelation 12:9, in his book, "Apocalypse Revealed" no. 552:
" 'It was cast to the earth, and its angels were cast out with it.' This symbolically means that they were cast into the world of spirits, which is midway between heaven and hell, from which a direct conjunction is formed with people on earth.
The earth to which the dragon is said to have been cast means the world of spirits, because this world lies directly under the heavens, and when anyone is cast out of heaven, he does not sink immediately into hell, but onto the land in this world that is the nearest one beneath. For this world is midway between heaven and hell, being situated below the heavens and above the hells.
....The people in this world all communicate directly with people on earth. The dragon and its angels consequently communicate with people caught up in falsities and their accompanying evils, owing to the heresy they have accepted regarding faith alone. The text accordingly says later in verse 12 of this chapter,
'Therefore rejoice, O heavens...! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has a short time.' (Revelation 12:12)
We are also told in verses 13-17 that the dragon pursued the woman into the wilderness, and went off to make war with the rest of her offspring.
It should be known that in respect to his affections and consequent thoughts, everyone is present in a society with people in the world of spirits, and indirectly through them with people either in heaven or in hell. Everyone's life depends on that conjunction."
Swedenborg believed that we are in constant communication with spirits, who influence our thoughts and feelings (like the old image of a devil on one shoulder, and an angel on the other!) and we choose who we want to listen to.
The dragon and his angels symbolize a false mentality about God - in a nutshell, that faith can exist without charity, or loving action, or love to the neighbor. God IS love, so this idea that love and faith can be separated contradicts God entirely!
The events in Revelation symbolically describe the end of one spiritual era, and rise of another, and portray events that happened in the spiritual world. For more information about that, see this short clip, "When Did The Last Judgment Take Place? And What Happened?" th-cam.com/video/Spl_WXqI1ho/w-d-xo.html
For more on the dragon in revelation, see this short clip: "The Symbolism of the Red Dragon in Revelation" th-cam.com/video/WXwmmqk6O9s/w-d-xo.html
That clip is from the full length episode, "The Four Strangest Creatures in Revelation" th-cam.com/video/XVA1SxDnRgQ/w-d-xo.html
For more on the world of spirits that Swedenborg mentions in the above passage, check out this short clip, "Welcome to the World of Spirits" th-cam.com/video/8RcfriDRPX4/w-d-xo.html
And finally, we did an episode about Lucifer! Check it out here: th-cam.com/video/V7JMUhYqgHs/w-d-xo.html
I hope that's helpful to you - please let us know what you think, or if you have any questions! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts with us! God bless!
Thankyou, I feel much clear now and understand what happened to the angels. And seeing it as a change of era makes a lot of sense.
@@lukecronquist6003 I'm glad those thoughts were helpful! Wishing you well, Luke!
What do ya mean we don't get to the divine?
I'd be happy to help! Can you tell me what part of this episode you're referencing?
Thanks I don't know where..before halfway through...during one of diagrams
@@TammySoulJourney Okay, if you find the particular place, and can tell me how many minutes into the show it is, I can find it and answer your question. This show was made a few years ago, so we'd have to go remind ourselves what particular information is in it. It might be that what you are talking about is the fact that we can never reach the full level of God's divinity, because it is beyond all human comprehension, but we can keep getting closer and closer to God's Infinite Divine Love forever!
If that's the case I disagree..our Goal is to become one with God and Yes we can achieve that.
@@TammySoulJourney Let me put it another way. Think about your relationship with Johnny. Didn't it grow deeper over time? And don't you think it can keep on getting deeper when you are reunited in heaven? It's that way with our relationship with God. It can keep on getting deeper forever.
How does it work if the spirit has a brain injury? or cannot control their movements. Like if they have cerebral palsy or Parkinson's disease? When Higgins is talking about the medulla it's not that person's choice to have a problem with their brain and it's not evil spirits because people are born with brain disabilities.
Hi Amy, that's a really good question. Swedenborg wrote about this in the book Divine Providence. Here are two passages that you may find helpful. "The reason no one is reformed in a state of mental illness is that mental illness deprives us of rationality and therefore of the freedom to act rationally."; "The reason no one is reformed in a state of serious physical illness is that at such times our reason is not in a state of freedom. The state of the mind depends on that of the body. When the body is afflicted, the mind is as well, if only by being out of touch with the world." In essence, when we are in a state of either physical or mental illness, our freedom is infringed. It is only when we have
spiritual freedom and our rational faculties that we pave a path towards heaven or hell. Yet this doesn't mean that the spirit is injured; when we transition into the spiritual world, our spirit is set free from the limitations of the natural world and can develop in the world of spirits. Once this is underway, such a spirit would then progress toward an eternal home fitting of their
development and ultimate affection. On another note, I want to make clear that our rationality being functional and impaired is something that can fluctuate in our lifetime and it isn't necessarily a one-to-one thing that brain injury or impairment of motor function means permanent loss of rationality for our lives in this world. I imagine that there are instances when someone is physically or mentally impaired (maybe car accident, or something else), but with the help of professionals, can regain their rational faculties and continue growing on a spiritual level even though their physical impairment isn't necessarily permanently gone. Sorry for such a long-winded answer!
