Bible Guide for the Golden Age: May 2009

Thursday, 28 May 2009

2 Chronicles 3:15,17 Before the house two pillars

Solomon's Temple

'Also he made before the house two pillars... And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.' -2 Chronicles 3:15,17

The two pillars, which we must walk between in order to enter into the Temple of God, may represent the left hand path and the right hand path of the Qabalah. The Jewish Qabalah Tree of Life consists of three main paths. The left hand, the right hand and the Middle Path which runs straight up the middle. As I understand it, the left hand path is the negative path of evil, the right hand path is the positive path of good and the Middle Path is the strait and narrow Path of Ascension. I believe the Qabalah Tree of Life is a clever mixture between the Bible's Tree of knowledge of good and evil, the Tree of Life and also the inner and outer worlds. The problem is that it represents an esoteric Jewish point of view so it needs to be translated into a Western modern point of view. In the Qabalah Tree of Life all the 3 paths come together at the top of the Middle Path indicating to me that eventually those who follow the left hand or the right hand paths must come onto the strait and narrow Middle Path in order to gain the Ascension. To me the lowest sphere of the Qabalah Tree represents the earth and the 3 spheres directly above it on the Middle Path represent the 3 Divine Higher Planes where our Higher Selves dwell; First the purple or violet Higher Mental Plane; Second the golden yellow Soul Plane and Third the white Higher Soul Plane at the top of the Tree of Life. All the other worlds on the left and right hand paths are associated with the lower human state of consciousness.

The Mormon Temple

Salt Lake Temple Terrestrial Room
(The Terrestrial Room represents the Terrestrial Kingdom, the 2nd Kingdom of Heaven)

In the Mormon Temple there is the representation of the 3 Kingdoms of Heaven and in order to enter into the Celestial Room, or the Celestial Kingdom, one must pass thru a veil. These 3 Kingdoms of Heaven are represented in their teachings as having the glory of the Sun, Moon and Stars. Joseph Smith was apparently a Mason therefore there are some similarities to Masonry. In his book 'The Hidden Life in Freemasonry' (p275) by C. W. Leadbeater who was a 33rd Degree Mason teaches us: "The path of the moon is said to typify the life of the ordinary man, who clings to objects of desire and parts with them reluctantly at death. After a period in the astral and heavenly worlds he returns to earth, to repeat the process. It is the path of rebirth after intervals. The path of the sun is that of the occult aspirant, the man of spiritual desires, who values life only for what it can give to the higher Self in others as well as himself. He also is reborn, but usually without an interval, or after a very short one. The path of fire is the path of ascension, from which there is no longer any rebirth under the law of necessity, but only...for the helping of the world."

The Mighty Ascended Master Victory teaches that He came forth from His Great Planet of Complete Freedom, Venus, to dwell in our earth. When the Earth is cleansed, permanently harmonized, the Kumaras, including the Great Presence Sanat Kumara, will return to Their Home on Venus. The Beloved Goddess of Justice asks us: "Can you comprehend- is there anyone here who can tell Me how great is the Love of the Mighty Sanat Kumara, Who is called the "Voluntary Exile"- leaving His Great Cosmic Work on Venus, to come and stay in the atmosphere- mark you, the lower atmosphere for two and a half million years?" ('The Voice of the I AM' 1951 December p19)

In his book The Hidden Life in Freemasonry, C. W. Leadbeater teaches: Referring to King Solomon’s temple… the two great pillars… at the… entrance… were Tat… and Tattu. (p58) In Tat the lilies represented always the flower of humanity. Arranged in line around the edge of the disc they indicated the Great White Brotherhood- the jewels in the crown of mankind, hovering above the human race and directing its evolution. The four pendant flower-chains symbolized the Holy Four who reside at Shamballa- the Spiritual King and His three pupil-assistants, the sole representatives on earth of the Lords of the Flame who came down long ago from Venus to hasten the evolution of mankind. ( p68)

2 Chronicles 3:14 The vail of blue & purple & crimson

'And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson... and wrought cherubims thereon.'

Arcana Coelestia, by Emanuel Swedenborg, [1749-56], tr. by John F. Potts [1905-10], at sacred-texts.com

9669

"...And thou shalt make a veil of blue, and crimson, and scarlet double-dyed, and fine twined linen; with the work of a thinker [skilled craftsman] shall he make it, with cherubs... and the veil shall divide for you between the holy and the holy of holies. "And thou shalt make a veil," signifies the intermediate which unites this [Spiritual] heaven and the inmost [Celestial] heaven, thus spiritual good with celestial good; "of blue, and crimson, and scarlet double-dyed, and fine twined linen," signifies the goods of love and of faith conjoined; "with the work of a thinker shall he make it," signifies the understanding; "with cherubs," signifies a guard lest they should be commingled... "and the veil shall divide for you between the holy and the holy of holies," signifies between [the Spiritual heaven's] spiritual good which is the good of charity toward the neighbor and the good of faith in the Lord, and [the Celestial heaven's] celestial good which is the good of love to the Lord and the good of mutual love."

