@@mistaleesreversespeech7728 Actually, I know of a lot of religious people who suffer from a lot of fear, too, so I think it's a pretty universal struggle, don't you think?
@@offTheLeftEye I have listened to a lot of atheists gloat about how they are so much smarter than believers bc we are so afraid of the truth of nothing after death.. my point is they are the ones who are actually afraid..of eternity.
I have once been allowed to experience complete timelessness and therefore stateness. It has been the most mystical experience in my life. Because that's when you can experience just "being" (in the best sense of the word). There no longer is a past nor a future, just a constant present, and since you're in a constant present (that is, a constant being) there is no fear of an eternal future because you're constantly in the present. I wish I could experience this again, because in my current normal human experience this concept makes sense but is not relatable unless you're in that state. It really is one of those things you have to be currently experiencing to comprehend... But at least I know I understood it, and that it definitely IS real.
This really helped calm me down. I have only had this fear recurring for about four or five years. It started when I was 18 when I really began to think about the concept of eternity. I grew up as a pastors kid and in an older church where many if not most were about the rapture and be ready for the rapture. And not only did it freak me out that we would be here one second and gone the next, but that we would be in heaven forever. I have almost worked myself into panic attacks over this, and watching this video and seeing these comments helped so much! I don’t feel alone in my fear. I have tried in the past to talk with my family about this and all they would say was “oh you won’t even notice you won’t care” and it didn’t help at all. So thank you so much for this video, I feel I am beginning to understand eternity. 😊
Quite a journey, Megan. So sorry you had a kind of panic bred into you, and so glad the ideas in this video feel helpful! I've just recently learned that there are a lot of people trying to get healed from rapture trauma. Blessings to you as you keep working to come to a peaceful concept of the whole thing.
While listening today, I felt like I was really struggling to grasp this concept. When I talk to my fiance, I say I hope that you have a good day.... but I know in Heaven he doesn't have 'days' ...so then I'll say - I hope you are in a happy state.. as I watched this-I started thinking about how hard some of the Swedenborg stuff is for me to fully understand and process... even when you guys are breaking it down..... but THEN right at the end today, when you said- if you tell a 3 year old they are going to live for eternity, they have no idea what you are talking about- they just want to keep doing what they are doing or wanting to know what they get to do next....because they are having fun...... suddenly it all just clicked and I actually said out loud- Oh! I get it! :) I'm a first grade teacher- sometimes things just make more sense to me if you break it down in little child way- Thank you for all you do- You are a blessing in my life!
I teach little ones too.. I found it very ironic and awesome that i'm seen as teaching them, when THEY are the reason I understand things more clearly ♥
When I was very young I thought about the concept of time, space and eternity to the point where I had to stop or I'd lose my mind. I'm in the 'golden years' of my life now and live in near isolation to where I can study the concept again. Instead of going crazy, I find myself being totally in the now, just like Curtis suggested children do. Every so often I'll get a small glimpse into that state of existence called joy. I guess I'll never stop wondering about the spiritual realm. P.S. Curtis .. there's no need to self deprecate. Many of us out there think along the same lines as you do. 🌹
Im only 17 and i have this fear… it started 3 years ago i think when i and a friend had a conversation about heaven, and he told me: Bro, Imagine you live in heaven and it never ends, it just keeps going on forever “ that was the first time i had an little existencial crisis, with 15 i started look at old pictures of my grandma ( she passed away 6 years ago ) and i had an crazy stupendiously existencial crisis! I was imagining how it feels to dont exist it freaked the sh*t outta me. Sometimes i forget this fear for months! And then, like now it comes back and my stomach feels weird. The idea of Never seeing your loved ones again is so scary to me! I Hope i will see them all again. 😢
We believe you will, Samuel! See if this episode helps turn your terror around somewhat.... "Will We See Our Loved Ones in the Afterlife?" youtu.be/ 9gdngWOvKas Blessings to you! Love is the force behind everything in the universe! Shared love will pull you and your loved ones together, like it does here!
When people come back to this life from a near death experience, one of the things they seem to always mention is that "there was no time there." And it felt so natural, they say. I sometimes wish I "could stop time," saying it feels unnatural and is "my ever present enemy," ha. If I try to comprehend eternity using the space, time, and matter here on earth, I "hit a wall" and can no longer think about it. I can see how it makes no sense, based on our temporal existence, so "eternity" is a state of being. Ancient wisdom and some religions say that time is an illusion. That did not make sense to me, but it was because I was still using our earthly existence to interpret time. Beautiful!
I (also) grew up freaking out about eternity. I'm thankful you did this show. I especially like the concept that time is a property of earthly life just like gravity, a physical thing only.
The crippling fear of eternity after eternity and even after that eternity is another eternity was indeed one of the worst and most consistent feeling that i had ever since i first gained consciousness about time. This definitely soothed the pain and i feel somewhat rejuvinated, i remember i had for at least 2 years just wanted to cease to exist, where everything within my being alive was rid from reality and spirituality
I am glad you are feeling rejuvinated, Jonathan. It sounds like the endless time weighed on you heavily. Angels live in the present, and are not concerned with the past or future. When we can live that way too it eases some of the anxiety and regrets that hold us back. Here is a passage about trust that I love. It is from Secrets of Heaven 8478. "Very different is the case with those who trust in the Divine. These, notwithstanding they have care for the morrow, still have it not, because they do not think of the morrow with solicitude, still less with anxiety. Unruffled is their spirit whether they obtain the objects of their desire, or not; and they do not grieve over the loss of them, being content with their lot. If they become rich, they do not set their hearts on riches; if they are raised to honors, they do not regard themselves as more worthy than others; if they become poor, they are not made sad; if their circumstances are mean, they are not dejected. They know that for those who trust in the Divine all things advance toward a happy state to eternity, and that whatever befalls them in time is still conducive thereto."
Hello Curtis, when I was in my early 20's I spent a few years studying art. They taught us how to shift into the right brain, so we would be better able to see shapes and shadows and become better at drawing, in this video when Swedenborg talks about going into a different type of awareness that was detached form time, it reminded me of what I was taught in art class about shifting into a right-brain mode. Even my Zen Master reminded me God lives in the right brain. It astounds me that so much of what Swedenborg says is in line with modern science and our understand of the brain. I think he truly got higher wisdom from heaven. Good show man, Thanks!!
Thanks so much for sharing this point with us, Randy. Fascinating! It IS amazing that Swedenborg seemed to be ahead of the game on some things about the mind/brain. Thanks for being here with us!
@@brendapaint if you didn’t exists, then you are nothing. It’s not the idea of not existing that is scary. It’s leaving everything behind, your memories, happiness, joy, family, friends, living like a human, struggling, getting mad or angry, happy and so on. When you don’t exists like my future kids. You are nothing. You made no impact, you are not worth anything. You don’t exists. It’s over, no mind, memories. You are NOTHING! I would rather be something! Then forget everything!
Your videos always help me and comfort me. In fact, I used your videos as a way to overcome my apeirophobia. My father recently passed from cancer and shortly after, death, the afterlife, the purpose of existence, and eternity freaked me out for a year due to my dad's passing. God bless you, I believe he led me to your channel to show me that it's ok.
I'm so glad we were able to provide comfort to you in the aftermath of your loss, Davina! So sorry for your loss, but I'm very happy to know you have a different perspective on it all that has brought you peace. We here at OTLE have had similar experiences! Sending you love!
My experienced with time is, that when you enter a higher state of mind, when the spiritual vision opens up and you see more sharp, more refined colors, and you feel like dwelling outside time, in peace, no more questions, yet individual, then you have reached a place of peace, wisdom, and happiness, in a state outside time. Time is really not a part of our true nature. That is my humble opinion.
Hi, Curtis. Super-cool episode. Lots of insightful responses and comments from the wonderful people that tuned in to this show. I think that the way you were presenting the nature of time and having an insight into it is what possibly makes time dissolve and makes us retreat into the state of timelessness. Made me think of the passage in the Bible when Moses asked God who he was and God responded "I am that I am". No reference to a past or a future. So Curtis, you are a friend to all of us!
I can’t stop dreading the thought of eternal life. There’s no end, no death, no cease of existence, you just continue on and on forever and ever and it’s to a point that I even scare myself thinking about it
Ya know, PunMaster, Swedenborg even comments on that kind of "risk" of contemplating eternal life -- it's crazy-making for our time-bound mentalities! But what if life was wonderful? What if you felt peaceful and at home and a joyful part of a functioning community? Then would you want to STOP waking up every day? It's something to ponder. But if it fills you with dread, it sounds like "evil spirits" are getting into your head about it. Perhaps change the subject in your mind and don't give hell that playground any longer!
This topic - trying to conceptualize states outside of time - reminds me of quantum theorists trying to resolve the paradox of wave (continuous) and particle (fixed) under the observer effect. They propose that the state of reality shifts as soon as it is in the presence an observer. If we think of the observer as our ego consciousness, the particle as our “natural” (material) existence when observed through our ego consciousness, and the wave as the unobservable spiritual reality, then it seems that as long as we are led by our ego within our material bodies, we are fixed within time. Once we flow back into to unconscious through sleep or death, time ceases to exist. That’s why dreams can feel so long even when you’ve only been resting a moment, or you can get lost in “flow” when you’re so immersed in an activity that your ego falls asleep.
Im actually pretty excited about it , eternity in the after life is a much more comforting concept than even being here for a short time lol The spirit world is HOME we arent from here, we meet god back over there and go over everything with him,we start preparing for heaven and work with the angels on soul development ,it does NOT get boring over there, there is SOOOOO much to learn over there omg the knowledge is endless and eternal ,we are safe from evil and can see other spirits for who they truly are,its hard to imagine being present without a body but in time it will all feel more natural as we aclamate. I look forward to learning there , seeing and learning about how this world really operated and how humans were brain washed here into thinking alot of the goverment and politicians never had humanities best interest at heart and it will also be intereting to see spirits come in and learn how brainwashed tey were and that this planet was run by some very evil people they throught were so good. It probably wont matter to much anymore but I may want to get some insight on earth and see what happens to alot of the evil souls maybe confront a few of them lol i say that now but I know when I get there I will be all knowing and like "yes okay now I understand it all it makes sense how beautiful life was" You can pick your house in Heaven and continue your work whatever that may be. I so look forward to eternity in the spirit world/heaven and if anyone believes in reincanation it would be a cold day in hell (no pun intended) that I would EVER chose to come back to earth in another body ... GROSS!!!! One life time here has been enough and almost more than I can handle but I trust god so I still sail through life working on my heaven mind set.
AMEN!!! I Have To Give You 100 Thumbs Up ☝!! This Earthly World World!! That We Live In Are Evil 😈!!! Once I'm Dead Or Dying!!!! I Do Not Want To Come Back To This Old World 🌎!! I Want To Go To The ( New World 🌎 New Jerusalem!! Which Is Heaven 🌞 ☁ 🌟 🌈 💎 Among Heaven 🌞 ☁ 🌟 🌈 💎... This World 🌎 That We Live In - Are Wicked 😈 😈 & Evil..
I have had inklings of this concept erupt in my mind ....something that seemed to suggest that it is we who pass and not the time...it is our state that changes which becomes our experience of time...it occurred to me that our conscious being in our body is timeless...its just our body that is passing.......just a few random thoughts.
It's torture, no matter what I do, I will die and darkness nothingness will replace forever. But if there were a way to live forever, I would exist forever, I would do literally everything.
Thank you for this beautiful inspiration this Sunday morning. Many of us across the world do not have a Swedenborg Church to attend in our area. These videos bring us inspiration, direction, and joy. From a Patreon member.
Such a heartwarming message, Shawn! We are so happy our channel is serving you in a meaningful way. Thank you so much for your emotional and financial support! Blessings to you!
When the realization of Oneness occurred, there was an incredible feeling of aloneness, but that was just an interjection of the mind. There was a definite period of adjustment. Now the experience is there is no better place than right here, right now. Crazy Contentment 🙏💛
@@williamuhl252 That phrase "there is no better place than right here, right now" really rings true to me. Meaning, don't waste time wishing something else was happening, but find the value in the present. Is that the kind of thing that you mean?
@@offTheLeftEye Yes, absolutely! It's like being in neutral. So peaceful that it tickles the heart with joy. Thinking is way over rated. In fact, I dont think I can truly live God's will until I surrender to the moment. When I'm present, life expresses better than when I'm engaged in a complicated master plan of success.
@@williamuhl252 Makes a lot of sense! Swedenborg witnessed that a huge factor in heavenly happiness is the ability to focus on the present moment, and trust in God's guidance and care. Thank you for expressing this so beautifully!
LOVED this video, Curtis! It makes so much sense. This reminded me of a song we sang at church growing up, the title "On Zion's Glorious Summit Stood." One of the phrases was "and scenes of bliss forever new, rise in succession to their view," which was talking about what those in Heaven are experiencing, which I interpreted as continual bliss of better and and ever more beautiful experiences. Sounds glorious, all right, and never boring!!
