Iqiniso, noma okuyiqiniso, kuyindlela yokuchaza lokho okuyiqiniso ekugcineni. Ngokwezinga elingokwemvelo, iqiniso lingabhekwa njengelimane linembile kuyilapho ekuphileni kwethu kokukhula ngokomoya, iqiniso lingaba ukufundwa kwezimfundiso ezisekelwe ngokomoya noma, kangcono, ukwamukela kwethu kuzo njengamaqiniso aphezulu. Kodwa iSwedenborg iqhubekela phambili encazelweni yakhe yeqiniso, ifundisa ukuthi iqiniso liwuhlobo lothando, noma indlela uthando oluziveza ngayo.

Ngomqondo othile, iqiniso liwuhlelo lokunikeza uthando futhi ngenxa yokuthi ukwabelana ngothando kuyinjongo yangempela, lokhu kwenza iqiniso libaluleke kakhulu. Futhi nakuba iqiniso lingase lifike ngendlela eyomile, imithetho namaqiniso abandayo, limsulwa kakhulu liyinto yobuhle obungachazeki, into esishukumisa ngaphakathi.

Ubunjalo beqiniso busuka embonweni wokuthi iNkosi engqikithini Yakhe iluthando uqobo lwalo, luphelele futhi alunamkhawulo, nokuthi uyasithanda ngaphezu kwamandla ethu okucabanga. Futhi njengoba nje sifuna abantu esibathandayo baphinde basithande, kanjalo neNkosi inesifiso esijulile sokuthi siyithande futhi; Uthando lwakhe lufuna ukufinyelela kithi futhi lukhuthaze uthando ngokulandelana.

Nokho, uthando alukwazi ukuzisebenza ngokwalo; idinga umuntu ozosebenza kuyo. Cabanga ngalokhu ngale ndlela: ukuze ubonise uthando ngothile, udinga ubuso ozomomotheka nabo, izwi ozokhuluma nalo, izingalo ozogona ngazo, noma amathuluzi ahlukahlukene ongawasebenzisa ukuze wenze okuhle, ngothando. izinto zabantu obathandayo. Ngaphandle kwalezo zinto kuwumuzwa nje, onamathele ngaphakathi futhi kunalokho okungenamsebenzi. Ngomqondo othile, uma ingenakuvezwa, ubukhona bayo abuphelele ngempela.

Khona-ke, “iqiniso,” lingachazwa ngokuthi “ukubonakaliswa kothando” noma mhlawumbe “uthando olubonakaliswayo.” Lokhu kungaba kuhle kakhulu futhi kube kuhle: ukubonakala kobuso bukamama omusha, ukubona ingane yakhe okokuqala - okuyiqiniso, ezingeni elingaphezu kwamagama. Umuzwa okuye uyavezwa, futhi siyawuthatha futhi sizizwe sikhuphuka imizwa ngokwethu. Ezingeni eliphakeme nokho, singase sizame ukubonisa isimo sobuso beNkosi lapho isibheka, uthando oluthululwa luvela kuyo; lokho kuyiqiniso ekujuleni kwalo.

Kodwa iqiniso liza emazingeni aphansi futhi. Cabanga ngezindlela esithanda ngazo izingane zethu - ngezinye izikhathi lokho kusho ukubeka imithetho eqinile, emnyama nemhlophe. "Gcina izandla zakho kuwe" futhi "udinga ukungilalela" akuzwakali unothando kakhulu, futhi ukwenza ingane ikhiphe udoti akukhuthazi ncamashi imizwa efudumele nemicabango esankondlo. Kodwa eqinisweni siyabathanda lapho sibafundisa izifundo ezizobasiza babe abantu abalungile, ngisho noma lolo thando lungakhanyi kulokho esikushoyo. INkosi kufanele isiphathe ngendlela efanayo ngezinye izikhathi, ikakhulukazi ezigabeni zokuqala zokukhula kwethu ngokomoya. "Ungabulali" akuzwakali konke lokho kunothando, futhi umyalo wokungafisi ungabonakala ungekho ngokoqobo futhi ungenabulungisa. Nokho, uma sibabhekisisa, siyabona ukuthi banothando, futhi basiholela ekubeni sibe abantu abanothando.

