God appears before the angels in heaven as a sun, and, from that sun heat [love] and light [wisdom] go forth…

Emanuel Swedenborg

The Angels In Heaven

Because He is Love in its essence, that is, Divine Love, [God] appears before the angels in heaven as a sun, and, from that sun heat and light go forth; the heat… being in its essence love, and the light… wisdom…

Emanuel Swedenborg

Emanuel Swedenborg was born on January 29, 1688, in Stockholm, Sweden. He was a man of many talents and interests, carving out successful careers in several different fields. Initially, he excelled in the sciences and became a respected inventor and scientist. His contributions spanned a broad range of subjects, including anatomy, geology, and engineering. He published numerous scientific works and was highly regarded within the scientific community. His father, Jesper Swedberg, was a prominent Lutheran bishop, which likely influenced Swedenborg's spiritual inclinations.

In the mid-1740s, Swedenborg underwent a spiritual awakening that dramatically altered the course of his life. He reported having visions of the spiritual world and to communicate directly with angels, devils, and other spiritual entities. This marked a shift from his earlier scientific pursuits to a focus on spiritual and theological matters. He devoted the rest of his life to studying the Bible and writing theological treatises. Among his most notable works are "Arcana Caelestia" (Heavenly Secrets) and "Heaven and Hell," both of which detail his spiritual visions and interpretations of the Bible. He said, "For it has pleased the Lord to manifest Himself to me. He has opened the interiors of my mind or spirit to be in the spiritual world with angels, and at the same time in the natural world with men, and this now for 25 years." (Swedenborg, Conjugal Love #1).

Swedenborg passed away on March 29, 1772, in London, England. Despite never establishing a church or religious movement during his lifetime, his spiritual writings had a significant influence posthumously. His teachings became the foundation of the New Church (or Swedenborgianism), a Christian denomination that believes in direct, individual access to God without the need for intercession by clergy. Swedenborg's influence also extended beyond the religious sphere. His works had a profound impact on a variety of figures in literature and philosophy, including William Blake, Rudolf Steiner, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Carl Jung.

(1688-1772) Christianity
Divine Wisdom

Swedenborg, Emanuel. Divine Love and Wisdom. Section 5.

Emanuel Swedenborg

Theme: Angels

About This Emanuel Swedenborg Quote [Commentary]

In this quote, Emanuel Swedenborg illustrates the Divine Love [God] as a sun before the angels in heaven, with the emanating heat and light symbolizing love and wisdom, respectively. The angels, through the purity of their nature, become unhindered expressions of these divine attributes. Their essence of love and wisdom is a clear reflection of the Divine Love and Wisdom streaming from God. The imagery illustrates the idea of divine attributes being channeled through the angels, accentuating the purity that allows such a divine expression.

Further, Swedenborg delves into the unique mode of communication among angels, characterized by utter sincerity and love. This communication, devoid of human fallacies such as doubt and conflict, aligns seamlessly with the divine attributes they embody. The purity in their interaction is a direct result of the divine love and wisdom they reflect, displaying a harmonious blend of emotion and intellect. This angelic discourse is an extension of their inner divine love, carrying messages of unadulterated love and truth.

Lastly, the notion of angels being without power of their own, instead being conduits of God’s power, emphasizes their humble recognition of the divine source. This humble nature, far from being a dependency, showcases a sublime state where the divine attributes are expressed without hindrance.

Additional Commentary—A Book of Angels

Angels, he [Swedenborg] tells us, breathe an atmosphere adapted to their angelic lungs. They not only speak but write… But how they speak is wondrous, for they express affection with vowels, Swedenborg says, ideas with consonants, and their total communication with words. They cannot voice, he says, the human language of doubt and ideas, conflict and argument. The reason is simple: angels can utter only what expresses with perfect sincerity the love that lies in them, so that their message is always one of total and unconditional overwhelming love…
Angels, says Swedenborg, have no power of their own. They are agents of God, and if an angel doubted where his power comes from, he would instantly become so weak he could not resist a single evil spirit. “For this reason,” says Swedenborg in Heaven and Hell, angels ascribe no merit whatever to themselves, and are averse to all praise and glory on account of anything they do, ascribing all the praise and glory to the Lord.”
Swedenborg’s angels stayed with him always, whispering and singing to him. He writes of their communicating spiritually—by thoughts flashing into his mind, and in one of these instructions he learned that angels look on all events as proceeding from God—not as men or evil spirits do, who want everything to come out their way and, when it doesn’t, give way to doubt or even deny the existence of God, but rather in an outpouring of faith. His angels repeated again and again that we poor beings should not worry about the future but only trust to Providence. For Providence will bring all things that we desire—not necessarily while we desire them, “but yet, if it be for their good, they obtain them afterward, when not thinking of them.”

—Burnham, Sophy. A Book of Angels: Reflections on Angels Past and Present and True Stories of How They Touch Our Lives. Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin, 1990, 2004. Pp. 190-191.

The Angels In Heaven

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