From Swedenborg's Works

 

Survey of Teachings of the New Church #90

Study this Passage

  
/ 120  
  

90. The dragon means adamant supporters of the modern-day view that faith is what justifies us. To make me convinced and certain of this, I was given the opportunity to see thousands and thousands of such people gathered into an assembly. From a distance they looked like a dragon with a long tail, which was covered with spikes like a bramble bush; the spikes symbolize falsities.

On another occasion I saw a dragon that was even larger. With its back lifted up, it reached its tail toward heaven in an effort to drag the stars down. The stars in that world symbolize truths.

  
/ 120  
  

Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for their permission to use this translation.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Survey of Teachings of the New Church #43

Study this Passage

  
/ 120  
  

43. 8 This faith is faith in God the Savior Jesus Christ. In a simple form it is this:

1. There is one God, the divine trinity exists within him, and he is the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Believing in him is a faith that saves.

3. We must abstain from doing things that are evil — they belong to the Devil and come from the Devil.

4. We must do things that are good — they belong to God and come from God.

5. We must do these things as if we ourselves were doing them, but we must believe that they come from the Lord working with us and through us.

  
/ 120  
  

Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for their permission to use this translation.