The outer Temple can represent our outer physical body. As we enter the inner worlds within our physical body through death, dreams or soul travel we find there are divisions between the different Planes which may be symbolized by the veils in the Temple. These Planes all have different colours. For example, I believe the Mental Plane is blue where our inner Mental body resides and the Higher Mental Plane, or first True Heaven where our Higher Mental Body resides, is Purple or Violet. I believe the Astral Plane, where our inner Astral or Emotional body resides, is crimson or red.

2 Chronicles 3:1 The Temple

'Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah.'

The Temple on top of a hill or mountain represents the Kingdom of Heaven which is located on higher spiritual ground or the Higher Planes. "I have been instructed that the men of the Most Ancient Church (the church before the flood) were of a genius so heavenly that they spoke with angels of heaven, and that they were able to speak with them by means of correspondences. From this the state of their wisdom was rendered such that whatever they saw in this world they thought about not only in a natural way, but spiritually also at the same time, so that they thought unitedly with angels... (21) A mountain signified the highest heaven; and a hill, the heaven under it." (21,23:2 Doctrine of Sacred Scriptures, by Emanuel Swedenborg, 1763,tr. by John F. Potts, 1904, at sacred-texts.com)

The Mormon Temple

Salt Lake Temple Terrestrial Room
(The Terrestrial Room represents the Terrestrial Kingdom, the 2nd Kingdom of Heaven)

The Temples are full of wonderful spiritual symbolism. The first obvious comparison is to the body. As we travel within the physical body we enter the Spirit World where according to the Bible there is hell and the three Kingdoms of Heaven. (2 Corinthians 12:2) When one enters into the Mormon Temple they first put on white clothing to represent the Angelic garments of white Light. Within the Salt Lake City Mormon Temple they have different rooms to represent the three Kingdoms of Heaven called the Celestial, Terrestrial and the Telestial which is the lowest. Before entering into the Endowment Room everyone receives a secret name or key word which they use later in the ceremony before passing thru the veil into the Celestial Room. This I believe is referred to in items of instruction given by Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Ramus, Illinois, 2 April 1843 in The Doctrine and Covenants: 6 The angels do not reside on a planet like this earth; 7 But they reside in the presence of God, on a globe like a sea of glass and fire, where all things for their glory are manifest, past, present, and future, and are continually before the Lord. 8 The place where God resides is a great Urim and Thummim. 9 This earth, in its sanctified and immortal state, will be made like unto crystal and will be a Urim and Thummim to the inhabitants who dwell thereon, whereby all things pertaining to an inferior kingdom, or all kingdoms of a lower order, will be manifest to those who dwell on it; and this earth will be Christ’s. 10 Then the white stone mentioned in Revelation 2:17, [¹⁷He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.] will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known; 11 And a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word. (The Doctrine and Covenants, Section 130:6-11) I believe this Key Word represents the secret Name of God "I AM."

Egyptian Hall by Curious Expeditions

The amazingly lavish Masonic Temple in Philadelphia, PA, erected in 1873

(Flickr: Creative Commons; Some Rights Reserved)

The Masonic Temple

"Moses, of whom it is said in the biblical story that he was "learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians." He passed on his knowledge (of the Mystery teaching of Egypt) to the Jewish priestly line, and thus it survived in a more or less defective form till the time of David and Solomon. When Solomon built his temple he erected it on Masonic lines, and made it a centre of Masonic symbolism and work... King Solomon... judaized the entire ritual, substituting Hebrew words for the original Egyptian, though in some cases at least preserving the original meaning. (p35-36) The majority of masculine Freemasons hold that the Craft comprises only the three Degrees of E.A., F.C., and M.M., though in English Masonry they allow the Mark Degree and the Holy Royal Arch as nominally extensions of the Second and Third Degrees... Among the masculine Masons only those who belong to the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite work the higher Degrees, though various other small bodies of Masons use some of them. The Rites of Memphis and Mizraim used to have a list of 97 degrees, but have now reduced them to 33... (p277 The Hidden Life in Freemasonry by C. W. Leadbeater 33)

The First Degree of Freemasonry

"The conquest of passions and emotions is prescribed for the First Degree of [Blue Masonry...] (p221) In the First Degree attention is principally focused upon the astral world." (p230 The Hidden Life in Freemasonry by C. W. Leadbeater)

The Second Degree of Freemasonry

"Just as the conquest of the passions and emotions is the prominent object of the E. A., [or Entered Apprentice] so is the conquest and control of the lower mind the especial purpose of the [F. C. Fellow Craft or] Second Degree." (p231 The Hidden Life in Freemasonry by C. W. Leadbeater)