Ngakho-ke iqiniso liza emazingeni amaningi nangezindlela eziningi, lakheke futhi livumelane nezindlela ezahlukahlukene esingaholwa ukuba sibe abahle futhi sibe nothando. Yingakho izinto eziningi ezahlukene eBhayibhelini - amatshe, amanzi, iwayini, izitshalo, izinkemba nezinye eziningi - zonke zimelela iqiniso; zonke zinemithunzi yencazelo ekhombisa izinhlobo eziningi zeqiniso iNkosi ezisebenzisayo ukusihola.

Nokho, enhliziyweni, lonke iqiniso liyindlela yokwabelana ngothando. Uma sibheka lokho, sizokwazisa ngendlela efanele.

(Odkazy: Apocalypse Explained 434; Izimfihlakalo Zezulu 1904 [3], 3077, 3207 [1-3], 3295, 3509 [2], 4247, 5912, 6880, 7270 [2-3], 8301 [2], 8456, 9407, Arcana Coelestia 9407 [13], 9806, 10026; Divine Wisdom 9; Inhlakanipho Yobungelosi 10, 36; The Apocalypse Explained 627 [5-6]; The Doctrine of Life for the New Jerusalem 36; The New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine 24; Inkolo YeQiniso yobuKhrestu 209 [2-4], 224 [1-2], 379, 398)

628. And the angel stood near, saying, signifies the Lord's will and command. This is evident from the signification of "to stand near," as being here will (of which presently); also from the signification of "angel," as being the Lord in respect to the Word (See above, n. 593); also from the signification of "saying," as being, when the Lord speaks, command; for what the Lord says is to be done, or that anyone should do it, is a command. "The angel stood near" means here the Lord's will, because in the spiritual world the thought, with the purpose, and will to see another, to speak with him, and to give him a command, causes the other to be present, that is, to stand near; for in that world there are no distances that are constant and thence measurable, as in the natural world; but likeness of affection and of thought thence causes presence, and unlikeness of these causes absence; this is the origin of all distances in that world. This comes from the universal principle that the Lord is present with all according to their love to Him and according to their love towards the neighbor and thoughts from these. From this universal principle all distances, that is, all presence and absence among angels and spirits, exist; therefore when anyone desires to speak with another, that is, thinks about him from a purpose or wish to speak with him, that one immediately becomes present, or he is present with that one. (That this is so can be seen in the work on Heaven and Hell, n. 191-199, where Space in Heaven is treated of.) From this it can now be seen why the Lord's will is signified by "the angel stood near," for "to stand near" means to be present.

313. Verse 6. And I saw, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four animals, and in the midst of the elders, signifies in the whole heaven, and especially in the inmost heavens. This is evident from the signification of "in the midst," as being the inmost, and therefore the whole (of which presently); from the signification of "throne," as being heaven in the whole complex (of which above, n. 253; from the signification of "the four animals" as being the Lord's providence and guard that heaven be not approached except through the good of love (of which see above, n. 277; and as that guard is especially in the third or inmost heaven, since all who are there are in the good of love to the Lord from the Lord, that heaven is signified especially by "the four animals" (which will be more clearly seen from what follows in this chapter). It is also evident from the signification of "elders" as being those who are in truths from good (of which also see above n. 270; here, therefore, those who are in the middle or second heaven, since all who are there are in truths from good; for there are these two heavens, the third and second, distinguished from each other by this, that those in the third heaven are in love to the Lord, and those in the second in charity towards the neighbor; those in charity towards the neighbor are in truths from good. From this it can be seen what is especially signified by the "four animals" and the "elders."