Human minds always have to think in ways of 'events' and curiosity about 'thinking' or 'being' in ways that can't be understood in 3D as it is in timelessness and no space. Of course, for us it is a quandry or conundrum as you say. When we get into the spirit world it will all make sense and we won't even question it. "Tangible concepts" for us is 3D or temporal as said. As the state changes we understand even more, way beyond events and time evolving. sensing the infinite within the finite. Thinking and imagining, Intention, act, states, consciousness, learning, growing. Existing in the present, but pondering and contemplation of the eternal. good summary
Yep, Steve -- we humans, smart as we may be, sure have a challenge in trying to think outside the box of time and space! I'm sure it will all feel perfect and natural when we get there -- and I imagine a lot more peaceful!
Cool Episode Curtis.. Swedenborg is correct.. Eternity is a State . My experience of it is that you don’t really think about it. You are just in the Now.Not yesterday not tomorrow but Now. It’s Not like looking at the Stars and getting mind Boggled because of the Vastness of it. There is no time and Space Like we see it. Hence eternity..😊 I don’t find it Disturbing at All I embrace it..
offTheLeftEye Yes It Really is, However some things Bother me for instance when People Bash Jesus Or Blatant Disrespect and I have very little patience for injustice Other Wise I am pretty much at peace. I am a lot better with Patience than i used to be .. I’m learning and Growing. It really hasn’t been an easy road . I was Given a Gift from the Lord a Month ago. I was put forth Kneeling in front of him and he said to me ( it was a Rebuke) Tino you have Endured Much, However I have only This Against you. He then told me my sin. Then he said to go to the church of Ephesus.. Then he Asked me “ Am I suppose to protect you Because you are My friend.?” Man I was a bit Ashamed.. So after I woke from the Dream I read the Church of Ephesus in Revelation. And Thought about it . Then o receive a word from the Lord Telling me he gave me a Gift by Rebuking me.. Pretty Cool Rite? I am still trying to figure out what my first Love is. Do you know what that means? The word to the Church of Ephesus.. Thanks Curtis...Oh almost forgot he was reading out of a Book During all this..
@@tinopacino9400 The descriptions of these powerful experiences you have had really touch my heart. Thanks so much for sharing them. We actually did an episode digging into the meaning of the messages to the 7 churches in the book of Revelation, including to the Church of Ephesus! Take a look: th-cam.com/video/bVIw0rptRrQ/w-d-xo.html
offTheLeftEye So I went to the part that pertains to The Angel of Ephesus.. Really interesting However I thought Iv been doing Charity for people. Maybe I have to do More? It not Like I have a lot of money. I help people I give Myself to people. I even do give some Money. I have visited old people in Homes I help elderly with rides to places. Even at work I go out of my way to Help.. it’s probably that I need to do More it’s got to be..
Great explanation thank You looking forward to eternity learning being in company of love and kindness having fun and growing forever without worries being scared doing something useful that will love to do who would not want that thank You child’s mind and time concept was perfect example I miss my childhood
Yes, Margaret -- the picture you paint does seem irresistible! Childhood is a blessed time, and Swedenborg says we return to a kind of innocence in the other world.
Actually I'm looking forward to the afterlife. Lets face it...the earth realm ain't really all that great. I mean...lets face it. Thank you for your videos....I've learned alot!
You are so welcome, jilian! I am so glad you are part of our community! I share your anticipation of the afterlife. It is really quite hope-inducing to imagine a life beyond the limits of this material world!
Eternity with God in Heaven is good; eternity any other place would be scary. Yes, when I think back on the beginning as to what was God doing before the beginning of mankind is indeed a perplexing thing. Thinking in terms of state rather in terms of time is a solution, a remedy. Time on earth is not the same in Heaven. Yes. Good discussion.
Time really does seem malleable: when we are bored or similar, an hour can drag by; but when we are happy and enjoying ourselves a two-week holiday can be gone in a flash. My daughter and I are in a confusing state with time at the moment: my father (her grandfather) died a tad over 3 months ago and it seems like both yesterday and years since we last saw him, all at the same time! Does the Creator go through changes of states that affect his experience of time and, if so, does that have a knock-on effect for us?
I'm so sorry for your recent loss, Anna! The varying experiences of time are strange and amazing, aren't they? I hope that feeling of losing a sense of time around when you last saw your dad can eventually help connect you with the fact that he is now in a timeless state, and can be with you in spirit whenever you think of him, or feel love for him. The Creator is outside of time, so is not affected by time. Swedenborg learned that for God, all is present. God created time and space as tools for us to use, to help us learn and develop. Here's a quote about that from the book "True Christianity": "God is infinite because he existed before the world, before space and time came into being. The physical world has time and space. The spiritual world, on the other hand, lacks actual time and space, although it does have apparent time and space. Time and space were introduced into both worlds for the sake of distinguishing one thing from another, large from small, many from few - one quantity from another, and one quality from another. Time and space allow our bodily senses to discern the objects they are sensing; and they allow our mental senses to discern the objects they are sensing - to be affected, to think, and to choose. Units of time were introduced into our physical world by the spinning of the earth on its axis and its orbit from point to point along the zodiac. (The sun, the source of heat and light for this whole globe of lands and seas, only seems to be the cause of these cycles.) The result is the times of day: morning, afternoon, evening, and night; and the seasons of the year: spring, summer, fall, and winter. The times of day vary from light to dark; the seasons of the year vary from hot to cold. Units of space are part of our physical world because the earth was formed into a globe composed of substances whose elements are differentiated from each other and also extended. In the spiritual world, there are no physical units of space or corresponding units of time. Yet there appear to be. Apparent space and time follow the different states of mind that spirits and angels go through there. The units of spiritual time and space match the desires of their will and the resulting thoughts in their intellect. Apparent space and time, then, are real - they are predictably determined by one's state of mind." -True Christianity 29
I’ve been finding this to be true for me lately. The main thought that has stuck with me is ....nothing really matters. Whew, just can’t seem to snap out of that
@@angelaachee7933 Well then, I want to offer the concept that it's not true that nothing really matters. That there are external things that don't matter in the end, but deeper things about life that matter a lot! Do you think that's possible?
Tough question for my lovely OTLE team...❤ While our Lord is eternal and infinite, our universe may not be, according to some theories... I know that Heaven is directly linked to Earth, so, what will happen to Heaven when, let's say, there are no longer humans to born in our current universe? Will God create a new genesis? or maybe Heaven can operate without new humans since our humanity will be "complete" at the time this happens (the theories says billions of years in the future.). This freaks me out sometimes, because my first thought is always think that God will simple "reboot" everything, including every soul in the Spirit World, Heaven and Hell, but when i think deeply, that goes against everything i know about God. The embodiment of Love and Wisdom will never do it to his sons and daughters! However, the Humanity's final destination is still unanswered in my mind. Just to quote, I already made this same question to one of my Swedenborgian friends, but i want to know, what do you guys think? Thank you!
Hi Caio -- You happened to get Chara here, and this topic is not my area of expertise, but I'll share a few thoughts.theories. :) First of all, Swedenborg seems to indicate that the Earth will not perish. But even if it were to do so, spiritual reality might continue to exist, I reckon, just like a person's spirit lives on even when their body has completed its task in this world. All those souls will carry on in the spiritual world, I would think, because we have eternal souls. And yes, perhaps God could start up a whole 'nother "seedbed of heaven," if this world was to be taken out for any reason. The universe is a mighty big place. Secondly, though, Swedenborg says that one of the ingredients of the happiness angels enjoy is the fact that they don't worry about the past or the future. Staying in the HERE and NOW is what allows them to be happy. If you can tune into the fact that you are a beloved child of God, and that God is working constantly for your highest possible spiritual level of joy and love, and if you keep your attention on this present moment (all of which moments added together turn into a lifetime), perhaps that will help you let go of having to figure out some unknowable future. God is Love! We will be OK! Sending prayers for peace and blessing to you!
Here's a thought...we might be in charge of managing a galaxy. Now that would give us "a lot" to do considering how many galaxies are out there just in our known universe that we're able to see. Now wouldn't that be something? Bless God for His omnipotence!!
Boredom is a state of consciousness which is only possible when in perceived separation from eternal light. In that separated state we always _need_ things to do in order to feel connected to life. When we _become_ life instead of _doing_ life we no longer need the constant striving for stimulation and accomplishment because we are perpetually fulfilled and accomplished. We are no longer doing in order to be fulfilled, but we are fulfilled in all spheres of spiritual activity no matter what we do
Thanks for this message, Bonnie! Any kind of drawings/graphics are a help for the visual learners among us, and Curtis had a way with that electronic pen, doesn't he? :)
Thoughts as I watch. Now this subject is a BIG ONE for me! ;) But first, I had these thoughts a couple of nights ago about thinking back over our own lives. Consciousness doesn't seem to unravel/unfold/become aware gradually. Rather we pick out earliest moments. Memories (usually in the Third Person) are revealed like rain spotting before a shower. And what has this to do with Eternity? Well - as we 'look back' to an eternity, we seem to grow out of this state so very slowly; gradually becoming aware of our presence. Have we existed forever? Or are we part of 'the forever'. Or do we come as unique happenings into this 'state' of being. If so why is there no gradual awakening? Should we think of Time as linear or ALL existing? Are we 'going' anywhere - or are we changing? Well now Swedenborg is talking about STATES. There are times when playing music where Time seems to take a step back or two and the STATE of being engrossed in the music feels a little like 'foreverness'. Just hints, notions...but experienced. An experience of dropping out of time into a STATE! (Is this an emotional or intellectual state - or both?!) Will the understanding of Time and Space (or their absence) be the greatest revelation for us? Yet - from what I have read there is a feeling of MOVEMENT in Heaven etc. Movement brings some sense of TIME doesn't it? 'States being independent of Time' - maybe like how we see...we see in stills (states) but perceive them in motion (Time). This is WONDERFUL - more please Curtis (and TEAM). :) Time is the KEY. Cheers!
Thanks for sharing your reflections here, Tim. I, too, have experienced the timelessness of involvement in music. It does seem to be a hint of what's to come!
I think the part of us that operates out of the ego and I don't mean that in a negative sense, freaks out. I have watched videos where people have had out-of-body experiences and near-death experiences and even ayahuasca trips and they all talk about a place beyond space and time a sort of dissolving of boundaries as we know it here in the physical world. I think that there are multiple dimensions and I like the way Swedenborg describes his experiences. 🌬️🌫️
How can they have no notion of time when Swedenborg has talked about how choirs sing in the morning and he has mentioned angels sleeping, too. I mean, wouldn't that automatically give you a 'concept of time' since things progress from one thing to the next?
Yes, Simsane -- there IS an experience of sequence and succession and so on. But the progression is measured not by a clock or calendar, or the movements of planets around the sun, but by inner states of mind and heart. So while there is an "appearance" of time there, it's founded on something very different that the world's time is.
Maybe this will help to someone.. As I was freaking about it 5 mins ago I was thinking Okaay, what would suit me if I have to live forever.. And I realised being 25 and just living on Earth and playing ps5 and meeting people and travel etc. So all of the stuff I M fimilliar with and comftarble with. I guess we are all afraid of boredom and feeling stuck there as we have no idea how it would be there..forever. That gives anxiety. That time aspect. I mean I was forever not around since I was born and I am fine with it and fine without existing but what creeps me is not existing forever also, but way less as I am already fimilliar how it is not being around forever (in a past). So it's all about that we are not knowing - that is that fear. Moving to another place is anxiety driven. New relationship is anxiety driven. Etc. Hope this will help someone knowing that eternal life ,in religious way, is promised as peace and joy and I am sure we would be allowed to travel around and enjoy much more then here. All it takes is little bit of faith in God, I mean he already done a lot by creating all so I am sure everyone there is wired in feeling fine about it and not even wanting to be stopped. So... try just to avoid thinking about it. Nothing of it is in our power anyway.
Thanks, Abenico, for sharing some thoughts that have been helpful for you. Fear of the UNKNOWN is a big one, so there is some trust involved. But yes -- just living in the present moment will get you through whatever is to come. Right NOW I'm warm and fed and enjoying talking to you. One "right now" at a time will carry us along!
If I didn't have a concept of time my life would be 1,000 times better. time, knowing the time, knowing what time it is, knowing how much time I have left in the day, is my f****** enemy
I totally honor your frustration here, Ronnie. Being so anchored (and enslaved) by time can certainly make things difficult. Did you find anything useful in this episode? I'd love to chat more with you about this...