The Third Degree of Freemasonry

"The Third Degree... This means that a M. M. [or Master Mason] may be tested and known by the fact that both the higher self and the lower self are in working order, are functioning together and in harmony. (p248 The Hidden Life in Freemasonry by C. W. Leadbeater)

The Fourth Degree of Freemasonry

"In the Mark Degree... the neophyte is taught by the ritual the necessity of humility and patience... (p281) Bro. Wood takes the Mark Man and the Mark Master as respectively symbolizing the Second and Third of the Great Initiations... When this is achieved a Mark is given to him, typified in the Masonic and biblical phaseology as a white stone upon which a new name is written- the true name of the ego. [In Theology I believe the ego refers to the Higher Self.] The Hindu term for the man who takes the Third great Step is Hamsa, the Swan." (p281,283 The Hidden Life in Freemasonry by C. W. Leadbeater)

The Seventh Degree of Freemasonry

In the Royal Arch [Degree] he [the Mason] passes beyond the substituted secrets and learns the genuine Word... For the true Word is the Name of God. (p277-278) The Degree of the H.R.A. [Holy Royal Arch] leads the neophyte a step further in his quest, and is thus a fitting sequel to the Sublime Degree of M.M. [of Master Mason? in the Third Degree] ...His vision must be so purified that he can behold His presence [or Higher Self?] with eyes unveiled. This attainment of true spiritual vision is symbolized by the Passing of the Four Veils on the road to the Heavenly City, the Sanctuary of Light

and Peace; for the veils represent those limitations of consciousness which blind his vision of the Truth. (p286-287 The Hidden Life in Freemasonry by C. W. Leadbeater)

The Eighteenth Degree of Freemasonry

The Thirty-third Degree Freemason C. W. Leadbeater reveals: In Egypt… [six thousand years ago p10] there was a Grand Lodge… of which the Grand Master was the Pharoah… (p28-29) Moses, of whom it was said in the biblical story that he was “learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians.” He passed on his knowledge (of the Mystery teaching of Egypt) to the Jewish priestly line, and thus it survived in a more or less defective form till the time of David and Solomon. When Solomon built his temple he erected it on Masonic lines, and made it a centre of Masonic symbolism and Work. …King Solomon… judaized the entire ritual, substituting Hebrew words for the original Egyptian, though in some cases at least preserving the original meaning…(p35-36) Much of the ancient wisdom has been allowed to slip into oblivion, and so some of the true secrets were lost to the great body of the [Masonic] Brn. [Brethren] But among the Hierophants [or wise Master teachers] of the Great White Brotherhood the true secrets have ever been preserved and they will always reward the search of the really earnest Mason. (p38) In the magnificent illumination given in the Eighteenth Degree, that of the Sovereign Prince of the Rose-Croix of Heredom… [the Mason] finds the divine Love reigning in his own heart and in those of his Brn. [Brethren] He also learns that God has descended and shared our lower nature with us expressly in order that we may ascend to share His true nature with Him. …It further teaches us that God sits enthroned in every human heart, that the inmost Spirit of each man is part of God Himself, a spark of the Divine; and that therefore all men are one in Him, and there is no height to which man may not aspire. …Each Knight [of the Rose-Croix] should meditate upon it and try to realize all that it involves for the knowledge which it gives should permeate the whole fibre of his very essence, if he is to do the duty which is expected of him. …For the man who really knows this, all life is one great glad song of triumph and of gratitude. All this he acknowledges, in all this he rejoices, every time he remembers that wondrous Word of power (The Name of T.G.A.O.T.U. [The Great Architect Of The Universe. God. The author does not say what this Word of Power is but on p275 he talks about the Sacred word AUM or OM] which is revealed to the aspirant in this most wonderful 18[th Degree] was the central and innermost secret of the ancient Egyptian mystery teaching. It is the clear duty of every Knight of the Rose-Croix to spread this light abroad- to preach by word when possible, and always by action, this true “gospel of the grace of God.” In the Co-Masonic form of this Degree he is instructed to offer himself as a channel for the Divine force and to make efforts to co-operate with T.G.A.O.T.U. [or God.] By this daily work… the Christ dwelling in man, should be aroused and greatly developed, so that he becomes, to the limit of his capacity, a living manifestation of the Eternal Love, a veritable priest who is its instrument for the helping of the world. In this Degree also we find certain symbols of deep significance. The flower of the Rose… [and] the Cross. …So when these two emblems are taken in conjunction, as they always are in the name Rose-Croix, they betoken the Love of Self-sacrifice, the secret of Immortality, and the sweet Fragrance of a Holy life. (p296-298) Much of the ancient wisdom has been allowed to slip into oblivion, and so some of the true secrets were lost to the great body of the Brn. [Brethren] But among the Hierophants [or wise Master teachers] of the Great White Brotherhood the true secrets have ever been preserved and they will always reward the search of the really earnest Mason. (p38, 296-298 The Hidden Life in Freemasonry by C. W. Leadbeater)