This is obviously a very complex question and I wish to respect and honor the
sensitivities surrounding it.
offTheLeftEye I guess I am confused because some of the most inspirational, kind, spirits/people I have come in contact with are dealing with physical or mental limitations. I myself have depression and I have to take medicine. I wish I didn't but I do feel like there is a demon inside me talking me down. So all in all this thinking brought upon me by watching some of these videos made me start telling those negative voices to shut the heck up and yell at them to get out of my brain. It's a constant battle.
The Nine Choir of Angels.. Seraphins, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominations, Virtues, Principalities, Powers, Archangels, Angels!
Nephilum
👍👍🙏🙏
Sometimes Angels like challenges so they will lower their vibration to help others,but it comes at a price,but your rewards come when you go back to heaven,awakening soul knowledge even Angels still learning.Hearbreak and loneliness because your energy is so high you can't always stand to be in crowds and like to be alone more.But try to help humanity raise it's vibration ,new earth,new life,people free of illnesses, remember stress is a killer,be at peace .,renew your spirit.my name here linda,my name there is alyssa, researched it it means she knows,I say inner knowing,remembered.
I appreciate your emphasis on working to make humanity better-- Swedenborg wrote that creating a heaven from the human race was the greatest end goal for us. There's something very powerful about having a goal like that.
We all should strive for this end goal,for every person enlightened it's closer to heaven that's what I say,with truth comes freedom of the human race maybe I won't see it but I hope so.i do know something big happening feel it in my stomach,gut feeling.stay safe.
@@lightshining2303 I agree, it is happening, one person at a time, bringing more of heaven to earth!
my last trip to Heaven was really fun, I love to sing and create music, while there I was singing all kinds of great songs, Someone asked me how is it that you can come up with so many songs? I said its easy they just come to me, To prove it I came up with a new song out of the blue to show this person how easy it is, I was on a high just singing like a bird... But I had to return to the body my spirit felt so large, like a giant and I wondered how I was going to squeeze my great big spirit back into my tiny body (I am not tiny I weigh 390 and am 6.2 tall) but my body was quite small next to my spirit I felt. After this Heavenly trip a few nights later I had some Hellish trips as well, One was very sexual in nature, being forced into many sex acts with men and women both, I was shown how people are sexually abused in Hell for being sexually immoral in life, Two gay men were sexually abused over and over again as I was shown they ended up clinging to one another in total friendship no longer desiring homosexual sex, but just wanting friendship (btw I am gay myself) so I am not trying to cast judgment on gay people, But I was shown what becomes of sexually immoral people (both gay and straight) by being sexually abused over and over again they come out of it no longer wanting to be sexually immoral. The next Hell I seen had to do with people who are tormented in life by evil spirits, People that have no real faith in God in their earthly lives... They go to a Hell where they are told you either become a tormentor yourself in the after life or you will be tormented again and again. These souls roam the earth looking for victims to torment, but they can not torment believers in Christ if they do so God will punish them, Like Swedenborg I have been shown the other side as well, but at this point of my life I have not gone as deep into it as Swedenborg I am only 44 years old maybe as I grow older and more mature I will get to see more if its Gods will for me. But yes I believe Swedenborg was shown the other side and everything he had to say about it is true.
Wow, you've had some intense experiences! Thanks for sharing some of what you've seen.
I have seen a lot maybe someday I will write a book about it, but I don't want to be famous like Swedenborg, I'm very sure I am not the only one who the Lord has revealed some of the secrets of the after life too, I'm just one of many that the Lord sometimes talks to.
And Swedenborg didn't want to be famous, either. :) I admire your humility, Gerald, and your desire just to share what you've been seeing. The goal is that eventually, every person will be able to find the voice of the Lord in their own heart and mind, and we can all help each other know God more and more clearly.
I believe the new church is coming just in my life time I have already seen a big change in spirituality
I got the book “Secrets of Heaven” and Heaven and Hell and as I was reading them both I absolutely do not understand anything that either book are saying.