@@offTheLeftEye I just know I'm screwed. I can't handle how hard life is for me right now and time is one of those things that really ruins it all. Time is a prison for me. The time that I wake up after a horrible night sleep, the time that I have to go to bed the time that if I don't go to bed I'm going to feel worse the next day, the time that I'm missing out of my life when I'm sitting here in bed suffering. the time not knowing when this Dark Night of the soul that I'm actually going through is ever going to end, that if it's ever going to end or if I'm just going to suffer until I finally go insane or kill myself. Eternity. I'm looking forward to. As long as all this suffering is gone when I go to the next place, and I don't even know that there really isn't next place. I don't know if there is something really going on or if this is all just a bunch of bulshit that people make up because they're afraid that once they die there's nothing else. even the near-death experience people, what if that's just their brain going into a dream state from a big bunch of dream chemicals pumping into their head as they're about to die to keep them more peaceful, I guess. if there is a God, or Angels or other benevolent beings and they're all working for me, how come they never answer me when I cry out to them? They never help. They never comfort, they never bring peace... Yeah im a fuk up and I f***** up and I've done bad things but I have such a wonderful good heart thats being broken simply by living my day-to-day life every single day. Not from mean people at work or mean and bosses, or people that I run into or stress from work or relationships... it's just my own illness. This unrelenting horrible chronic fatigue and then as soon as I get a break for a second something else comes along like now this last week have developed a ringing in my right ear. And now I don't even know if I can get to f****** sleep right now. I'm sitting here crying and I have to go to court tomorrow but I don't know what to do because it's horrible everything is horrible I don't want to lay down because that's horrible I don't want to stay awake because that's horrible I don't have enough bravery to commit suicide so I just have to suffer through it until finally my brain snaps which I think I'm getting closer to pretty much every day. That's time. the only thing I may be able to be thankful for is if indeed this eternity thing is real but only if all of these infirmities and problems that I have disappear once I die. that is if I actually am a good enough person that actually gets to go to a heavenly place with Good vibes and good people. And I don't just end up suffering and suffering and suffering for all of eternity. I sometimes think that God literally hates me because I do not understand how any benevolent being could let me go through as f****** horrible of a life that I have to go through. No Angels will listen to my cries or give me any feedback, peace or advice or anyting. No comfort. I cry out to God I cry out to Jesus and none of them ever come into my life. I beg and I plead and I say come into my life and if there's things I need to do to change help me do that and I will do it. None of them listen. They only watch as I am punished and tortured and if things get too easy then something else must be added to the mix to make it worse and throw me off of balance once I am comfortable. I halfway think that I am cursed by someone or suffering from the evil eye as they say. people tell me they are praying for me a lot of good people and a lot of prayers coming my way,but I don't feel any evidence of that I don't feel any good I don't feel any warm vibes are comforting or healing. It's as if the prayers are being wasted or not reaching me. Something is terribly wrong and it just keeps getting worse no matter what? I can't gain a foothold on shifting Sands.
@@GeeseFX I'm so terribly sorry, Ronnie. You certainly are dealing with severe struggles, and my heart goes out to you. All physical pain problems will indeed be gone in the afterlife. So the thing to work on is state of mind, to see if there are ways to slightly shift things in your mind to reduce suffering and better deal with these problems. I wonder if you would be willing to try something counter-intuitive, and that is the practice of gratitude. The thing is, hell is always trying to get us to focus on the problems, the negative, and not even notice the positive, which is where we will find that presence of God and angels. Psychology has found that practices such as gratitude and forgiveness actually do improve the quality of life, even if external circumstances stay the same. Would you be willing to try watching this episode, "The Effect of Gratitude", and see if there are any helpful strategies that you could try? th-cam.com/video/WluBvWDAPKk/w-d-xo.html
Hey i have a psychology degree and just reading what your feeling i would say u need an antidepressant and if your already on one tell them you need to up your dosages. There is hope, hang in there . Curtis is right...start with gratitude , find one thing to be thankful for...next day list 2 things and keep going till you have at least a page.You have to change your mindset cause that goes with you to the after life. Do it now while you have the chance.
people tend to think of eternity as an over-abundance of time, but it is actually the absence of time. it is not static either. right now we are in a human state. after we pass from here, we change to an angelical or to a devilish state. perhaps we have an opportunity to work toward a more angelic state. it's always about states.
Apeirophobia sucks, but the insights in this video might help me calm myself down when I start contemplating eternity. I’m a mathematics major. When we learn about stochastic processes we learn about state spaces and time spaces. A state is a current condition. Transitioning between states requires time. Time spaces can be discrete or continuous, and state spaces can be finite or infinite. As beings in the stochastic process called life, we see things in terms of time. Morning transitions to night, which transitions back to morning. Time progresses in a linear fashion. When we attempt to comprehend eternity in temporal terms, we freak out. Are we really doomed to transition between the same states over and over? As humans, this goes against our nature. We crave new experiences. We cannot fathom time progressing in a linear fashion all the way to infinity because we would have to hit every finite number along the way. A million, a billion, a googol, a googol googols. On and on, without bound. And when we try to reverse it to go back in time, the same issue happens. How can it be that an infinite amount of time occurred prior to this moment? If that were the case, then surely we would not be in this moment because it would have taken an eternity to get here in the first place, and by definition eternity has no end. But what if time is the wrong paradigm here? What if eternity is a state rather than a duration of time? Could someone be present in multiple times at once? Can time be traversed in a non-linear fashion? Does time even exist, or is it a fabrication of our physical mind that dissolves when we die? I think us trying to comprehend eternity is akin to two-dimensional beings trying to comprehend living in three dimensions. You can do the math, but you can’t really visualize it.
Jonathan, I really loved reading through your message! You are thoughtful and present many important things to consider! My first question to you: have you encountered Swedenborg's teachings before? I'd love to get a sense of where you're at in order to best serve you :)
that’s genius, a clever mathematical explanation for it, i’ve got that fear of eternity which got me onto this vid and the comments section, is that phobia the fear of eternity? i have been having existential fears for as long as i can remember, it creeps up on me and i freak out and break down every now and then, i can no longer use my telescope or watch any shows on space any more for the time being
I can see how angels forget on what the time is. Because they know they live for ever, so they are never bothered with how long something they do, or how long is the state they are in. Imagine us, if we live for ever, there would be no hurry for anything, or no comparison to others - how much one did more for the same amount of time, there is no urgency, there is no due date.... I can imagine myself having no sence of time in those realms, what, then, automaticaly is the eternity ...... just some thoughts
Thanks for sharing your thoughts here, ksenija. For some people the idea of no time is peaceful, and for others it is panicky. You're lucky to be one of the peaceful types! :)
Wow. It seems like angels are really different to your normal spirit in the afterlife. Did Swedenborg ever talk about what the transition is from spirit to angel, what is lost and what is gained, are you still you or is identity lost?
Yes, TheLackstar, and great question! This transition takes place in the world of spirits, where we arrive as spirits, and shed the external layers of ourselves as we become our most authentic, deepest selves - so yes, you are definitely still you! If we have loved and sought to be of service in life, we become angels, and if we have sought destruction, greed, and other material pleasures at the expense of others, we become devils. Here are some episodes that talk more about this process: "The World of Spirits" th-cam.com/video/qoaPwhzDHWM/w-d-xo.html "How You End Up In Heaven Or Hell" th-cam.com/video/H-wnqBqa6xM/w-d-xo.html These might interest you as well, though they're sort of broader looks at this: “Will Your Body Look the Same When You Die?” th-cam.com/video/JX9BaMr7UyU/w-d-xo.html “What Happens Immediately After You Die” th-cam.com/video/H9D2hr0WWh0/w-d-xo.html I hope that clarifies! Let me know if these resonate with you.
Interesting video. What is forever? Difficult to explain, but I think the universe is really not what it may appear to be. We all use our “ 5 senses” to experience reality, but it perhaps it is an illusion beyond our understanding. 😊🙂
Quick question do you think there are electronics in the afterlife. Im totally fine without them theres much more interactive things but imma miss meh shows XD
Haha! I enjoy some shows, too.... Swedenborg describes a very active life of usefulness to one's community, but also interspersed with time for leisure and recreation. He describes plays and such, so maybe there will be videos, too? The way he describes some things being explained and taught in the other world sound very much like a TV show. We'll see!
God created humans, who become angels after they die if they choose to pursue goodness and kindness toward the neighbor. But Tim is right - God just IS, and has always existed! That's very hard for us to wrap our heads around, because, as JRRnot Tolkien points out, we're thinking from a earthly perspective, which is limited by the concepts of time and space. God is outside of time and space.
It’s was funny to watch Curtis taking about eternity, but I believed everything he was saying. So I’m thinking that this thought force could be called a state of mind ? So, what did Curtis ( I mean Swedenborg) mean when he was talking about “states” ? Is time and space just a state? I suppose when time and space is added into the formula, this can also be called a state? With time, there can be a beginning and an end, but with no time, a beginning and ending wouldn’t exist, I think. In the physical world, time changes space. Or space would be needed for time to work correctly. So God created space and added time in the physical universe. But in heaven, there are probably different forces and states at work just as there are colors we’ve never seen before or animals, insects, trees, etc .....Did I get that right? I’m only guessing, of course, but sometimes I can get sort of “spaced out”. myself ( LOL!😃!) but you never can tell! ( LOL!🌞🌞🌸🌸)
Haha, I can sure get "spaced out" sometimes too! :) I love when you articulate your thoughts and questions, Julian. For the word "state", think "state of mind." Notice when you're really absorbed in something enjoyable, you're not even aware of time. Suddenly, it's hours later, and you'll think, "where did the time go?" When you're in a happy state of mind, time can seem to pass quickly, or feel totally irrelevant. On the other hand, when you're in a miserable state of mind, time seems to drag, and it seems like that situation will never end. So, your state of mind can make time seem shorter or longer, which means "state" or "state of mind" exists outside of time. Does that make sense? We have an episode that digs into this topic more deeply if you are interested: "How to Live in Eternity Now" th-cam.com/video/lO-Oj7exXC4/w-d-xo.html
offTheLeftEye: Thanks! Yes, that’s makes sense . And of course I’m interested, I want to learn as much as I can about Swedenborg’s experiences because he’s the only one we have that can explain it. Thank you for the link, I’m sure it will be enjoyable to watch!👍🏻💕😃🌞🙏🍀
My mom passed away last month .if i commit suicide in the hope of meeting her soon in afterlife will i be able to meet het or will i be punished for suicide n nt be able to meet her
Oh, isha ish, I'm so terribly sorry about your painful loss! My heart goes out to you. You must miss your dear mom SO much! I (Karin) know, from my own personal experiences of losing my dad, my younger brother, and my daughter, that these early stages after losing someone so close to you feel absolutely overwhelming. You can't imagine how you can go on without that loved one physically present with you. It's hard to picture how you could ever adjust or heal. But please, please do not consider suicide as a way to be with your mom again. It's not that you would be punished, but, if you cause your own death in a state of despair, you will carry with you a lot of dark emotion that will be hard to untangle from, and that will probably make it hard for your mom to get close to you. It is VERY normal to want to end your earthly life to go be with someone you love. But I urge you to not actually choose that path, because it is truly not the best way to spiritually be with the one you love. You have suffered a severe emotional wound, and it will take time to heal. It can feel like losing a leg. Not only is it terribly painful, but you have to find a whole new way to function. But I promise you, from experience, that you will heal. Right now, don't think about the whole rest of your earthly life, but just take one day at a time. Pay attention to what you need each day to get through. You can talk to your mom in your mind, or by speaking out loud, or by writing to her on paper. She can receive your messages, because she is still connected to you through your thoughts and feelings. Open your mind to notice little signs, coincidences, thoughts, feelings, or memories that come to you that might be your mom sending you some love. Think of what your mom would wish for you: that you heal and find a way toward happiness until the time is fully right for you to join her. When you feel ready, take things that you loved to do with her, and do them yourself or with someone else, and she can be present with you in the enjoyment of those things. Find people to be with who can listen to and support you as you grieve. Step by step, dear isha ish. One day, one moment, at a time. Wishing you courage, strength, healing and love.
Growing up, I thought Heaven sounded like a pretty boring place because all the paintings depicting Heaven made it look like all you do is play harps or other instruments or sing praises all the time for eternity, lol! And if I said anything about it to any of my more religious relatives, they would say, "Heaven will be a Wonderful place where we can be constantly praising God! It has streets of gold, too!" Like I care about streets of gold, lol! Give me a dirt path through an enchanting forest is more my style.😄 But Swedenborg's journals as explained on OTLE have made Heaven sound wonderful and I hope I will be allowed to enter someday.
I'm with you on the dirt path in an enchanted forest, Simsane! So glad to know that the ideas here can confirm something your heart/spirit has known for a very long time. Swedenborg says that what makes heaven perfect is the VARIETY there -- so there must be endless things to do and experience! If your heart CHOOSES the life of heaven -- the life of mutual love and service to others and the joy of usefulness -- you'll enter right in!