St.Germain

You may be interested to know that just as Jesus is acknowledged as the Master at the Head of all the Christian Religions C. W. Leadbeater teaches: The Chohan of the Seventh Ray… is that Master of the Wisdom of whom we often speak as the Comte de St. Germain. (p11) He was the Comte de St. Germain at the time of the French Revolution. …This great Saint and Teacher still lives and His present body has no appearance of great age. I myself met Him physically in Rome in 1901 and had a long conversation with Him. In Co-Masonry we refer to Him as the Head of all True Freemasons throughout the world. …Today but few of His Masons acknowledge Him as their Sovereign Grand Master, yet the possibility of such discipleship has ever been recognized in the traditions of the Order. (The Hidden Life in Freemasonry by C. W. Leadbeater p11, 14-15)

Old Freemason Bible With Symbol

In both the Masonic Temple and the Mormon Temple there is reference to the square and the compass.

The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ by Levi H. Dowling

CHAPTER 20.

¹The great feast of the pasch was ended and the Nazarenes were journeying toward their homes. ²And they were in Samaria, and Mary said, Where is my son? No one had seen the boy. ³And Joseph sought among their kindred who were on their way to Galilee; but they had seen him not. ⁴Then Joseph, Mary, and a son of Zebedee, returned and sought through all Jerusalem, but they could find him not. ⁵And then they went up to the temple courts and asked the guards, Have you seen Jesus, a fair-haired boy, with deep blue eyes, twelve years of age, about these courts? ⁶The guards replied, Yes, he is in the temple now disputing with the doctors of the law. ⁷And they went in, and found him as the guards had said. ⁸And Mary said, Why Jesus, why do you treat your parents thus? Lo, we have sought two days for you. We feared that some great harm had overtaken you. ⁹And Jesus said, Do you not know that I must be about my Father’s work? ¹⁰But he went round and pressed the hand of every doctor of the law and said, I trust that we may meet again. ¹¹And then he went forth with his parents on their way to Nazareth; and when they reached their home he wrought with Joseph as a carpenter. ¹²One day as he was bringing forth the tools for work he said, ¹³These tools remind me of the ones we handle in the workshop of the mind where things are made of thought and where we build up character. ¹⁴We use the square to measure all our lines, to straighten out the crooked places of the way, and make the corners of our conduct square. ¹⁵We use the compass to draw circles round our passions and desires to keep them in the bounds of righteousness... ²¹And on the twelve-step ladder we ascend until we reach the pinnacle of that which life is spent to build—the Temple of Perfected Man.

Wednesday, 27 May 2009

2 Chronicles 1:7-8,10 Wisdom and knowledge

'In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said unto God... Give me now wisdom and knowledge.'

The Wisdom of Solomon

Knowledge is important but the wisdom to use it constructively is more important. The world is filled with all different kinds of knowledge. We must use our wisdom to judge like King Solomon which knowledge will lead us to Eternal Life.

1 Chronicles 16:29 The beauty of holiness

'Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.'

In the Inner Worlds beauty is the outer manifestation of the inner beauty of holiness or purity. In heaven the angels are beautiful. In hell the demons are ugly.

1 Chronicles 16:13 Chosen ones

¹³O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones. -1 Chronicles 16:13 King James Version (KJV)

Arcana Coelestia, by Emanuel Swedenborg, [1749-56], tr. by John F. Potts [1905-10], at sacred-texts.com

939.

What sordid phantasies the ideas of thought of those who have been sordidly avaricious [greedy; covetous] are turned into, is evident from their hell, which is deep under foot. A vapor exhales from it like that from hogs whose bristles are being scraped off in a scalding trough. There are the homes of the avaricious...
940.