They can be tough going, Jennifer, especially in the older translations. And it's a completely different way of thinking for many people! That's why we started our channel -- to try to give people some support in understanding these ideas. If you want to keep attempting to read, make sure you have the New Century Edition translations -- at least they use updated language and simpler sentence structure. But if those ARE the ones you have, don't feel bad if it feels just too hard to wade through. You can learn a lot about Swedenborgian content on our channel (and in other places) without having to read it yourself. Let us know if we can answer any questions or be more of a support somehow! Blessings to you on your journey.
So if i were to become celestial being so i lose free will and i lose my mom and dad is what i understand
No, Reaper, not necessarily. You'd still be a person, and the ties of love will keep relationships alive. See some of the other responses to your questions under other episodes.
i think it's funny how u said the electromagnetic spectrum can't change.
Hi Joseph! What do you think about it?
If Swedenborg believed in the Bible, how could he say people married on earth will also be married in heaven? When in the Bible it says we won’t be given in marriage. Knowing that completely discredited him, to me.
I honor the frustration you feel about this topic. Have you seen our short clip addressing this very subject? You may find it useful. th-cam.com/video/Nfy6JNC4BwQ/w-d-xo.html
offTheLeftEye I ended up watching another video on this channel that further explained it. I do kind of feel like this channel has a lot of info but I get the feeling it sort of worships everything Swedenborg says. It’s like giving up one religion to follow this one. My question to you is, if God did in fact give Swedenborg all this info directly or through spiritual guidance. Why didn’t you go through the same type of enlightenment? Why do humans always end up following everything a man says rather then getting enlightenment for themselves through God/Jesus/ Holy Spirit
Those who wrote down the words in the Bible were servants of the Lord. Swedenborg also called himself a "servant of the Lord" writing down what he was taught and shown after a powerful vision of Christ, and a calling to a mission. What he wrote down was not in any way supposed to replace each person's own individual quest for a relationship with God. On the contrary, it is only supposed to support people's individual journeys by providing more information about the bigger structure we are all operating in, so that we can better navigate our own unique spiritual path to a relationship with God. Our channel is here to share what Swedenborg wrote down, for viewers to decide about for themselves. Our channel is run by a non-profit book publisher, not a church, so we are not asking anyone to adhere to a religion, or to accept anything that does not ring true to them. We are simply sharing the concepts, for viewers to accept or reject according to what their heart tells them to do. So I hope you always feel free to accept what resonates with you, and to set aside the rest. We are not interested in putting any pressure on anyone!
That's right just as Buddha and Jesus said question everything..find your truth.
LOL just dropping in for some people and Your comment on that :-D
I'm glad you did, Tammy! How are you doing today?
No I was quoting Curtis talking about dropping in.
@@TammySoulJourney I see! :D Many these episodes were made years ago, and we don't remember what all Curtis was saying in them. But we're always happy to have you drop in, too!
Oh I don't know about that being mars maybe the desert
I don't know, kvarn. If you want to give me a time stamp for the concept you're responding to, I might be able to have a better response...
Interesting! When Lucifer fell from the Third Heaven. He took over the Second Heaven. Wonder how that works ? With the Evil Kingdom on one side and Gods Kingdom on the other side?
According to what Swedenborg wrote, everyone begins in heaven after they die; then they sort themselves out according to that which they love. So of course, if one were evil incarnate, he (or she) would fall through the second and then the third heaven on their way down to wherever they truly belong.
The Host of Angels are warrior Angels under Michael. and. you can partner with them. in your daily life! for help!
The angels has 3 hierarchy. Seraphim, Cherubim and the Throne .
Seriously!!?? The presumption is that everything is described as fact. No questions asked. No real proof given - only statements based on what?
Try it on for size. Does it make sense? Does it feel right? Does it coincide with what you know to be right and true? Do you feel loved when you offer assistance and kindness to another human being, and that kindness is accepted? If fear abated? Is goodness and mercy increased in your own experience of your own life? What is the fruit that you see from living this way? Is it truth? Figure it out by living it!
Kat Kerr. said that she saw Arch Angel Michael Castle Fortress in Heaven as Leader of the Host of Heaven. who war with demons!!
The celestial Angels are transformed physically and emotionally.
The natural spirits suppress a lot of those emotions that from God perspective is not good for the soul. These spirits will end up working harder years hundreds of years to reach transformation. The celestial Angels allow God in and point these emotions out therefore the celestial Angels feel every action feeling emotion that is withing no matter how awful it is on order to release from the soul, once this is done God sends his love through his conduit the holy spirit to that person.