I would rather live in eternity home in Heaven. Than an eternity in this physical world of corruption, greed, gluttony and chaos! How can we ever think it's disturbing to live in heaven for eternity. And not think it's disturbing to live in this world full of evil, wrong, ignorance and corruption for all of eternity?! To me in my opinion that's backwards thinking. It makes simple sense and resonates with me. That we would live in eternity to learn, grow without the stoppage of others thinking they know better and more than you. Where one can learn whatever it is they would like. Becoming a better person with God's, love and wisdom. We think too linear and narrow as human beings here in this world. That we stop our growth from knowing what actually can be in this world. For the better and good of all! Why? I've always thought different from others, thought out of the box, thought if one way doesn't work keep trying till there's a way that does. Or thankful to have what I've been blessed with than not. It is illogical to me and goes against everything I feel and sense that anyone would be happy to live eternity in this physical world... Especially in our present time of chaos and turmoil we live. What freaks me out is living in this world with all it's ugliness and people not caring! Gosh... Love and blessings to all! 😇🙏🌺
I hear you, Pamelyn! I think anyone who might feel anxious about eternity is not wishing for an eternity on earth. That would freak them out, too! It's more an emotional fear of something never ending, which can bring a feeling of lonliness or hopelessness. No, it is not illogical, but I think it is born out of times of despair, when a person is afraid that the despair will never end, or out of fear of the future. The cure is learning to live in the present! Fears are never logical, but we all have one kind or another, and God's compassion will lead us to healing.
@@offTheLeftEye , I don't know why this got under my skin. But it did, I can understand the fear or loneness. But not because it's disturbing to live eternally in Heaven. As long as we hang on to fear which is the enemies biggest weapon against us. Or our own delusions, we will never evolve, grow or make room for God's love and wisdom to take root. To vanish the enemy's power over us. I know it's not easy and it hurts. But it's hurts and damages us even more when we walk around half alive or barely in ignorance or our comfort zone. Where the enemy wants us. For me... No way am I gonna allow the enemy to rule or win! Been there done that already, not happening again because I know the despair, anger and fear will longer. We we don't shift away from it, love and blessings 😇🙏🌺
@@gg274500 As many people do! What have you found to say when a client expressed something like this? Are there any particular responses that seem to work better than others?
Great video! Another question, did Swedenborg ever tell that you can decide if you want to live for eternity or not? Like, you choose to continue existing or cease to exist? If so, would you also be able to change your mind if you chose not to exist anymore?
Good question, MurtaughTheDragon. I cannot find or recall a place in Swedenborg's writings where he says anyone can make that choice. He DOES indicate that people want to - in a way. If we choose a life devoid of God's love, our only alternative is evil. Evil is the absence of God - and God is life - so the absence of God IS the absence of life. Choosing that path leads inevitably to our destruction. I think people who want to permanently cease to exist are in the depths of despair. We can certainly opt out of this life by committing suicide, but we will only find that life continues and we must work through whatever issues we are facing before we can find our permanent home. (See "The World of Spirits" th-cam.com/video/qoaPwhzDHWM/w-d-xo.html or "What Happens Immediately After You Die" th-cam.com/video/H9D2hr0WWh0/w-d-xo.html). For those who want an existence without God, hell will feel like home to them. They would be able to continue to exist by God's mercy, in a place where they can be kept relatively safe from harm or harm-ING others, so that they are prevented from causing their own eternal destruction or that of anyone else. I am not sure whether anyone has chosen that path or not, or if they would be allowed to be. Here are some episodes about life in hell, and why it appeals to people who have destructive tendencies: Evil Spirits Explain Why They Like Hell th-cam.com/video/3jinhAjLEgA/w-d-xo.html What is Hell Really Like? th-cam.com/video/gXCO1P6r-Kw/w-d-xo.html The Good Thing About Hell th-cam.com/video/EpCWOpiTVds/w-d-xo.html Here also is an interesting episode, taken from Swedenborg's diary, often called "Spiritual Experiences." That book was Swedenborg's personal record of dreams, visions, and experiences he had, unfiltered and without context. Some of these stories made it into his published works later, with expanded explanations, but others are left on their own, and we have to do our best to interpret what they could mean. In this experience, Swedenborg witnessed an angel reviving a half-dead spirit (the title of the episode); to me, it seems that a spirit who couldn't progress beyond wanting destruction is getting a second chance at life. Perhaps that is what happens to someone who so thoroughly cannot find the desire to exist? Let me know what you think. Here is that link: th-cam.com/video/DagEDAjgrUU/w-d-xo.html Hope you find an answer that resonates with you. Fascinating question!
@@offTheLeftEye Thanks for the reply. I remember watching a video about "aperiophobia," about those who fear eternal existence, you see. Speaking of non-existence, I've also wondered about what was before birth, like, if you've experienced non-existence. Either way, as you said that Swedenborg hadn't mentioned about that choice, we don't know for sure. Yet, though, I guess.
@@murtaughthedragon1145 It's good to recognize that fear of eternal existence is actually a phobia, with a name! That can allow some objectivity. Evil spirits want to ramp up our fears in any way that they can. Swedenborg learned that our individual existence begins with our physical birth here on earth. Before that, we existed as part of the mind of God. That is where our essence comes from. We are each a manifestation of a particular "desire of God." See this episode for more about that: "Does My Life Matter?" th-cam.com/video/33FfPQsf_zU/w-d-xo.html
@@offTheLeftEye I see. Sometimes, I think so deep about "What If" things. For example, you don't want to exist, but having loved ones to be with, then it feels like you're being pulled from both directions. That's one of the types of feelings I've had recently, some of them are sort of... undescribeable, and it made me feel uncomfortable.
@@murtaughthedragon1145 I hear you! It's uncomfortable because it is two opposing points of view, two opposing kinds of feelings, that don't get along with each other. Swedenborg was able to see that thoughts and feelings actually come from groups of spirits, and opposing kinds of feelings would come from very different kinds of spirits. Notice that the desire to cease to exist comes from a place of despair and hopelessness (coming from dark, negative spirits), but that when you think about people you love being with, and when your doing something that you enjoy, there would be no desire to "cease to exist." Those feelings of love come from good spirits and angels! So when you're in a state of despair, try to think about that particular state of mind ceasing to exist, rather than you as a person ceasing to exist. Because that state of mind is not eternal! But any time you are feeling love for someone, or enjoying doing something, think about THAT state of mind and heart as eternal life.
Man I thought I was the only one I would get close to having anxiety attacks but evil is Satan job so if Satan is evil gods good and if god is love he doubt hurt us so we have to trust god
offTheLeftEye I Agree , However i don’t think it’s a bad thing as Long as it’s Not abused . Like anything else.. He Did give us all Fruits and Plants of the Earth to use Not abuse .
We have a short video on that question, Faith. "What's the Point of Having a Physical Body?" -- th-cam.com/video/LXj8Q2VuPfs/w-d-xo.html. Hope you find some helpful ideas there.
there was a state before creation and before even us his children. we did exist but wholly inside in him like the bible says God knew you before he laid the foundations of the Earth. then there was the state of creation because his will manifested it and that's when we were born and able to look at the face of God. So how long ago was the first state the pre creation state and how can there be a first state if eternity has no first or last. Of course I have no idea lol but this is the best I can do... the pre creation state didn't happened in the past, it wasn't the first state, all states never happened before or after, all states exist eternally forever now.. there never was a 1st state and there will never be a final state. that means God experiences everything at once, there is no sequential order of events. so when you meet God and you ask him I want to see the "time" before creation when you were "alone", he will show you but there will be no travelling through time, there is nothing to travel through, it's out 1 state and into a different state. Does that mean God exists in the state of pre creation and at the state of creation together? Yes I believe so. So imagine you're in front of 12 mirrors inside an "endless" room. Each mirror is the states of being or state God is in simultaneously. Where you focus your attention is the state you will be in, the 12 mirrors are around you in a circle there is no 1st mirror or 12th mirror. So here is head twister. I've read many NDE accounts and in a few of them I learned that the "future" can effect the "past" in the heavens. It's human language but I think what is meant is that states can change other states. So the "creation mirror" can change something inside the "pre creation" mirror and vice versa. The causal links are not ordered to each other. Well that's the best I can do to understand eternity. I still don't comprehend it, it's as impossible to comprehend as a new primary color is, that doesn't exist in Earth. You just need to experience it, it's the only way to understand.
Thanks for sharing these thoughts, Rick. I think as long as we are earth-bound, there's no way we can fully grasp it all. But won't it be mind-blowing when we DO get to experience it!
I had a vision of eternity once, with nothing in it except me. It was terrifying. Maybe that's why god created the universe, to not be alone. One things for sure, nobody's lived that long yet. I just wrote and recorded a song about Time. Check out my TH-cam channel to listen to it. I just now decided to upload it after watching this show. What's that called when two things happen at the same time for no aparent reason? Serindipity? Coincidence?
Synchronicity, maybe? I'll check out your song! I'm with you on the terror of being alone, and that nobody's lived that long yet! Ha! Thanks for being here with us, Robin.
Bound up in the shackles of time and space, with the ever-pressing responsibilities of this world, it does seem that way. But what if you were with people you love, doing something that felt meaningful and fulfilling and joyful for you?
This is the conspiracy of the stupid against human intelligence. Lol. But its not even funny. Why do you think that you can not remember past lives. The memory of past lives would come down on a person. With such weight that you would go crazy. That's why the intellect and gathered memory that someone gathered over time since his birth dies with the body that one has gathered. Swedenborg was a great man. That as many before him. He also saw that the (afterlife) is in layers. But in my opinion he was putting things in his writings that fit his times. So they would not burn him as a witch. That's what I mean by he had to sugar coat many things in his writings
And if the universe is infinite. Going on forever in every direction. Ho would you determine where the middle of the universe is? Where you are is the middle of the universe. At all times. Because if you have no boundries in a place. Then where you are is the middle. Always. Don't let it get to your head though. You are the middle of the universe at all times
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, Gabriel. And I think even Swedenborg says somewhere that we are each the center of the universe, or something along those lines. I'll have to chase that down....
I grew up freaking out about the concept of eternity. I guess I wasn’t the only one. Great topic.
You most certainly are not the only one! :) I'm glad you could relate to this topic, and thank you for watching!
I freaked out too, it just seemed too long, way too long, but Swdenborgian theology has really helped my thinking.
this what fuels atheists.. fear.
@@mistaleesreversespeech7728 Actually, I know of a lot of religious people who suffer from a lot of fear, too, so I think it's a pretty universal struggle, don't you think?
@@offTheLeftEye I have listened to a lot of atheists gloat about how they are so much smarter than believers bc we are so afraid of the truth of nothing after death.. my point is they are the ones who are actually afraid..of eternity.
I have once been allowed to experience complete timelessness and therefore stateness. It has been the most mystical experience in my life. Because that's when you can experience just "being" (in the best sense of the word). There no longer is a past nor a future, just a constant present, and since you're in a constant present (that is, a constant being) there is no fear of an eternal future because you're constantly in the present.
I wish I could experience this again, because in my current normal human experience this concept makes sense but is not relatable unless you're in that state. It really is one of those things you have to be currently experiencing to comprehend... But at least I know I understood it, and that it definitely IS real.
That's amazing, Jonathan! Do you know what caused that, or perhaps what led to the experience of timelessness?
This was really uplifting, thanks! I can’t wait
This really helped calm me down. I have only had this fear recurring for about four or five years. It started when I was 18 when I really began to think about the concept of eternity. I grew up as a pastors kid and in an older church where many if not most were about the rapture and be ready for the rapture. And not only did it freak me out that we would be here one second and gone the next, but that we would be in heaven forever. I have almost worked myself into panic attacks over this, and watching this video and seeing these comments helped so much! I don’t feel alone in my fear. I have tried in the past to talk with my family about this and all they would say was “oh you won’t even notice you won’t care” and it didn’t help at all. So thank you so much for this video, I feel I am beginning to understand eternity. 😊
Quite a journey, Megan. So sorry you had a kind of panic bred into you, and so glad the ideas in this video feel helpful! I've just recently learned that there are a lot of people trying to get healed from rapture trauma. Blessings to you as you keep working to come to a peaceful concept of the whole thing.
While listening today, I felt like I was really struggling to grasp this concept. When I talk to my fiance, I say I hope that you have a good day.... but I know in Heaven he doesn't have 'days' ...so then I'll say - I hope you are in a happy state.. as I watched this-I started thinking about how hard some of the Swedenborg stuff is for me to fully understand and process... even when you guys are breaking it down..... but THEN right at the end today, when you said- if you tell a 3 year old they are going to live for eternity, they have no idea what you are talking about- they just want to keep doing what they are doing or wanting to know what they get to do next....because they are having fun...... suddenly it all just clicked and I actually said out loud- Oh! I get it! :) I'm a first grade teacher- sometimes things just make more sense to me if you break it down in little child way- Thank you for all you do- You are a blessing in my life!
I teach little ones too.. I found it very ironic and awesome that i'm seen as teaching them, when THEY are the reason I understand things more clearly ♥
Such wonderful thoughts here. These discoveries happen in their own time -- when you're ready to hold them. Sending love...
I'm looking forward to eternity. Heaven sounds like a lovely place to be. Thanks for another awesome video, Curtis.
Leona, your messages leave me feeling so uplifted. Thank you!
@@offTheLeftEye You're welcome, my friend! :-)
When I was very young I thought about the concept of time, space and eternity to the point where I had to stop or I'd lose my mind. I'm in the 'golden years' of my life now and live in near isolation to where I can study the concept again. Instead of going crazy, I find myself being totally in the now, just like Curtis suggested children do. Every so often I'll get a small glimpse into that state of existence called joy. I guess I'll never stop wondering about the spiritual realm. P.S. Curtis .. there's no need to self deprecate. Many of us out there think along the same lines as you do. 🌹
True Story Linda. We all Think similar . That’s why we are here.