In this hell are for the most part Jews who have been sordidly avaricious [greedy; covetous,] whose presence too when they come to other spirits is perceived as the stench of mice. In regard to the Jews something may be said about their cities and the robbers in the desert, to show how miserable is their state after death, especially that of those who have been sordidly avaricious and have despised others in comparison with themselves in consequence of their inborn arrogance in thinking themselves to be the only chosen people. In consequence of having conceived and confirmed in themselves, during their life in the body, the phantasy that they shall go to Jerusalem, and the Holy Land, to possess it (not being disposed to understand that by the New Jerusalem is meant the Lord's kingdom in the heavens and on earth), there appears to them, when they come into the other world, a city on the left of [the hell called] Gehenna, a little in front, to which they flock in crowds. This city, however, being miry [muddy] and fetid [having an offensive odor,] is called the filthy Jerusalem; and here they run about the streets, over the ankles in dirt and mud, pouring out complaints and lamentations. They see these cities-indeed I have sometimes seen them myself-and the streets therein, with all their defilements, represented as in open day. There once appeared to me a certain spirit of a dusky hue coming from this filthy Jerusalem, the gate seeming as it were to be opened. He was encompassed about with wandering stars, especially on his left side; wandering stars around a spirit signifying in the spiritual world falsities, but it is different when the stars are not wandering. He approached, and applied himself to the upper part of my left ear, which he seemed to touch with his mouth, in order to speak with me; but he did not speak in a sonorous tone of voice like others, but within himself, nevertheless in such a manner that I could hear and understand. He said that he was a Jewish Rabbi, adding that he had been in that miry city for a long time, and that the streets thereof were nothing but mud and dirt. He said also there was nothing to eat in it but dirt, and on my asking why he who was a spirit desired to eat, he replied that he did eat, and that when he desired to eat, nothing was offered him but mud, which grieved him exceedingly. He inquired what he must do, having in vain tried to meet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I related to him some particulars respecting them, informing him it was in vain to seek for them, and that even if they were found, they could not possibly afford him any assistance. After adverting to matters of deeper import, I said that no one ought to be sought after but the Lord alone, who is the Messiah whom they had despised on earth; and that He rules the universal heaven and the universal earth, and that help comes from Him alone. He then asked anxiously and repeatedly where the Lord was. I replied that He is to be found everywhere, and that He hears and knows all men. But at that instant other Jewish spirits drew him away.

1 Chronicles 14:3 Plural marriage

³And David took more wives at Jerusalem: and David begat more sons and daughters. -1 Chronicles 14:3 King James Version (KJV)

Heaven and Hell, by Emanuel Swedenborg, [1758], tr. by John C. Ager [1900] at sacred-texts.com

366

MARRIAGES IN HEAVEN. As heaven is from the human race, and angels therefore are of both sexes, and from creation woman is for man and man is for woman, thus the one belongs to the other, and this love is innate in both, it follows that there are marriages in heaven as well as on the earth. But marriages in heaven differ widely from marriages on the earth....

379.

Nor is true marriage love possible between one husband and several wives; for its spiritual origin, which is the formation of one mind out of two, is thus destroyed; and in consequence interior conjunction, which is the conjunction of good and truth, from which is the very essence of that love, is also destroyed. Marriage with more than one is like... a man attached not to one but to several churches... The angels declare that marrying several wives is wholly contrary to Divine order, and that they know this from several reasons, one of which is that as soon as they think of marriage with more than one they are alienated from internal blessedness and heavenly happiness, and become like drunken men, because good is separated from its truth in them. And as the interiors of their mind are brought into such a state merely by thinking about it with some intention, they see clearly that marriage with more than one would close up their internal mind, and cause marriage to be displaced by lustful love, which love withdraws from heaven.

[379-1 As husband and wife should be one, and should live together in the inmost of life, and as they together make one angel in heaven, so true marriage love is impossible between one husband and several wives (n. 1907, 2740). To marry several wives at the same time is contrary to Divine order (n. 10837). That there is no marriage except between one husband and one wife is clearly perceived by those who are in the Lord's celestial kingdom (n. 865, 3246, 9002, 10172). For the reason that the angels there are in the marriage of good and truth (n. 3246). The Israelitish nation were permitted to marry several wives, and to add concubines to wives, but not Christians, for the reason that that nation was in externals separate from internals, while Christians are able to enter into internals, thus into the marriage of good and truth (n. 3246, 4837, 8809.)]

[2] They declare further that this is not easily comprehended by men because there are few who are in genuine marriage love, and those who are not in it know nothing whatever of the interior delight that is in that love, knowing only the delight of lust, and this delight is changed into what is undelightful after living together a short time; while the delight of true marriage love not only endures to old age in the world, but after death becomes the delight of heaven and is there filled with an interior delight that grows more and more perfect to eternity. They said also that the varieties of blessedness of true marriage love could be enumerated even to many thousands, not even one of which is known to man, or could enter into the comprehension of any one who is not in the marriage of good and truth from the Lord.

Conjugial Love, by Emanuel Swedenborg, [1768] at sacred-texts.com

332.

ON POLYGAMY.

...I. _Love truly conjugial [relating to marriage or the relationship between a married couple] can only exist with one wife...

II. _Thus celestial blessednesses, spiritual satisfactions, and natural delights, which from the beginning were provided for those who are in love truly conjugial, can only exist with one wife...

