Heaven and Hell

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

Heaven and Hell

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

Swedenborg's firsthand account of the afterlife reveals heaven as a realm of shared love and truth, while hell stems from self-love. A profound spiritual exploration offering clarity on eternal states.

Summary up to 500 words

In 'Heaven and Hell,' Emanuel Swedenborg presents a profound reimagining of the afterlife, based on his thirteen-year experience communicating with angels and spirits. Contrary to popular belief, the afterlife is not a place of static reward or punishment but a continuation of one's earthly life of love. Swedenborg asserts that the Lord is the sole God of heaven, and entry requires a life of charity and faith, not mere belief. Heaven consists of innumerable societies where angels reflect the Lord's divine human, sharing infinite delights derived from love to the Lord and neighbor. Conversely, hell is self-generated; spirits cast themselves down due to loves of self and the world, experiencing torment as their false goods are stripped away. Swedenborg explains that the Word contains an internal sense of spiritual realities, using correspondences where natural objects symbolize spiritual truths. He argues that genuine salvation comes from doing good, not mere belief, and that the Lord rules both heavens and hells, ensuring equilibrium. The work dismantles common misconceptions about the afterlife, presenting a structured, logical, and deeply spiritual vision where every thought and affection determines one's eternal state. Swedenborg details that after death, a person remains in a complete human form, possessing all memories, thoughts, and affections from their earthly life. The delights of one's life are changed after death into corresponding realities: the delights of the flesh become painful fires for the wicked, while the hidden blessedness of the righteous becomes evident heavenly joy. The text emphasizes that the Lord does not cast anyone into hell; rather, the spirit casts itself down when its false loves are exposed. Ultimately, the book offers a vision where the Lord's divine order governs all, ensuring that every individual finds their appropriate state based on their internal loves and uses.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/emanuel-swedenborg_heaven-and-hell.epub

Local file path

data/epubs/url-2df53bf7dddfd6f3.epub

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Categories

• Religion
• Philosophy