Linda, this is a beautiful story of the wisdom of our elder years! Joy in the moment is the place to be!
I’ll watch the rest of this at work tonight for Lunch BBS.
Sounds good!
Im only 17 and i have this fear… it started 3 years ago i think when i and a friend had a conversation about heaven, and he told me: Bro, Imagine you live in heaven and it never ends, it just keeps going on forever “ that was the first time i had an little existencial crisis, with 15 i started look at old pictures of my grandma ( she passed away 6 years ago ) and i had an crazy stupendiously existencial crisis! I was imagining how it feels to dont exist it freaked the sh*t outta me. Sometimes i forget this fear for months! And then, like now it comes back and my stomach feels weird. The idea of Never seeing your loved ones again is so scary to me! I Hope i will see them all again. 😢
We believe you will, Samuel! See if this episode helps turn your terror around somewhat....
"Will We See Our Loved Ones in the Afterlife?" youtu.be/
9gdngWOvKas
Blessings to you! Love is the force behind everything in the universe! Shared love will pull you and your loved ones together, like it does here!
When people come back to this life from a near death experience, one of the things they seem to always mention is that "there was no time there." And it felt so natural, they say. I sometimes wish I "could stop time," saying it feels unnatural and is "my ever present enemy," ha. If I try to comprehend eternity using the space, time, and matter here on earth, I "hit a wall" and can no longer think about it. I can see how it makes no sense, based on our temporal existence, so "eternity" is a state of being. Ancient wisdom and some religions say that time is an illusion. That did not make sense to me, but it was because I was still using our earthly existence to interpret time. Beautiful!
So hard to step out of the earthly experience of time! Concentrating on just being in the present moment helps me out sometimes....
I (also) grew up freaking out about eternity. I'm thankful you did this show. I especially like the concept that time is a property of earthly life just like gravity, a physical thing only.
I'm so grateful for you, Jon! Thanks for being willing to share deeply with us.
The crippling fear of eternity after eternity and even after that eternity is another eternity was indeed one of the worst and most consistent feeling that i had ever since i first gained consciousness about time. This definitely soothed the pain and i feel somewhat rejuvinated, i remember i had for at least 2 years just wanted to cease to exist, where everything within my being alive was rid from reality and spirituality
I am glad you are feeling rejuvinated, Jonathan. It sounds like the endless time weighed on you heavily. Angels live in the present, and are not concerned with the past or future. When we can live that way too it eases some of the anxiety and regrets that hold us back. Here is a passage about trust that I love. It is from Secrets of Heaven 8478.
"Very different is the case with those who trust in the Divine. These, notwithstanding they have care for the morrow, still have it not, because they do not think of the morrow with solicitude, still less with anxiety. Unruffled is their spirit whether they obtain the objects of their desire, or not; and they do not grieve over the loss of them, being content with their lot. If they become rich, they do not set their hearts on riches; if they are raised to honors, they do not regard themselves as more worthy than others; if they become poor, they are not made sad; if their circumstances are mean, they are not dejected. They know that for those who trust in the Divine all things advance toward a happy state to eternity, and that whatever befalls them in time is still conducive thereto."
Hello Curtis, when I was in my early 20's I spent a few years studying art. They taught us how to shift into the right brain, so we would be better able to see shapes and shadows and become better at drawing, in this video when Swedenborg talks about going into a different type of awareness that was detached form time, it reminded me of what I was taught in art class about shifting into a right-brain mode. Even my Zen Master reminded me God lives in the right brain. It astounds me that so much of what Swedenborg says is in line with modern science and our understand of the brain. I think he truly got higher wisdom from heaven. Good show man, Thanks!!
Thanks so much for sharing this point with us, Randy. Fascinating! It IS amazing that Swedenborg seemed to be ahead of the game on some things about the mind/brain. Thanks for being here with us!
My pleasure friends, thank you for sharing your wisdom and insight with me as well.
For me living forever may be a little disturbing but not any where as disturbing as totally ceasing to exist.
I'm with you!
not me, because you wouldnt know... if that were true. I dont know what is true.
@@brendapaint if you didn’t exists, then you are nothing. It’s not the idea of not existing that is scary. It’s leaving everything behind, your memories, happiness, joy, family, friends, living like a human, struggling, getting mad or angry, happy and so on. When you don’t exists like my future kids. You are nothing. You made no impact, you are not worth anything. You don’t exists. It’s over, no mind, memories. You are NOTHING! I would rather be something! Then forget everything!
Your videos always help me and comfort me. In fact, I used your videos as a way to overcome my apeirophobia. My father recently passed from cancer and shortly after, death, the afterlife, the purpose of existence, and eternity freaked me out for a year due to my dad's passing. God bless you, I believe he led me to your channel to show me that it's ok.
I'm so glad we were able to provide comfort to you in the aftermath of your loss, Davina! So sorry for your loss, but I'm very happy to know you have a different perspective on it all that has brought you peace. We here at OTLE have had similar experiences! Sending you love!
My experienced with time is, that when you enter a higher state of mind, when the spiritual vision opens up and you see more sharp, more refined colors, and you feel like dwelling outside time, in peace, no more questions, yet individual, then you have reached a place of peace, wisdom, and happiness, in a state outside time. Time is really not a part of our true nature. That is my humble opinion.
Thanks for sharing it, faf! Sounds beautiful!
Hi, Curtis. Super-cool episode. Lots of insightful responses and comments from the wonderful people that tuned in to this show. I think that the way you were presenting the nature of time and having an insight into it is what possibly makes time dissolve and makes us retreat into the state of timelessness. Made me think of the passage in the Bible when Moses asked God who he was and God responded "I am that I am". No reference to a past or a future.
So Curtis, you are a friend to all of us!
Victor, your kind and thoughtful presence here is truly a gift! Thank you for writing us with such encouraging words.
And you're certainly a valued friend to OTLE.
Loving these ‘News from Heaven episodes!! Thank you.
I'm so glad, Mary! Thank you for watching!
I can’t stop dreading the thought of eternal life. There’s no end, no death, no cease of existence, you just continue on and on forever and ever and it’s to a point that I even scare myself thinking about it
Ya know, PunMaster, Swedenborg even comments on that kind of "risk" of contemplating eternal life -- it's crazy-making for our time-bound mentalities! But what if life was wonderful? What if you felt peaceful and at home and a joyful part of a functioning community? Then would you want to STOP waking up every day? It's something to ponder. But if it fills you with dread, it sounds like "evil spirits" are getting into your head about it. Perhaps change the subject in your mind and don't give hell that playground any longer!
This topic - trying to conceptualize states outside of time - reminds me of quantum theorists trying to resolve the paradox of wave (continuous) and particle (fixed) under the observer effect. They propose that the state of reality shifts as soon as it is in the presence an observer. If we think of the observer as our ego consciousness, the particle as our “natural” (material) existence when observed through our ego consciousness, and the wave as the unobservable spiritual reality, then it seems that as long as we are led by our ego within our material bodies, we are fixed within time. Once we flow back into to unconscious through sleep or death, time ceases to exist. That’s why dreams can feel so long even when you’ve only been resting a moment, or you can get lost in “flow” when you’re so immersed in an activity that your ego falls asleep.
Thanks for sharing this perspective, Heather! So interesting!
Im actually pretty excited about it , eternity in the after life is a much more comforting concept than even being here for a short time lol The spirit world is HOME we arent from here, we meet god back over there and go over everything with him,we start preparing for heaven and work with the angels on soul development ,it does NOT get boring over there, there is SOOOOO much to learn over there omg the knowledge is endless and eternal ,we are safe from evil and can see other spirits for who they truly are,its hard to imagine being present without a body but in time it will all feel more natural as we aclamate. I look forward to learning there , seeing and learning about how this world really operated and how humans were brain washed here into thinking alot of the goverment and politicians never had humanities best interest at heart and it will also be intereting to see spirits come in and learn how brainwashed tey were and that this planet was run by some very evil people they throught were so good. It probably wont matter to much anymore but I may want to get some insight on earth and see what happens to alot of the evil souls maybe confront a few of them lol i say that now but I know when I get there I will be all knowing and like "yes okay now I understand it all it makes sense how beautiful life was" You can pick your house in Heaven and continue your work whatever that may be. I so look forward to eternity in the spirit world/heaven and if anyone believes in reincanation it would be a cold day in hell (no pun intended) that I would EVER chose to come back to earth in another body ... GROSS!!!! One life time here has been enough and almost more than I can handle but I trust god so I still sail through life working on my heaven mind set.
AMEN!!! I Have To Give You 100 Thumbs Up ☝!! This Earthly World World!! That We Live In Are Evil 😈!!! Once I'm Dead Or Dying!!!! I Do Not Want To Come Back To This Old World 🌎!! I Want To Go To The ( New World 🌎 New Jerusalem!! Which Is Heaven 🌞 ☁ 🌟 🌈 💎 Among Heaven 🌞 ☁ 🌟 🌈 💎... This World 🌎 That We Live In - Are Wicked 😈 😈 & Evil..
@@donalddavis6689 right on man,let's say hi and give each other a high five when we both get to the afterlife.
There sure is a lot to look forward to! And a lot to be excited about!
I have had inklings of this concept erupt in my mind ....something that seemed to suggest that it is we who pass and not the time...it is our state that changes which becomes our experience of time...it occurred to me that our conscious being in our body is timeless...its just our body that is passing.......just a few random thoughts.
Interesting.
According to what Swedenborg learned, you're inklings were really on the right track, Meena!
It's torture, no matter what I do, I will die and darkness nothingness will replace forever. But if there were a way to live forever, I would exist forever, I would do literally everything.
We believe you WILL exist forever, xCyberry, with endless opportunities for growth and development and joy!
Thank you for this beautiful inspiration this Sunday morning. Many of us across the world do not have a Swedenborg Church to attend in our area. These videos bring us inspiration, direction, and joy. From a Patreon member.
Such a heartwarming message, Shawn! We are so happy our channel is serving you in a meaningful way. Thank you so much for your emotional and financial support! Blessings to you!
Great topic well presented by Curtis. Thanks.
I'm so glad you enjoyed, it, desiree. Thank you for watching!
When the realization of Oneness occurred, there was an incredible feeling of aloneness, but that was just an interjection of the mind.
There was a definite period of adjustment. Now the experience is there is no better place than right here, right now. Crazy Contentment 🙏💛
Sounds like something you have experienced yourself, William? "Crazy Contentment" sounds like an awesome place to be!
@@offTheLeftEye Only in the imagination 😚
@@williamuhl252 That phrase "there is no better place than right here, right now" really rings true to me. Meaning, don't waste time wishing something else was happening, but find the value in the present. Is that the kind of thing that you mean?
@@offTheLeftEye Yes, absolutely! It's like being in neutral. So peaceful that it tickles the heart with joy. Thinking is way over rated. In fact, I dont think I can truly live God's will until I surrender to the moment. When I'm present, life expresses better than when I'm engaged in a complicated master plan of success.
@@williamuhl252 Makes a lot of sense! Swedenborg witnessed that a huge factor in heavenly happiness is the ability to focus on the present moment, and trust in God's guidance and care. Thank you for expressing this so beautifully!
LOVED this video, Curtis! It makes so much sense. This reminded me of a song we sang at church growing up, the title "On Zion's Glorious Summit Stood." One of the phrases was "and scenes of bliss forever new, rise in succession to their view," which was talking about what those in Heaven are experiencing, which I interpreted as continual bliss of better and and ever more beautiful experiences. Sounds glorious, all right, and never boring!!
That line sure stirs up some imagination about what those "scenes of bliss" might be! Much beauty ahead!
I just LOVE your videos
Aw, your kind words mean so much, Mary. Thank you!
Human minds always have to think in ways of 'events' and curiosity about 'thinking' or 'being' in ways that can't be understood in 3D as it is in timelessness and no space. Of course, for us it is a quandry or conundrum as you say. When we get into the spirit world it will all make sense and we won't even question it. "Tangible concepts" for us is 3D or temporal as said. As the state changes we understand even more, way beyond events and time evolving.
sensing the infinite within the finite.
Thinking and imagining, Intention, act, states,
consciousness, learning, growing.
Existing in the present, but pondering and contemplation of the eternal. good summary
Yep, Steve -- we humans, smart as we may be, sure have a challenge in trying to think outside the box of time and space! I'm sure it will all feel perfect and natural when we get there -- and I imagine a lot more peaceful!
My thoughts after watching a second time - just live life in the present! Think and be in the present and don’t worry about the past or future!
That is indeed a heavenly state of being, according to what Swedenborg witnessed and learned!
Cool Episode Curtis.. Swedenborg is correct.. Eternity is a State . My experience of it is that you don’t really think about it. You are just in the Now.Not yesterday not tomorrow but Now. It’s Not like looking at the Stars and getting mind Boggled because of the Vastness of it. There is no time and Space Like we see it. Hence eternity..😊 I don’t find it Disturbing at All I embrace it..