VI. _If a Christian marries several wives, he commits not only natural but also spiritual adultery._ VII. _The Israelitish nation was permitted to marry several wives, because they had not the Christian church, and consequently love truly conjugial could not exist with them._

VIII. _At this day the Mahometans [or Muhammadans is a term for a follower of the Islamic prophet Muhammad] are permitted to marry several wives, because they do not acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ to be one with Jehovah the Father, and thereby to be the God of heaven and earth; and hence they cannot receive love truly conjugial._

IX. _The Mahometan heaven is out of the Christian heaven and is divided into two heavens, the inferior and the superior; and only those are elevated into their superior heaven who renounce concubines and live with one wife, and acknowledge our Lord as equal to God the Father, to whom is given dominion over heaven and earth._

X. _Polygamy is lasciviousness. [that means driven by lust. A person's behavior that is driven by thoughts of sex.]

XI. _Conjugial chastity, purity, and sanctity, cannot exist with polygamists._

XII. _Polygamists, so long as they remain such, cannot become spiritual._

XIII. _Polygamy is not sin with those who live in it from a religious notion._

XIV. _That polygamy is not sin with those who are in ignorance respecting the Lord._

XV. _That of these, although polygamists, such are saved as acknowledge God, and from a religious notion live according to the civil laws of justice._

XVI. _But none either of the latter or of the former can be associated with the angels in the Christian heavens._ We proceed to an explanation of each article...

339.

VI. IF A CHRISTIAN MARRIES SEVERAL WIVES, HE COMMITS NOT ONLY NATURAL BUT ALSO SPIRITUAL ADULTERY. That a Christian who marries several wives, commits natural adultery, is agreeable to the Lord's words, "_That it is not lawful to put away a wife, because from the beginning they were created to be one flesh; and that he who putteth away a wife without just cause, and marrieth another, committeth adultery_." Matt. xix. 3-12; thus still more does he commit adultery who does not put away his wife, but, while retaining her, connects himself with another... Since those Christians who marry several wives, commit not only natural but also at the same time spiritual adultery, it follows that the condemnation of Christian polygamists after death is more grievous than that of those who commit only natural adultery. Upon inquiring into their state after death, I received for answer, that heaven is altogether closed in respect to them; that they appear in hell as lying in warm water in the recess of a bath, and that they thus appear at a distance, although they are standing on their feet, and walking, which is in consequence of their intestine frenzy; and that some of them are thrown into whirlpools in the borders of the worlds.

340.

VII. THE ISRAELITISH NATION WAS PERMITTED TO MARRY SEVERAL WIVES, BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, AND CONSEQUENTLY LOVE TRULY CONJUGIAL COULD NOT EXIST WITH THEM. There are some at this day who are in doubt respecting the institution relative to monogamical marriages, or those of one man with one wife, and who are distracted by opposite reasonings on the subject; being led to suppose that because polygamical marriages were openly permitted in the case of the Israelitish nation and its kings, and in the case of David and Solomon, they are also in themselves permissible to Christians; but such persons have no distinct knowledge respecting the Israelitish nation and the Christian, or respecting the externals and internals of the church, or respecting the change of the church from external to internal by the Lord; consequently they know nothing from interior judgment respecting marriages...

341

VIII. AT THIS DAY THE MAHOMETANS [Muhammadans] ARE PERMITTED TO MARRY SEVERAL WIVES, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST TO BE ONE WITH JEHOVAH THE FATHER, AND THEREBY TO BE THE GOD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, AND HENCE CANNOT RECEIVE LOVE TRULY CONJUGIAL. The Mahometans, in conformity to the religion which Mahomet [the Islamic prophet Muhammad] gave them, acknowledge Jesus Christ to be the Son of God and a grand prophet, and that he was sent into the world by God the Father to teach mankind; but not that God the Father and he are one, and that his divine and human (principle) are one person, united as soul and body, agreeably to the faith of all Christians as grounded in the Athanasian Creed; therefore the followers of Mahomet could not acknowledge our Lord to be any God from eternity, but only to be a perfect natural man; and this being the opinion entertained by Mahomet, and thence by his disciples, and they knowing that God is one, and that that God is he who created the universe, therefore they could do no other than pass by our Lord in their worship; and the more so, because they declare Mahomet also to be a grand prophet; neither do they know what the Lord taught. It is owing to this cause, that the interiors of their minds, which in themselves are spiritual, could not be opened: that the interiors of the mind are opened by the Lord alone, may be seen just above, n. 340. The genuine cause why they are opened by the Lord, when he is acknowledged to be the God of heaven and earth, and is approached, and with those who live according to his commandments, is, because otherwise there is no conjunction, and without conjunction there is no reception... The above observations are made in order to shew, that the Mahometans are permitted to marry several wives, because love truly conjugial, which subsists only between one man and one wife, was not communicable to them; since from their religious tenets they did not acknowledge the Lord to be equal to God the Father, and so to be the God of heaven and earth...