[2] But the "four animals" signify in general all Divine good in the whole heaven, which guards; and the "elders" signify in general all Divine truth proceeding from Divine good in the whole heaven; both guard because they are united; thus "the four animals and the elders," together, signify Divine good united to Divine truth proceeding from the Lord, and therefore the entire angelic heaven, but especially the two inmost heavens. This is so for the reason that angels are not angels from what is their own [ex proprio], but from the Divine good and the Divine truth that they receive; for it is the Divine with them, that is, the Divine received by them, that causes them to be angels, and causes heaven, which is made up of them, to be called heaven (See in the work on Heaven and Hell 2-12, 51-86).

[3] That "the midst" or "in the midst" signifies the inmost, and therefore the whole, can be seen from many passages in the Word; but first let something be said to explain whence it is that because "the midst" signifies the inmost it also signifies the whole. This may be illustrated by comparison with light, with the sun, with the arrangement of all in the heavens, and also of all who are of the church on earth. By comparison with light: Light in the midst propagates itself round about or from the center to circumferences in every direction; and because from the inmost it is propagated and fills the spaces around, thence "in the midst" signifies also the whole. By comparison with the sun: The sun is in the midst because it is the center of its universe; because from it are the heat and light in its system, therefore the sun "in the midst" signifies its presence in every direction, or throughout the whole. By comparison with the arrangement of all in the heavens: There are three heavens, and the inmost of them is the third heaven; this flows into the two lower heavens, and makes them to be one with it by communication which is effected by influx from the inmost. Moreover, in every society of the heavens that which is inmost is also the most perfect; those, therefore, who are round about in that society are in light and intelligence according to their degree of distance from the inmost (See in the work on Heaven and Hell, n. 43, 50, 189). By comparison with those who are in the church on earth: The Lord's church is spread through the whole world; but its inmost is where the Lord is known and acknowledged, and where the Word is; from that inmost, light and intelligence are propagated to all who are round about and are of the church, but this propagation of light and intelligence is effected in heaven (of which see in the work on Heaven and Hell 308). From this it can be seen that "the midst" or "in the midst," as it signifies the inmost, signifies also the whole. This makes clear what is meant by "I saw, and lo, in the midst of the throne, and of the four animals, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing," namely, the Lord in respect to His Divine Human, in the whole heaven, and especially in the inmost heavens.

[4] "The midst" also signifies the inmost, and therefore the whole, in many passages in the Word, as in the following. In Isaiah:

Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee (Isaiah 12:6).

"Inhabitant of Zion" signifies the like as "daughter of Zion," namely, the celestial church, that is the church that is in the good of love to the Lord; "great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee" signifies the Lord, that He is everywhere and throughout the whole there.

[5] In David:

We have considered Thy mercy, O God, in the midst of Thy temple. As is Thy name, so is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth (Psalms 48:9-10).

"Temple" signifies the church that is in truths from good which is called a spiritual church; "in the midst of it" is in its inmost, and thence in the whole of it; therefore it is said, "as is Thy name, so is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth," meaning even to the ultimates of the church, the "earth" is the church.

[6] In the same:

God is my King of old, working salvations in the midst of the earth (Psalms 74:12);

"working salvations in the midst of the earth" signifying in every direction.

[7] In the same:

God stood in the congregation of God, in the midst of the gods He will judge (Psalms 82:1).

"The congregation of God" signifies heaven; "in the midst of the gods" signifies with all angels there, thus in the whole heaven; for the angels are called gods from the Divine truth that they receive from the Lord, for "God" in the Word signifies the Lord in respect to Divine truth proceeding from Him, and constituting heaven (See above, n. 24, 130, 220 a, 222 a, 302).

[8] In Moses:

Behold, I send an angel before thee; beware of his face, since My name is in the midst of him (Exodus 23:20-21).

"Angel" here, in the highest sense, means the Lord; "My name in the midst of him," means that all Divine good and Divine truth are in him (See above, n. 102, 135, 224).

[9] In Luke:

Jesus said of the last times, Then let them that are in Judea flee on the mountains; and let them that are in the midst of her depart out (Luke 21:21).