That's a pretty evolved state to have attained, Tino! I daresay it's a lot more peaceful for you!
offTheLeftEye Yes It Really is, However some things Bother me for instance when People Bash Jesus Or Blatant Disrespect and I have very little patience for injustice Other Wise I am pretty much at peace. I am a lot better with Patience than i used to be .. I’m learning and Growing. It really hasn’t been an easy road . I was Given a Gift from the Lord a Month ago. I was put forth Kneeling in front of him and he said to me ( it was a Rebuke) Tino you have Endured Much, However I have only This Against you. He then told me my sin. Then he said to go to the church of Ephesus.. Then he Asked me “ Am I suppose to protect you Because you are My friend.?” Man I was a bit Ashamed.. So after I woke from the Dream I read the Church of Ephesus in Revelation. And Thought about it . Then o receive a word from the Lord Telling me he gave me a Gift by Rebuking me.. Pretty Cool Rite? I am still trying to figure out what my first Love is. Do you know what that means? The word to the Church of Ephesus.. Thanks Curtis...Oh almost forgot he was reading out of a Book During all this..
@@tinopacino9400 The descriptions of these powerful experiences you have had really touch my heart. Thanks so much for sharing them. We actually did an episode digging into the meaning of the messages to the 7 churches in the book of Revelation, including to the Church of Ephesus! Take a look: th-cam.com/video/bVIw0rptRrQ/w-d-xo.html
offTheLeftEye So I went to the part that pertains to The Angel of Ephesus.. Really interesting However I thought Iv been doing Charity for people. Maybe I have to do More? It not Like I have a lot of money. I help people I give Myself to people. I even do give some Money. I have visited old people in Homes I help elderly with rides to places. Even at work I go out of my way to Help.. it’s probably that I need to do More it’s got to be..
Great explanation thank You looking forward to eternity learning being in company of love and kindness having fun and growing forever without worries being scared doing something useful that will love to do who would not want that thank You child’s mind and time concept was perfect example I miss my childhood
Yes, Margaret -- the picture you paint does seem irresistible! Childhood is a blessed time, and Swedenborg says we return to a kind of innocence in the other world.
Actually I'm looking forward to the afterlife. Lets face it...the earth realm ain't really all that great. I mean...lets face it.
Thank you for your videos....I've learned alot!
You are so welcome, jilian! I am so glad you are part of our community! I share your anticipation of the afterlife. It is really quite hope-inducing to imagine a life beyond the limits of this material world!
Eternity with God in Heaven is good; eternity any other place would be scary. Yes, when I think back on the beginning as to what was God doing before the beginning of mankind is indeed a perplexing thing. Thinking in terms of state rather in terms of time is a solution, a remedy. Time on earth is not the same in Heaven. Yes. Good discussion.
I agree. 😎
Glad the discussion seemed to resonate, Helene!
Curtis, This World 🌎 That We Live In Are Evil 😈 😈!! When I Die - I'm Done ✔ With This World 🌎.. I Want To Be Among The Lord & The Angels 👼.
Donald, are you holding onto pain right now? I'd love to connect with you about that, if you're open to chatting.
@@offTheLeftEye I'm At Work At This Time!! I'll Join Your Chat Line!! My Friend Curtis - I Salute You. 🕊🕊..
Time really does seem malleable: when we are bored or similar, an hour can drag by; but when we are happy and enjoying ourselves a two-week holiday can be gone in a flash. My daughter and I are in a confusing state with time at the moment: my father (her grandfather) died a tad over 3 months ago and it seems like both yesterday and years since we last saw him, all at the same time! Does the Creator go through changes of states that affect his experience of time and, if so, does that have a knock-on effect for us?
I'm so sorry for your recent loss, Anna! The varying experiences of time are strange and amazing, aren't they? I hope that feeling of losing a sense of time around when you last saw your dad can eventually help connect you with the fact that he is now in a timeless state, and can be with you in spirit whenever you think of him, or feel love for him. The Creator is outside of time, so is not affected by time. Swedenborg learned that for God, all is present. God created time and space as tools for us to use, to help us learn and develop. Here's a quote about that from the book "True Christianity":
"God is infinite because he existed before the world, before space and time came into being. The physical world has time and space. The spiritual world, on the other hand, lacks actual time and space, although it does have apparent time and space.
Time and space were introduced into both worlds for the sake of distinguishing one thing from another, large from small, many from few - one quantity from another, and one quality from another. Time and space allow our bodily senses to discern the objects they are sensing; and they allow our mental senses to discern the objects they are sensing - to be affected, to think, and to choose.
Units of time were introduced into our physical world by the spinning of the earth on its axis and its orbit from point to point along the zodiac. (The sun, the source of heat and light for this whole globe of lands and seas, only seems to be the cause of these cycles.) The result is the times of day: morning, afternoon, evening, and night; and the seasons of the year: spring, summer, fall, and winter. The times of day vary from light to dark; the seasons of the year vary from hot to cold.
Units of space are part of our physical world because the earth was formed into a globe composed of substances whose elements are differentiated from each other and also extended.
In the spiritual world, there are no physical units of space or corresponding units of time. Yet there appear to be. Apparent space and time follow the different states of mind that spirits and angels go through there. The units of spiritual time and space match the desires of their will and the resulting thoughts in their intellect. Apparent space and time, then, are real - they are predictably determined by one's state of mind."
-True Christianity 29
Thank you for that, OTLE.
I’ve been finding this to be true for me lately. The main thought that has stuck with me is ....nothing really matters. Whew, just can’t seem to snap out of that
I sympathize with that thought, Angela. Does it feel like a relief to you or a grief to you?
offTheLeftEye kind of a grief
@@angelaachee7933 Well then, I want to offer the concept that it's not true that nothing really matters. That there are external things that don't matter in the end, but deeper things about life that matter a lot! Do you think that's possible?
Love your videos 👍🏻
Thanks for letting us know, Space Man! Hope you continue to find them meaningful!
Tough question for my lovely OTLE team...❤ While our Lord is eternal and infinite, our universe may not be, according to some theories... I know that Heaven is directly linked to Earth, so, what will happen to Heaven when, let's say, there are no longer humans to born in our current universe? Will God create a new genesis? or maybe Heaven can operate without new humans since our humanity will be "complete" at the time this happens (the theories says billions of years in the future.). This freaks me out sometimes, because my first thought is always think that God will simple "reboot" everything, including every soul in the Spirit World, Heaven and Hell, but when i think deeply, that goes against everything i know about God. The embodiment of Love and Wisdom will never do it to his sons and daughters! However, the Humanity's final destination is still unanswered in my mind. Just to quote, I already made this same question to one of my Swedenborgian friends, but i want to know, what do you guys think? Thank you!
Hi Caio -- You happened to get Chara here, and this topic is not my area of expertise, but I'll share a few thoughts.theories. :)
First of all, Swedenborg seems to indicate that the Earth will not perish. But even if it were to do so, spiritual reality might continue to exist, I reckon, just like a person's spirit lives on even when their body has completed its task in this world. All those souls will carry on in the spiritual world, I would think, because we have eternal souls. And yes, perhaps God could start up a whole 'nother "seedbed of heaven," if this world was to be taken out for any reason. The universe is a mighty big place.
Secondly, though, Swedenborg says that one of the ingredients of the happiness angels enjoy is the fact that they don't worry about the past or the future. Staying in the HERE and NOW is what allows them to be happy. If you can tune into the fact that you are a beloved child of God, and that God is working constantly for your highest possible spiritual level of joy and love, and if you keep your attention on this present moment (all of which moments added together turn into a lifetime), perhaps that will help you let go of having to figure out some unknowable future. God is Love! We will be OK! Sending prayers for peace and blessing to you!
@@offTheLeftEye Thanks for sharing your knowledge and kindly words, Chara 🥰
I love these videos! Keep it up!
Your wish is our command, my friend :)
Here's a thought...we might be in charge of managing a galaxy. Now that would give us "a lot" to do considering how many galaxies are out there just in our known universe that we're able to see. Now wouldn't that be something? Bless God for His omnipotence!!
Bless God indeed, jasweb! I wouldn't want His job! :)
@@offTheLeftEye not being God, but we learn a little bit about his creative process.
@@jasweb147 Yes learning about God is a great way to build our relationship.
"Swedenborg was having the same kind of stoner moment..." *spit-take* *wipe down monitor* Bravo, Curtis!
Haha! Thanks, M!
Do we get bored as spirits in the afterlife if time doesn’t exist?
on678999 Doubt it..
Boredom is a state of consciousness which is only possible when in perceived separation from eternal light. In that separated state we always _need_ things to do in order to feel connected to life. When we _become_ life instead of _doing_ life we no longer need the constant striving for stimulation and accomplishment because we are perpetually fulfilled and accomplished. We are no longer doing in order to be fulfilled, but we are fulfilled in all spheres of spiritual activity no matter what we do
Stay tuned! We're airing a short clip called "Is it Possible to Be Bored in the Afterlife" on September 13!
Your drawings are very helpful. It's ok that they're simple and sometimes a bit fun and wonky. LOL
Thanks for this message, Bonnie! Any kind of drawings/graphics are a help for the visual learners among us, and Curtis had a way with that electronic pen, doesn't he? :)
Thoughts as I watch. Now this subject is a BIG ONE for me! ;) But first, I had these thoughts a couple of nights ago about thinking back over our own lives. Consciousness doesn't seem to unravel/unfold/become aware gradually. Rather we pick out earliest moments. Memories (usually in the Third Person) are revealed like rain spotting before a shower. And what has this to do with Eternity? Well - as we 'look back' to an eternity, we seem to grow out of this state so very slowly; gradually becoming aware of our presence. Have we existed forever? Or are we part of 'the forever'. Or do we come as unique happenings into this 'state' of being. If so why is there no gradual awakening?
Should we think of Time as linear or ALL existing? Are we 'going' anywhere - or are we changing?
Well now Swedenborg is talking about STATES.
There are times when playing music where Time seems to take a step back or two and the STATE of being engrossed in the music feels a little like 'foreverness'. Just hints, notions...but experienced. An experience of dropping out of time into a STATE! (Is this an emotional or intellectual state - or both?!)
Will the understanding of Time and Space (or their absence) be the greatest revelation for us? Yet - from what I have read there is a feeling of MOVEMENT in Heaven etc. Movement brings some sense of TIME doesn't it?
'States being independent of Time' - maybe like how we see...we see in stills (states) but perceive them in motion (Time).
This is WONDERFUL - more please Curtis (and TEAM). :)
Time is the KEY.
Cheers!
Thanks for sharing your reflections here, Tim. I, too, have experienced the timelessness of involvement in music. It does seem to be a hint of what's to come!
@@offTheLeftEye- Indeed! :)
I think the part of us that operates out of the ego and I don't mean that in a negative sense, freaks out. I have watched videos where people have had out-of-body experiences and near-death experiences and even ayahuasca trips and they all talk about a place beyond space and time a sort of dissolving of boundaries as we know it here in the physical world. I think that there are multiple dimensions and I like the way Swedenborg describes his experiences. 🌬️🌫️
I really like the way you frame that, my friend! Thanks for sharing with us.
The state of unity. No time but infinite.✌☀️✌
Looks like you like those concepts?
How can they have no notion of time when Swedenborg has talked about how choirs sing in the morning and he has mentioned angels sleeping, too. I mean, wouldn't that automatically give you a 'concept of time' since things progress from one thing to the next?
Yes, Simsane -- there IS an experience of sequence and succession and so on. But the progression is measured not by a clock or calendar, or the movements of planets around the sun, but by inner states of mind and heart. So while there is an "appearance" of time there, it's founded on something very different that the world's time is.
Maybe this will help to someone..
As I was freaking about it 5 mins ago I was thinking Okaay, what would suit me if I have to live forever.. And I realised being 25 and just living on Earth and playing ps5 and meeting people and travel etc. So all of the stuff I M fimilliar with and comftarble with.
I guess we are all afraid of boredom and feeling stuck there as we have no idea how it would be there..forever. That gives anxiety. That time aspect. I mean I was forever not around since I was born and I am fine with it and fine without existing but what creeps me is not existing forever also, but way less as I am already fimilliar how it is not being around forever (in a past). So it's all about that we are not knowing - that is that fear. Moving to another place is anxiety driven. New relationship is anxiety driven. Etc.
Hope this will help someone knowing that eternal life ,in religious way, is promised as peace and joy and I am sure we would be allowed to travel around and enjoy much more then here. All it takes is little bit of faith in God, I mean he already done a lot by creating all so I am sure everyone there is wired in feeling fine about it and not even wanting to be stopped. So... try just to avoid thinking about it. Nothing of it is in our power anyway.
Thanks, Abenico, for sharing some thoughts that have been helpful for you. Fear of the UNKNOWN is a big one, so there is some trust involved. But yes -- just living in the present moment will get you through whatever is to come. Right NOW I'm warm and fed and enjoying talking to you. One "right now" at a time will carry us along!