342

IX. THE MAHOMETAN HEAVEN IS OUT OF THE CHRISTIAN HEAVEN AND IS DIVIDED INTO TWO HEAVENS, THE INFERIOR AND THE SUPERIOR; AND ONLY THOSE ARE ELEVATED INTO THEIR SUPERIOR HEAVEN WHO RENOUNCE CONCUBINES AND LIVE WITH ONE WIFE, AND ACKNOWLEDGE OUR LORD AS EQUAL TO GOD THE FATHER, TO WHOM IS GIVEN DOMINION OVER HEAVEN AND EARTH. Before we speak particularly to each of these points, it may be expedient to premise somewhat concerning the divine providence of the Lord in regard to the rise of Mahometanism... [The] Mahometan [or Islamic religion] is no stumbling-block to those who believe that all things are of the divine providence. These inquire in what respect the divine providence is manifested in the Mahometan religion; and they so discover in it this, that the Mahometan religion acknowledges our Lord to be the Son of God, the wisest of men, and a grand prophet, who came into the world to instruct mankind; but since the Mahometans have made the Koran the book of their religion, and consequently think much of Mahomet who wrote it, and pay him a degree of worship, therefore they think little respecting our Lord... [The] Mahometan religion was raised up by the Lord's divine providence to destroy the idolatries of several nations... This was effected by means of Mahomet, from whom that religion took its name. From these considerations it is manifest, that this religion was raised up of the Lord's divine providence, and accommodated, as we have observed, to the genius of the orientals, to the end that it might destroy the idolatries of so many nations, and might give its professors some knowledge of the Lord, before they came into the spiritual world, as is the case with every one after death. This religion would not have been received by so many nations, neither could it have eradicated their idolatries, unless it had been made agreeable to their ideas; especially unless polygamy had been permitted; since without such permission, the orientals would have burned with the fire of filthy adultery more than the Europeans, and would have perished.

343

The Mahometans also have their heaven; for all in the universe, who acknowledge a God, and from a religious notion shuns evils as sins against him, are saved. That the Mahometan heaven is distinguished into two, the inferior and the superior, I have heard from themselves: and that in the inferior heaven they live with several wives and concubines as in the world; but that those who renounce concubines and live with one wife, are elevated into the superior heaven. I have heard also that it is impossible for them to think of our Lord as one with the Father; but that it is possible for them to think of him as his equal, and that he has dominion over heaven and earth, because he is his Son; therefore such of them as are elevated by the Lord into their superior heaven, hold this belief.

344.

On a certain time I was led to perceive the quality of the heat of conjugial love with polygamists. I was conversing with one who personated Mahomet. Mahomet himself is never present, but some one is substituted in his place, to the end that those who are lately deceased may as it were see him. This substitute, after I had been talking with him at a distance, sent me an ebony spoon and other things, which were proofs that they came from him; at the same time a communication was opened for the heat of their conjugial love in that place, which seemed to me like the warm stench of a bath; whereupon I turned myself away, and the communication was closed.

348.

XIII. POLYGAMY IS NOT SIN WITH THOSE WHO LIVE IN IT FROM A RELIGIOUS NOTION. All that which is contrary to religion is believed to be sin, because it is contrary to God; and on the other hand, all that which agrees with religion, is believed not to be sin, because it agrees with God; and as polygamy existed with the sons of Israel from a principle of religion, and exists at this day with the Mahometans, it could not, and cannot, be imputed to them as sin. Moreover, to prevent its being sin to them, they remain natural, and do not become spiritual; and the natural man cannot see that there is any sin in such things as belong to the received religion: this is seen only by the spiritual man. It is on this account, that although the Mahometans are taught by the Koran to acknowledge our Lord as the Son of God, still they do not come to him, but to Mahomet; and so long they remain natural, and consequently do not know that there is in polygamy any evil, or indeed any lasciviousness. The Lord also saith, "_If ye were blind ye would not have sin; but now ye say, We see, therefore your sin remaineth_," John ix. 41. Since polygamy cannot convict them of sin, therefore after death they have their heavens, n. 342, 343; and their joys there according to life.

352.

XVI. BUT NONE EITHER OF THE LATTER OR OF THE FORMER CAN BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ANGELS IN THE CHRISTIAN HEAVENS. The reason of this is, because in the Christian heavens there are celestial light, which is divine truth, and celestial heat, which is divine love; and these two discover the quality of goods and truths, and also of evils and falses; hence, there is no communication between the Christian and the Mahometan heavens, and in like manner between the heavens of the Gentiles. If there were a communication, none could have been saved but those who were in celestial light and at the same time in celestial heat from the Lord; yea neither would these be saved if there was a conjunction of the heavens: for in consequence of conjunction all the heavens would so far fall to decay that the angels would not be able to subsist; for an unchaste and lascivious principle would flow from the Mahometans into the Christian heaven, which in that heaven could not be endured; and a chaste and pure principle would flow from the Christians into the Mahometan heaven, which again could not be there endured. In such case, in consequence of communication and thence of conjunction, the Christian angels would become natural and thereby adulterers; or if they remained spiritual, they would be continually sensible of a lascivious principle about them, which would intercept all the blessedness of their life. The case would be somewhat similar with the Mahometan heaven: for the spiritual principles of the Christian heaven would continually encompass and torment them, and would take away all the delight of their life, and would moreover insinuate that polygamy is sin, whereby they would be continually eluded. This is the reason why all the heavens are altogether distinct from each other, so that there is no connection between them, except by an influx of light and heat from the Lord out of the sun, in the midst of which he is: and this influx enlightens and vivifies everyone according to his reception; and reception is according to religion. This communication is granted, but not a communication of the heavens with each other.