This treats of the consummation of the age, by which is meant the last time of the church, when judgment takes place. "Judea" does not mean Judea, but the church; and the "mountains" do not mean mountains, but the good of love to the Lord; and as these things are said respecting the end of the church, it is clear what is signified by "let them that are in Judea flee on the mountains; and let them that are in the midst of her depart out;" namely, that when judgment takes place all those of the church who are in the good of love to the Lord shall be safe.

[10] In Isaiah:

In that day shall Israel be third to Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the land; whom Jehovah shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel Mine inheritance (Isaiah 19:24-25).

"Israel" means the spiritual of the church; "Assyria" the rational of the men thereof; and "Egypt" cognitions and knowledges [cognitiones et scientifica]. From this it can be seen what is signified by "Israel shall be the third to Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the land," namely, that everything there shall be spiritual, both the rational and the recognizing and knowing faculty [cognitivum et scientificum]; for when the inmost is spiritual, which is truth from good, then the rational also which is therefrom is spiritual, and likewise the knowing faculty, for both are formed from the inmost, which is truth from good, or the spiritual.

[11] In Jeremiah:

My heart in the midst of me is broken, all my bones are shattered (Jeremiah 23:9).

"The heart broken in the midst of me" signifies grief from inmosts to ultimates, that is, through the whole; therefore it is also said, "all my bones are shattered," "bones" signifying the ultimates.

[12] In the following passages, also, "in the midst" signifies in the whole, or throughout the whole. In Isaiah:

It shall be in the midst of the earth, in the midst of the peoples, as the beating of an olive-tree, as the gleanings when the vintage is completed (Isaiah 24:13).

These things were said of the church vastated in respect to good and to truth, and in which there is nothing but evil and falsity. "In the midst of the earth" means that throughout the whole of the church there is evil; and "in the midst of the peoples" means that throughout the whole of it there is falsity; therefore it is compared to "the beating of an olive-tree," and to "the gleanings left when the vintage is completed;" "olive" signifying the good of the church, "vintage" the truth thereof, and "beating" and "gleanings" thereof signify vastation.

[13] In David:

They search out perversities, for the midst of men and the heart are deep (Psalms 64:6).

The "midst of man" means the intellectual where truth should be; and the "heart" the voluntary where good should be; here, both of these perverted, the latter into evil, and the former into falsity.

[14] In the same:

There is no certainty in the mouth of anyone; perdition is their midst (Psalms 5:9).

In the same:

They bless with their mouth, but in their midst they curse (Psalms 62:4).

In the same:

The saying of the transgression to the wicked in the midst of my heart is, there is no dread of God before his eyes (Psalms 36:1).

In Jeremiah:

They have taught their tongue to speak a lie: their ¹ dwelling is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know Me (Jeremiah 9:5-6).

Also in these and in many other passages, "in the midst" signifies in the whole, because in the inmost; for such as the inmost is, such is the whole; since from the inmost all the rest are brought forth and derived, as the body is from its soul; the inmost of everything is also what is called the soul. For example: The inmost of man is his will and understanding therefrom, and such as is the will and the understanding, thence, such is the whole man; so again, the inmost of man is his love and faith therefrom, and such as is his love and the faith, thence such is the whole man.

[15] That the whole man is such as his midst or inmost is, is also the meaning of the Lord's words in Matthew:

The lamp of the body is the eye; if the eye be good the whole body is light; if the eye be evil the whole body is darkened (Matthew 6:22-23).

The "eye" signifies man's understanding (See above, n. 37, 152), if this is good, that is, if it is made up of truths that are from good, the whole man is such, which is signified by "the whole body is light;" but on the other hand, if the understanding is made up of the falsities of evil, the whole man is such, as is signified by "the whole body is darkened." The eye is called "good;" but in the Greek the eye is called "single," and "single," means that there is unity, and there is unity when truth is from good, or the understanding is from the will. Also, the "right eye" signifies the understanding of good, and the "left eye" the understanding of truth; if these make one, there is a "single eye," thus a "good eye."

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