I like eternal life!
Me too, Carla!
I'm so sorry, I meant Carl!
If I didn't have a concept of time my life would be 1,000 times better. time, knowing the time, knowing what time it is, knowing how much time I have left in the day, is my f****** enemy
I totally honor your frustration here, Ronnie. Being so anchored (and enslaved) by time can certainly make things difficult. Did you find anything useful in this episode? I'd love to chat more with you about this...
@@offTheLeftEye hmmm. Let me give it a listen again real quick.
@@offTheLeftEye I just know I'm screwed. I can't handle how hard life is for me right now and time is one of those things that really ruins it all.
Time is a prison for me. The time that I wake up after a horrible night sleep, the time that I have to go to bed the time that if I don't go to bed I'm going to feel worse the next day, the time that I'm missing out of my life when I'm sitting here in bed suffering.
the time not knowing when this Dark Night of the soul that I'm actually going through is ever going to end, that if it's ever going to end or if I'm just going to suffer until I finally go insane or kill myself.
Eternity. I'm looking forward to. As long as all this suffering is gone when I go to the next place, and I don't even know that there really isn't next place. I don't know if there is something really going on or if this is all just a bunch of bulshit that people make up because they're afraid that once they die there's nothing else.
even the near-death experience people, what if that's just their brain going into a dream state from a big bunch of dream chemicals pumping into their head as they're about to die to keep them more peaceful, I guess.
if there is a God, or Angels or other benevolent beings and they're all working for me, how come they never answer me when I cry out to them? They never help. They never comfort, they never bring peace...
Yeah im a fuk up and I f***** up and I've done bad things but I have such a wonderful good heart thats being broken simply by living my day-to-day life every single day.
Not from mean people at work or mean and bosses, or people that I run into or stress from work or relationships... it's just my own illness. This unrelenting horrible chronic fatigue and then as soon as I get a break for a second something else comes along like now this last week have developed a ringing in my right ear.
And now I don't even know if I can get to f****** sleep right now.
I'm sitting here crying and I have to go to court tomorrow but I don't know what to do because it's horrible everything is horrible I don't want to lay down because that's horrible I don't want to stay awake because that's horrible I don't have enough bravery to commit suicide so I just have to suffer through it until finally my brain snaps which I think I'm getting closer to pretty much every day.
That's time. the only thing I may be able to be thankful for is if indeed this eternity thing is real but only if all of these infirmities and problems that I have disappear once I die. that is if I actually am a good enough person that actually gets to go to a heavenly place with Good vibes and good people.
And I don't just end up suffering and suffering and suffering for all of eternity.
I sometimes think that God literally hates me because I do not understand how any benevolent being could let me go through as f****** horrible of a life that I have to go through. No Angels will listen to my cries or give me any feedback, peace or advice or anyting. No comfort. I cry out to God I cry out to Jesus and none of them ever come into my life. I beg and I plead and I say come into my life and if there's things I need to do to change help me do that and I will do it.
None of them listen. They only watch as I am punished and tortured and if things get too easy then something else must be added to the mix to make it worse and throw me off of balance once I am comfortable.
I halfway think that I am cursed by someone or suffering from the evil eye as they say. people tell me they are praying for me a lot of good people and a lot of prayers coming my way,but I don't feel any evidence of that I don't feel any good I don't feel any warm vibes are comforting or healing. It's as if the prayers are being wasted or not reaching me.
Something is terribly wrong and it just keeps getting worse no matter what? I can't gain a foothold on shifting Sands.
@@GeeseFX I'm so terribly sorry, Ronnie. You certainly are dealing with severe struggles, and my heart goes out to you. All physical pain problems will indeed be gone in the afterlife. So the thing to work on is state of mind, to see if there are ways to slightly shift things in your mind to reduce suffering and better deal with these problems.
I wonder if you would be willing to try something counter-intuitive, and that is the practice of gratitude. The thing is, hell is always trying to get us to focus on the problems, the negative, and not even notice the positive, which is where we will find that presence of God and angels. Psychology has found that practices such as gratitude and forgiveness actually do improve the quality of life, even if external circumstances stay the same. Would you be willing to try watching this episode, "The Effect of Gratitude", and see if there are any helpful strategies that you could try? th-cam.com/video/WluBvWDAPKk/w-d-xo.html
Hey i have a psychology degree and just reading what your feeling i would say u need an antidepressant and if your already on one tell them you need to up your dosages. There is hope, hang in there . Curtis is right...start with gratitude , find one thing to be thankful for...next day list 2 things and keep going till you have at least a page.You have to change your mindset cause that goes with you to the after life. Do it now while you have the chance.
Simple answer. Your mind in the redirection will be transformed so we won’t be thinking how we do in a flawed universe
We will be transformed in the afterlife, The Joker.
people tend to think of eternity as an over-abundance of time, but it is actually the absence of time. it is not static either. right now we are in a human state. after we pass from here, we change to an angelical or to a devilish state. perhaps we have an opportunity to work toward a more angelic state. it's always about states.
Right on, Press Play!
Apeirophobia sucks, but the insights in this video might help me calm myself down when I start contemplating eternity.
I’m a mathematics major. When we learn about stochastic processes we learn about state spaces and time spaces. A state is a current condition. Transitioning between states requires time. Time spaces can be discrete or continuous, and state spaces can be finite or infinite.
As beings in the stochastic process called life, we see things in terms of time. Morning transitions to night, which transitions back to morning. Time progresses in a linear fashion. When we attempt to comprehend eternity in temporal terms, we freak out. Are we really doomed to transition between the same states over and over? As humans, this goes against our nature. We crave new experiences. We cannot fathom time progressing in a linear fashion all the way to infinity because we would have to hit every finite number along the way. A million, a billion, a googol, a googol googols. On and on, without bound. And when we try to reverse it to go back in time, the same issue happens. How can it be that an infinite amount of time occurred prior to this moment? If that were the case, then surely we would not be in this moment because it would have taken an eternity to get here in the first place, and by definition eternity has no end.
But what if time is the wrong paradigm here? What if eternity is a state rather than a duration of time? Could someone be present in multiple times at once? Can time be traversed in a non-linear fashion? Does time even exist, or is it a fabrication of our physical mind that dissolves when we die?
I think us trying to comprehend eternity is akin to two-dimensional beings trying to comprehend living in three dimensions. You can do the math, but you can’t really visualize it.
Jonathan, I really loved reading through your message! You are thoughtful and present many important things to consider! My first question to you: have you encountered Swedenborg's teachings before? I'd love to get a sense of where you're at in order to best serve you :)
I think much along the same lines...
that’s genius, a clever mathematical explanation for it, i’ve got that fear of eternity which got me onto this vid and the comments section, is that phobia the fear of eternity? i have been having existential fears for as long as i can remember, it creeps up on me and i freak out and break down every now and then, i can no longer use my telescope or watch any shows on space any more for the time being
@@chloe-historyandgames me too since I was a kid but they’re worse now I’m older
@@dannyt3522 me too
I can see how angels forget on what the time is. Because they know they live for ever, so they are never bothered with how long something they do, or how long is the state they are in. Imagine us, if we live for ever, there would be no hurry for anything, or no comparison to others - how much one did more for the same amount of time, there is no urgency, there is no due date.... I can imagine myself having no sence of time in those realms, what, then, automaticaly is the eternity ...... just some thoughts
Thanks for sharing your thoughts here, ksenija. For some people the idea of no time is peaceful, and for others it is panicky. You're lucky to be one of the peaceful types! :)
Immanuel Kant intuited it via his sort of genius.. Emanuel Swedenborg saw it all, was there!
Interesting juxtaposition, Moesy!
I think about the Blessings of God to make a beautiful Heaven home for human @))
God loves you so deeply, Simone!
Great video, yet again. what if the Sun and Moon are not as far as we are lead to believe? What if the earth we live on is motionless instead?
I don't think that would change the way we can try to get better at loving God and loving the neighbor, would it?
@@offTheLeftEye Well said!
Wow. It seems like angels are really different to your normal spirit in the afterlife. Did Swedenborg ever talk about what the transition is from spirit to angel, what is lost and what is gained, are you still you or is identity lost?
Yes, TheLackstar, and great question! This transition takes place in the world of spirits, where we arrive as spirits, and shed the external layers of ourselves as we become our most authentic, deepest selves - so yes, you are definitely still you! If we have loved and sought to be of service in life, we become angels, and if we have sought destruction, greed, and other material pleasures at the expense of others, we become devils. Here are some episodes that talk more about this process:
"The World of Spirits" th-cam.com/video/qoaPwhzDHWM/w-d-xo.html
"How You End Up In Heaven Or Hell" th-cam.com/video/H-wnqBqa6xM/w-d-xo.html
These might interest you as well, though they're sort of broader looks at this: “Will Your Body Look the Same When You Die?” th-cam.com/video/JX9BaMr7UyU/w-d-xo.html
“What Happens Immediately After You Die” th-cam.com/video/H9D2hr0WWh0/w-d-xo.html
I hope that clarifies! Let me know if these resonate with you.
Finally lol 😆, been waiting an eternity.
Ha! ;)
Erika Lee Everyone has Jokes Today!😁
@@tinopacino9400 :D
offTheLeftEye 😁
I was waiting so long I turned into a statue 😜
Interesting video. What is forever? Difficult to explain, but I think the universe is really not what it may appear to be. We all use our “ 5 senses” to experience reality, but it perhaps it is an illusion beyond our understanding. 😊🙂
I think you're right, Julian! I can't wait to see more! Blessings, friend, and Merry Christmas! I hope you feel God's love during this special season!
Quick question do you think there are electronics in the afterlife. Im totally fine without them theres much more interactive things but imma miss meh shows XD
Haha! I enjoy some shows, too.... Swedenborg describes a very active life of usefulness to one's community, but also interspersed with time for leisure and recreation. He describes plays and such, so maybe there will be videos, too? The way he describes some things being explained and taught in the other world sound very much like a TV show. We'll see!
What created the angels. If God, what created God?
I think that was one of the points made - God has always been. God is/was/will be and for me that would mean simply God IS.
God created humans, who become angels after they die if they choose to pursue goodness and kindness toward the neighbor. But Tim is right - God just IS, and has always existed! That's very hard for us to wrap our heads around, because, as JRRnot Tolkien points out, we're thinking from a earthly perspective, which is limited by the concepts of time and space. God is outside of time and space.
It’s was funny to watch Curtis taking about eternity, but I believed everything he was saying. So I’m thinking that this thought force could be called a state of mind ? So, what did Curtis ( I mean Swedenborg) mean when he was talking about “states” ? Is time and space just a state? I suppose when time and space is added into the formula, this can also be called a state? With time, there can be a beginning and an end, but with no time, a beginning and ending wouldn’t exist, I think. In the physical world, time changes space. Or space would be needed for time to work correctly. So God created space and added time in the physical universe. But in heaven, there are probably different forces and states at work just as there are colors we’ve never seen before or animals, insects, trees, etc .....Did I get that right? I’m only guessing, of course, but sometimes I can get sort of “spaced out”. myself ( LOL!😃!) but you never can tell! ( LOL!🌞🌞🌸🌸)
Haha, I can sure get "spaced out" sometimes too! :) I love when you articulate your thoughts and questions, Julian. For the word "state", think "state of mind." Notice when you're really absorbed in something enjoyable, you're not even aware of time. Suddenly, it's hours later, and you'll think, "where did the time go?" When you're in a happy state of mind, time can seem to pass quickly, or feel totally irrelevant. On the other hand, when you're in a miserable state of mind, time seems to drag, and it seems like that situation will never end. So, your state of mind can make time seem shorter or longer, which means "state" or "state of mind" exists outside of time. Does that make sense? We have an episode that digs into this topic more deeply if you are interested: "How to Live in Eternity Now" th-cam.com/video/lO-Oj7exXC4/w-d-xo.html
offTheLeftEye: Thanks! Yes, that’s makes sense . And of course I’m interested, I want to learn as much as I can about Swedenborg’s experiences because he’s the only one we have that can explain it. Thank you for the link, I’m sure it will be enjoyable to watch!👍🏻💕😃🌞🙏🍀
My mom passed away last month .if i commit suicide in the hope of meeting her soon in afterlife will i be able to meet het or will i be punished for suicide n nt be able to meet her
Oh, isha ish, I'm so terribly sorry about your painful loss! My heart goes out to you. You must miss your dear mom SO much! I (Karin) know, from my own personal experiences of losing my dad, my younger brother, and my daughter, that these early stages after losing someone so close to you feel absolutely overwhelming. You can't imagine how you can go on without that loved one physically present with you. It's hard to picture how you could ever adjust or heal.
But please, please do not consider suicide as a way to be with your mom again. It's not that you would be punished, but, if you cause your own death in a state of despair, you will carry with you a lot of dark emotion that will be hard to untangle from, and that will probably make it hard for your mom to get close to you. It is VERY normal to want to end your earthly life to go be with someone you love. But I urge you to not actually choose that path, because it is truly not the best way to spiritually be with the one you love.