2 Kings 22:14 Huldah the Prophetess

The Prophetess Hulda

¹⁴So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her. -2 Kings 22:14 Bible, King James Version

Just as there were male and female prophets there are both male and female Masters. For example, Beloved Mary the mother of Jesus is an Ascended Master.

2 Kings 6:17 Mountain was full of horses of fire

king of syria, Elisha, Gehazi, chariots of fire, horses of fire, angel army, 2 kings 6:8-23

'And Elijah prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.'

If we too had psychic ability like Elijah we would see that the Spirit World is all around us and that the angels dwell on the mountains or hills which represent higher spiritual levels or planes. Heaven is a World of Divine Fire so those angels appear as Beings of Fire and everything in their world which they choose to manifest will naturally also be made of fire.

Monday, 25 May 2009

2 Kings 2:23-24 Thou bald head

²³And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.

²⁴And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them. -2 Kings 2:23-24 King James Version (KJV)

True Christian Religion, by Emanuel Swedenborg, [1771], tr. by John C. Ager [1906] at sacred-texts.com

223.

(7) The power of the Word in its outmosts was represented by the Nazarites. In the book of Judges we read that Samson was a Nazarite from his mother's womb, and that his strength lay in his hair; moreover, "Nazarite" and "Nazariteship" mean the hair. That his strength lay in his hair, he himself showed, when he said: There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite from my mother's womb; if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and I shall be like any other man (Judges 16:17). No one can know why the Nazariteship, which means the hair, was instituted, and why Samson's strength lay in his hair, unless he knows what is signified in the Word by the "head." The "head" signifies the intelligence that men and angels have from the Lord through Divine truth; and therefore the "hair" signifies intelligence from Divine truth in things outmost or last. Because of this signification of the "hair" there was a law for the Nazarites: That they should not shave the hair of their head, because that was the Nazariteship of God upon their head (Num. 6:1-21) therefore it was also a law, that the high priest and his sons should not shave their heads, lest they die, and lest wrath come upon the whole house of Israel (Lev. 10:6). Because the hair, on account of that signification, which is from correspondence, was so holy, the Son of Man, who is the Lord in respect to the Word, is described even as to the hair: That it was white as white wool, as snow (Rev. 1:14). Likewise as the Ancient of Days (Dan. 7:9). Because the hair signifies truth in outmosts, thus the sense of the letter of the Word, those in the spiritual world who despise the Word become bald; and on the other hand, those who have held the Word in high esteem and have regarded it as holy appear with comely hair. It was because of this correspondence, That forty-two youths were torn to pieces by two she-bears, because they called Elisha bald-head (2 Kings 2:23,24); for "Elisha" represented the church in regard to doctrine from the Word, and "she-bears" signify the power of truth in outmosts...

1 Kings 22:19,21 Saw theLORDsitting on his throne

'I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand, and on his left... And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD.'

The LORD is the God of the living and the so-called dead who live as spirits in the Spirit World. Just as we have rulers on this earth, the Gods preside over the heavens or Spirit Worlds.

Saturday, 23 May 2009

1 Kings 19:12 A still small voice

The Still Small Voice

'A still small voice' -1 Kings 19:12

One of the ways we can communicate with God; or our Higher Self known as the I AM Presence, Higher Mental Body Presence, or Presence; is by quieting our minds then praying in our minds and listening without thinking to the answer which may come in a still small voice.

"When you are uncertain in the outer as to whether you should or should not do a certain thing, just be still; command those feelings to subside and be still until you have talked to your "Presence" and asked the "Presence" to make you know, unmistakably, the perfect thing to do... The old human intellect! It is such a tyrant until it becomes trained as a servant to the Heart. If you could just shut off the argument of that intellect and those stirring feelings which are in action! Do you know why? You shut off the gentle little feeling the "Presence" is pouring through the Heart. If you would keep still that little gentle feeling would just smooth out everything wherever you move! ...You say,: "Well how can I keep wrong things out of my world?" By keeping the Light from the Face of your "Presence" in your feelings and listening to Its still small Voice which so gently speaks through the Heart..." -Mighty God Tabor ('The Voice of the I AM' March 1974, p11-12)

Friday, 22 May 2009

1 Kings 17:21-22 The soul came into him again

'He... cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again. And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.'

At death the soul or spirit leaves the physical body and continues its existence in the Spirit World. Without the soul to give it life the body, which is like an outer garment, simply falls lifeless to the earth.

1 Kings 11:1,3 Plural marriage

1 But king Solomon... 3 ...had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. -1 Kings 11:1,3 King James Version (KJV)