Curtis Child
Sweden burg intelectualize a lot of what he wrote down. The Divine is more of an emotional experience some of wish is hard to put in words but understood by those who receive Divine Love from God. These are the teachings that Jesus though before his word got twisted and changed.
+Carolyn Norton ..I know some of this information through personal experiences. Through prayer, and out of body experiences. When this things where happening to me I started praying for answers and I was led to Divinetruth.com
There Alan Jackson Miller explain a lot of the same things that I was going through . Things that the church does not teach or plainly call hellish.
+Carolyn Norton I have died and came back.
+Carolyn Norton I had the same ration when I first ran into the channel. But I started listening to their youtub videos and reading the material carefully. If he is Jesus and she Mary, that is not as important to me but what they are teaching. After studying his material for over 5 years a lot of what he talks about are the same as what I have been experiencing, no other religion or spiritualist is close to the teachings provided by Alan Jackson J Miller and Mary.
Also through their Web page they have other read materials/books from other author's experiences including Swedenborg.
No I have not thought of sharing my NDE. It was a long time ago when I was a little girl and some memory is blurry, but I do remember clearly piping out if my body and seeing myself in the electrical outlet getting electricuted because I had put a Bobby pin in the outlet. I also saw how I was being brought back to my body when the paramedic where reviving me. I also saw my body laying in the hospital silver table and the doctor injected my back to remove some liquid that had accumulated.
I know this is true because my mother confirmed that I was dead. She was telling the story to me and some of the things I saw if I was unconscious I would not know.
Carolyn Norton I mentioned some in my previous reply. I saw my own physical body stuck in the outlet getting electricuted, my spirit body was appr. 3ft behind my physical body. The peremedics trying to resucitar me. The doctor removing liquid from my back. Also saw my mother fear and panic and how she hit the outlet box with a broom. When she did that my physical body fell down on the floor.
+Carolyn Norton don't remember on this NDE since it's still blurry. I get bits and pieces here and there.
I have had heaven experiences during my sleep state. I only can go in the spirit world to those locations where my own souls condition will allow. Just like Swedenborg, and Angel in a better condition than me took me to a beautiful hevenly place but the angel provided some of his loving energy in order for me to wistand being there since my own condition was less than the Angel
Oh the literal interpretation of things will always fail as its foundation. Swedenborg is intentionally speaking in symbolism and alagorical term not just analogies to things out there. When you are an ideologue, this will always happen with the Mystics. A phenomenological take doesn't mean the same thing as an eye witness account of something. Same things happen with Jung, Gebser, whitehead in the New Age Community
We present what Swedenborg wrote, and encourage viewers to decide for themselves how to hold those descriptions!
Emperor Palpatine's love child.
Sounds like the Good Place, my new favorite TV show. however, it all sounds too much like earth, too much work!!! I hope there is a place for me to do nothing but sleep. too many hoops to jump through and over. thanks but no thanks.
Don't worry. You'll go where your love is.
Sorry Darling,,u your self don't seem to believe this as far as the angels were all humans?..?..the Bible uhj the fallen angel......?
Swedenborg learned from speaking directly to angels that they had all started out as humans on earth. He was told that the idea that angels are a separate race is due to a misunderstanding of Scripture. For instance, if you read the passage in Isaiah chapter 14 that mentions the fall of "Lucifer", you can see in context that it is talking about the fall of the king of Babylon, not the fall of an angel. And when Jesus says "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven" in Luke 10:18, he is talking about demons who had been making their way into the lower borders of heaven, but by his work while on earth, Jesus caused them to be cast down from heaven (just as he was also casting demons out of some people on earth). So it is not a phrase about an angel who had lived in heaven and then fell, but it is about demons who were trying to sneak their way into heaven, but were cast down.
Angels aren't people! Angels separately creates beings. We will judge the angels one day.. blasphemy you are teaching
Different points of faith, I guess, Robert. On this channel, we take Genesis's Creation story as symbolic, but I can't help noticing that the creation of angels was not mentioned in that story. Our belief is that angels are people who have chosen to walk with God. Blessings to you in your beliefs.
Its a real shame that you seriously don't don't realize that space isn't real. I can no longer watch this channel. If you habnt figured that simple thing out, then how can anything you say be Legitimate,
We wish you well, wherever you're going, TOM. Can you tell me what makes you conclude that we don't realize that space isn't real? We believe that the spirit/spiritual world is what's truly real, which does not partake of time and space.
Thank you Swedenborg team, looking forward to listening...