You have suffered a severe emotional wound, and it will take time to heal. It can feel like losing a leg. Not only is it terribly painful, but you have to find a whole new way to function. But I promise you, from experience, that you will heal. Right now, don't think about the whole rest of your earthly life, but just take one day at a time. Pay attention to what you need each day to get through. You can talk to your mom in your mind, or by speaking out loud, or by writing to her on paper. She can receive your messages, because she is still connected to you through your thoughts and feelings. Open your mind to notice little signs, coincidences, thoughts, feelings, or memories that come to you that might be your mom sending you some love.
Think of what your mom would wish for you: that you heal and find a way toward happiness until the time is fully right for you to join her. When you feel ready, take things that you loved to do with her, and do them yourself or with someone else, and she can be present with you in the enjoyment of those things. Find people to be with who can listen to and support you as you grieve. Step by step, dear isha ish. One day, one moment, at a time. Wishing you courage, strength, healing and love.
Growing up, I thought Heaven sounded like a pretty boring place because all the paintings depicting Heaven made it look like all you do is play harps or other instruments or sing praises all the time for eternity, lol! And if I said anything about it to any of my more religious relatives, they would say, "Heaven will be a Wonderful place where we can be constantly praising God! It has streets of gold, too!"
Like I care about streets of gold, lol! Give me a dirt path through an enchanting forest is more my style.😄
But Swedenborg's journals as explained on OTLE have made Heaven sound wonderful and I hope I will be allowed to enter someday.
I'm with you on the dirt path in an enchanted forest, Simsane! So glad to know that the ideas here can confirm something your heart/spirit has known for a very long time. Swedenborg says that what makes heaven perfect is the VARIETY there -- so there must be endless things to do and experience! If your heart CHOOSES the life of heaven -- the life of mutual love and service to others and the joy of usefulness -- you'll enter right in!
I would rather live in eternity home in Heaven. Than an eternity in this physical world of corruption, greed, gluttony and chaos! How can we ever think it's disturbing to live in heaven for eternity. And not think it's disturbing to live in this world full of evil, wrong, ignorance and corruption for all of eternity?! To me in my opinion that's backwards thinking. It makes simple sense and resonates with me. That we would live in eternity to learn, grow without the stoppage of others thinking they know better and more than you. Where one can learn whatever it is they would like. Becoming a better person with God's, love and wisdom. We think too linear and narrow as human beings here in this world. That we stop our growth from knowing what actually can be in this world. For the better and good of all! Why? I've always thought different from others, thought out of the box, thought if one way doesn't work keep trying till there's a way that does. Or thankful to have what I've been blessed with than not. It is illogical to me and goes against everything I feel and sense that anyone would be happy to live eternity in this physical world... Especially in our present time of chaos and turmoil we live. What freaks me out is living in this world with all it's ugliness and people not caring! Gosh... Love and blessings to all! 😇🙏🌺
I hear you, Pamelyn! I think anyone who might feel anxious about eternity is not wishing for an eternity on earth. That would freak them out, too! It's more an emotional fear of something never ending, which can bring a feeling of lonliness or hopelessness. No, it is not illogical, but I think it is born out of times of despair, when a person is afraid that the despair will never end, or out of fear of the future. The cure is learning to live in the present! Fears are never logical, but we all have one kind or another, and God's compassion will lead us to healing.
@@offTheLeftEye ,
I don't know why this got under my skin. But it did, I can understand the fear or loneness. But not because it's disturbing to live eternally in Heaven. As long as we hang on to fear which is the enemies biggest weapon against us. Or our own delusions, we will never evolve, grow or make room for God's love and wisdom to take root. To vanish the enemy's power over us. I know it's not easy and it hurts. But it's hurts and damages us even more when we walk around half alive or barely in ignorance or our comfort zone. Where the enemy wants us. For me... No way am I gonna allow the enemy to rule or win! Been there done that already, not happening again because I know the despair, anger and fear will longer. We we don't shift away from it, love and blessings 😇🙏🌺
I never really doubted that life is eternal however, lately many of the clients I work with are afraid to consider eternal life.
That's fascinating, Gabriella! Because of the "freaking out about eternity" factor?
offTheLeftEye , yes, just today a client did not say she is frequed but expressed disbelief and grave doubts about eternal life.
@@gg274500 As many people do! What have you found to say when a client expressed something like this? Are there any particular responses that seem to work better than others?
Great video! Another question, did Swedenborg ever tell that you can decide if you want to live for eternity or not? Like, you choose to continue existing or cease to exist? If so, would you also be able to change your mind if you chose not to exist anymore?
Good question, MurtaughTheDragon. I cannot find or recall a place in Swedenborg's writings where he says anyone can make that choice. He DOES indicate that people want to - in a way. If we choose a life devoid of God's love, our only alternative is evil. Evil is the absence of God - and God is life - so the absence of God IS the absence of life. Choosing that path leads inevitably to our destruction.
I think people who want to permanently cease to exist are in the depths of despair. We can certainly opt out of this life by committing suicide, but we will only find that life continues and we must work through whatever issues we are facing before we can find our permanent home. (See "The World of Spirits" th-cam.com/video/qoaPwhzDHWM/w-d-xo.html or "What Happens Immediately After You Die" th-cam.com/video/H9D2hr0WWh0/w-d-xo.html).
For those who want an existence without God, hell will feel like home to them. They would be able to continue to exist by God's mercy, in a place where they can be kept relatively safe from harm or harm-ING others, so that they are prevented from causing their own eternal destruction or that of anyone else. I am not sure whether anyone has chosen that path or not, or if they would be allowed to be.
Here are some episodes about life in hell, and why it appeals to people who have destructive tendencies:
Evil Spirits Explain Why They Like Hell th-cam.com/video/3jinhAjLEgA/w-d-xo.html
What is Hell Really Like? th-cam.com/video/gXCO1P6r-Kw/w-d-xo.html
The Good Thing About Hell th-cam.com/video/EpCWOpiTVds/w-d-xo.html
Here also is an interesting episode, taken from Swedenborg's diary, often called "Spiritual Experiences." That book was Swedenborg's personal record of dreams, visions, and experiences he had, unfiltered and without context. Some of these stories made it into his published works later, with expanded explanations, but others are left on their own, and we have to do our best to interpret what they could mean.
In this experience, Swedenborg witnessed an angel reviving a half-dead spirit (the title of the episode); to me, it seems that a spirit who couldn't progress beyond wanting destruction is getting a second chance at life. Perhaps that is what happens to someone who so thoroughly cannot find the desire to exist? Let me know what you think. Here is that link: th-cam.com/video/DagEDAjgrUU/w-d-xo.html
Hope you find an answer that resonates with you. Fascinating question!
@@offTheLeftEye Thanks for the reply. I remember watching a video about "aperiophobia," about those who fear eternal existence, you see. Speaking of non-existence, I've also wondered about what was before birth, like, if you've experienced non-existence.
Either way, as you said that Swedenborg hadn't mentioned about that choice, we don't know for sure. Yet, though, I guess.
@@murtaughthedragon1145 It's good to recognize that fear of eternal existence is actually a phobia, with a name! That can allow some objectivity. Evil spirits want to ramp up our fears in any way that they can. Swedenborg learned that our individual existence begins with our physical birth here on earth. Before that, we existed as part of the mind of God. That is where our essence comes from. We are each a manifestation of a particular "desire of God." See this episode for more about that: "Does My Life Matter?" th-cam.com/video/33FfPQsf_zU/w-d-xo.html
@@offTheLeftEye I see. Sometimes, I think so deep about "What If" things. For example, you don't want to exist, but having loved ones to be with, then it feels like you're being pulled from both directions. That's one of the types of feelings I've had recently, some of them are sort of... undescribeable, and it made me feel uncomfortable.
@@murtaughthedragon1145 I hear you! It's uncomfortable because it is two opposing points of view, two opposing kinds of feelings, that don't get along with each other. Swedenborg was able to see that thoughts and feelings actually come from groups of spirits, and opposing kinds of feelings would come from very different kinds of spirits. Notice that the desire to cease to exist comes from a place of despair and hopelessness (coming from dark, negative spirits), but that when you think about people you love being with, and when your doing something that you enjoy, there would be no desire to "cease to exist." Those feelings of love come from good spirits and angels! So when you're in a state of despair, try to think about that particular state of mind ceasing to exist, rather than you as a person ceasing to exist. Because that state of mind is not eternal! But any time you are feeling love for someone, or enjoying doing something, think about THAT state of mind and heart as eternal life.
It's the Jeremy Bearimy.
Ha, I (Karin) just finished watching season 3 of "The Good Place"!
What an interesting title :) :)
Thinking of titles is both a challenge and a joy! ;)
@@offTheLeftEye haha
Man I thought I was the only one I would get close to having anxiety attacks but evil is Satan job so if Satan is evil gods good and if god is love he doubt hurt us so we have to trust god
Right on, Irene! God IS love, and God is helping you along, every step of the way! You can trust in that!
Stoner Moment 😁. I used to have Plenty of Those.!
Ha! ;)
offTheLeftEye Lol . Now that it’s legal I don’t smoke .. Been 14 years.. who knew ..
@@tinopacino9400 Good choice!
offTheLeftEye I Agree , However i don’t think it’s a bad thing as Long as it’s Not abused . Like anything else.. He Did give us all Fruits and Plants of the Earth to use Not abuse .
What is the point of earth? why not get to know god in heaven and await jesus’s return
We have a short video on that question, Faith. "What's the Point of Having a Physical Body?" -- th-cam.com/video/LXj8Q2VuPfs/w-d-xo.html. Hope you find some helpful ideas there.
there was a state before creation and before even us his children. we did exist but wholly inside in him like the bible says God knew you before he laid the foundations of the Earth. then there was the state of creation because his will manifested it and that's when we were born and able to look at the face of God. So how long ago was the first state the pre creation state and how can there be a first state if eternity has no first or last. Of course I have no idea lol but this is the best I can do...
the pre creation state didn't happened in the past, it wasn't the first state, all states never happened before or after, all states exist eternally forever now.. there never was a 1st state and there will never be a final state. that means God experiences everything at once, there is no sequential order of events. so when you meet God and you ask him I want to see the "time" before creation when you were "alone", he will show you but there will be no travelling through time, there is nothing to travel through, it's out 1 state and into a different state.
Does that mean God exists in the state of pre creation and at the state of creation together? Yes I believe so. So imagine you're in front of 12 mirrors inside an "endless" room. Each mirror is the states of being or state God is in simultaneously. Where you focus your attention is the state you will be in, the 12 mirrors are around you in a circle there is no 1st mirror or 12th mirror. So here is head twister. I've read many NDE accounts and in a few of them I learned that the "future" can effect the "past" in the heavens. It's human language but I think what is meant is that states can change other states. So the "creation mirror" can change something inside the "pre creation" mirror and vice versa. The causal links are not ordered to each other. Well that's the best I can do to understand eternity. I still don't comprehend it, it's as impossible to comprehend as a new primary color is, that doesn't exist in Earth. You just need to experience it, it's the only way to understand.
Thanks for sharing these thoughts, Rick. I think as long as we are earth-bound, there's no way we can fully grasp it all. But won't it be mind-blowing when we DO get to experience it!
So time is irrelevant at the end. Cool.
Yes!
Rightttt
I had a vision of eternity once, with nothing in it except me. It was terrifying. Maybe that's why god created the universe, to not be alone. One things for sure, nobody's lived that long yet. I just wrote and recorded a song about Time. Check out my TH-cam channel to listen to it. I just now decided to upload it after watching this show. What's that called when two things happen at the same time for no aparent reason? Serindipity? Coincidence?
Synchronicity, maybe? I'll check out your song! I'm with you on the terror of being alone, and that nobody's lived that long yet! Ha! Thanks for being here with us, Robin.
man, living forever seems like such a drag
Bound up in the shackles of time and space, with the ever-pressing responsibilities of this world, it does seem that way. But what if you were with people you love, doing something that felt meaningful and fulfilling and joyful for you?
This is the conspiracy of the stupid against human intelligence. Lol. But its not even funny. Why do you think that you can not remember past lives. The memory of past lives would come down on a person. With such weight that you would go crazy. That's why the intellect and gathered memory that someone gathered over time since his birth dies with the body that one has gathered. Swedenborg was a great man. That as many before him. He also saw that the (afterlife) is in layers. But in my opinion he was putting things in his writings that fit his times. So they would not burn him as a witch. That's what I mean by he had to sugar coat many things in his writings
And if the universe is infinite. Going on forever in every direction. Ho would you determine where the middle of the universe is? Where you are is the middle of the universe. At all times. Because if you have no boundries in a place. Then where you are is the middle. Always. Don't let it get to your head though. You are the middle of the universe at all times
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, Gabriel. And I think even Swedenborg says somewhere that we are each the center of the universe, or something along those lines. I'll have to chase that down....
Maybe I shouldn't be watching this while high
Does that exacerbate the freaking out part, Carmella?