Emanuel Swedenborg Quotes

Emanuel Swedenborg was a Swedish scientist, philosopher, theologian, revelator, mystic and founder of Swedenborgianism. He is best known for his book on the afterlife, Heaven and Hell .

Swedenborg had a prolific career as an inventor and scientist. In 1741, at 53, he entered into a spiritual phase in which he began to experience dreams and visions, beginning on Easter Weekend, on 6 April 1744. It culminated in a 'spiritual awakening' in which he received a revelation that he was appointed by the Lord Jesus Christ to write The Heavenly Doctrine to reform Christianity. According to The Heavenly Doctrine, the Lord had opened Swedenborg's spiritual eyes so that from then on, he could freely visit heaven and hell and talk with angels, demons and other spirits and the Last Judgment had already occurred the year before, in 1757.

For the last 28 years of his life, Swedenborg wrote 18 published theological works—and several more that were unpublished. He termed himself a "Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ" in True Christian Religion, which he published himself. Some followers of The Heavenly Doctrine believe that of his theological works, only those that were published by Swedenborg himself are fully divinely inspired.

✵ 29. January 1688 – 29. March 1772  •  Other names Emanuel von Swedenborg
Emanuel Swedenborg photo

Works

Arcana Cœlestia
Arcana Cœlestia
Emanuel Swedenborg
Arcana Cœlestia
Arcana Cœlestia
Emanuel Swedenborg
Emanuel Swedenborg: 13 quotes6 likes

Famous Emanuel Swedenborg Quotes

“A life of kindness is the primary meaning of divine worship.”

Emanuel Swedenborg

New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine #124

“Angels never attack, as infernal spirits do. Angels only ward off and defend.”

Emanuel Swedenborg book Arcana Cœlestia

#1683
Arcana Coelestia (1749 - 1756)

Emanuel Swedenborg Quotes about life

“All religion relates to life, and the life of religion is to do good.”

Emanuel Swedenborg

The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem Concerning Life #1

“They think this is renouncing the world and living for the spirit and not for the flesh. However, the actual case is quite different, as I have learned from an abundance of experience and conversation with angels. In fact, people who renounce the world and live for the spirit in this fashion take on a mournful life for themselves, a life that is not open to heavenly joy, since our life does remain with us [after death]. No, if we would accept heaven's life, we need by all means to live in the world and to participate in its duties and affairs. In this way, we accept a spiritual life by means of our moral and civic life; and there is no other way a spiritual life can be formed within us, no other way our spirits can be prepared for heaven.”

Emanuel Swedenborg

Heaven and Hell #528
Context: Some people believe it is hard to lead the heaven-bound life that is called "spiritual" because they have heard that we need to renounce the world and give up the desires attributed to the body and the flesh and "live spiritually." All they understand by this is spurning worldly interests, especially concerns for money and prestige, going around in constant devout meditation about God, salvation, and eternal life, devoting their lives to prayer, and reading the Word and religious literature. They think this is renouncing the world and living for the spirit and not for the flesh. However, the actual case is quite different, as I have learned from an abundance of experience and conversation with angels. In fact, people who renounce the world and live for the spirit in this fashion take on a mournful life for themselves, a life that is not open to heavenly joy, since our life does remain with us [after death]. No, if we would accept heaven's life, we need by all means to live in the world and to participate in its duties and affairs. In this way, we accept a spiritual life by means of our moral and civic life; and there is no other way a spiritual life can be formed within us, no other way our spirits can be prepared for heaven. This is because living an inner life and not an outer life at the same time is like living in a house that has no foundation, that gradually either settles or develops gaping cracks or totters until it collapses.

Emanuel Swedenborg Quotes

“A person who knows all that is good and all that is true — as much as can be known — but does not resist evils, knows nothing.”
Homo qui scit omnia bona et omnia vera, quotcunque sciri possunt, et non fugit mala, nihil scit

Emanuel Swedenborg

Apocalypse Explained #1180

“Man knows that love is, but not what it is.”

Emanuel Swedenborg

Divine Love and Wisdom #1

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