Acts 8:26-31 Understandest thou what thou readest?

26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

-Acts 8:26-31King James Version (KJV)

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

9025

...[2] ...Be it known that the true doctrine of the church is that which is here called "the internal sense;" for in the internal sense are truths such as the angels have in heaven. [3] Among priests, and among the men of the church, there are those who teach and who learn the truths of the church from the literal sense of the Word; and there are those who teach and those who learn from doctrine drawn from the Word, which is called the doctrine of faith of the church. The latter differ very much from the former in perception, but they cannot be distinguished by the common people, because they both speak from the Word nearly alike. But those who teach and who learn only the literal sense of the Word without the doctrine of the church as a guide, apprehend only those things which belong to the natural or external man; whereas those who teach and who learn from true doctrine drawn from the Word, understand also things which are of the spiritual or internal man. The reason is that the Word in the external or literal sense is natural, but in the internal sense it is spiritual. The former sense is called in the Word a "cloud," but the latter sense is called the "glory" in the cloud (n. 5922, 6343, 6752, 8106, 8781)... 

Acts 8:14-24 Gifts of God may not be purchased

¹⁴ Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

¹⁵ Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
¹⁶ (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
¹⁷ Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
¹⁸ And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
¹⁹ Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
²⁰ But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
²¹ Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
²² Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
²³ For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
²⁴ Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. -Acts 8:14-24 Bible, King James Version

I believe the Gifts of God, including the Teachings of the Ascended Masters, should be given freely to others.

Acts 12:11-16 It is his angel

¹¹ And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
¹² And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
¹³ And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
¹⁴ And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
¹⁵ And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
¹⁶ But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. -Acts 12:11-16 King James Version (KJV)

It appears to me that when Peter was knocking at the gate they said "It is his angel" because they thought he must have been killed and was appearing in his angelic spirit body.

Acts 8:5-13 Simon used sorcery

⁵ Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

⁶ And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

⁷ For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

⁸ And there was great joy in that city.

⁹ But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

¹⁰ To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

¹¹ And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

¹² But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

¹³ Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. -Acts 8:5-13 Bible, King James Version

There are white magicians and black magicians. Black magicians can only operate in the lower worlds which are associated with the human state of consciousness because in the Higher Planes of Divine Consciousness there is only the Light and Love of God so no darkness can exist there. It is, I believe, important to realize that black magic is practiced by thinking or feeling negative thoughts and emotions therefore we need to control our thoughts and feelings so they are only positive. Remember the Law of the Harvest, or the Law of Karma, which means that whatever we do to others will eventually be done to us.

Acts 7:55-56 Jesus on the right hand of God

 

 

             Stephen Sees Jesus On The Right Hand Of God

55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. -Acts 7:55-56 Bible, King James Version

Many Christians believe Jesus is God yet here Stephen sees a vision of Jesus and God as two separate individuals. Jesus was what some Masters refer to as a godman which is a personification of God on earth. This means one may be a god on earth but God Itself is always greater. Every master has a Master and every god has a God  of a higher order. Jesus may have been standing beside His Higher Self or I AM Presence which He referred to as His Father in Heaven.

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

CHAPTER 8.

Elihu’s lessons to Jesus' mother in Egypt

¹Again Elihu met his pupils in the sacred grove and said,
⁵There are two selfs; the higher and the lower self.
⁶The higher self is human spirit clothed with soul, made in the form of God.
⁷The lower self, the carnal self, the body of desires, is a reflexion of the higher self, distorted by the murky ethers of the flesh.
⁸The lower self is an illusion, and will pass away; the higher self is God in man, and will not pass away.
⁹The higher self is the embodi­ment of truth; the lower self is truth reversed, and so is falsehood manifest.
¹⁰The higher self is justice, mercy, love and right; the lower self is what the higher self is not.
¹¹The lower self breeds hatred, slander, lewdness, murders, theft, and everything that harms; the higher self is mother of the virtues and the harmonies of life.
¹²The lower self is rich in prom­ises, but poor in blessedness and peace; it offers pleasure, joy and sat­isfying gains; but gives unrest and misery and death.
¹³It gives men apples that are lovely to the eye and pleasant to the smell; their cores are full of bit­terness and gall.
¹⁴If you would ask me what to study I would say, yourselfs; and when you well had studied them, and then would ask me what to study next, I would reply, your­selfs.
¹⁵He who knows well his lower self, knows the illusions of the world, knows of the things that pass away; and he who knows his higher self, knows God; knows well the things that cannot pass away.
¹⁶Thrice blessed is the man who has made purity and love his very own; he has been ransomed from the perils of the lower self and is himself his higher self.

Acts 7:30-32 God reveals His Name to Moses

30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, 32 Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob... -Acts 7:30-32 Bible, King James Version

This I believe refers to the appearance of God to Moses where He reveals to him His Eternal Name. 

 

Exodus 3: Moses and the Burning Bush

'Now Moses... came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush... and the bush was not consumed.'

The Angels of the LORD dwell in a world of Flaming Fire which represents Divine Love.

'God called unto him out of the midst of the bush... And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you... And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel... this is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.' -Exodus 3:1-2,4,13-15 Bible, King James Version

This is probably the Greatest Secret Key hidden in the Bible. There is great Divine Power in the Holy Name of God, "I AM." The Mighty Ascended Master, the Great Divine Director who is Authority over all Life Streams on this earth until they have Ascended, teaches; "The Great Creative Word "I AM" [is] the Most Powerful Word in the Universe." As Jesus demonstrated thru the use of I AM Decrees the Holy Name of God "I AM" can be placed at the beginning of a constructive affirmation to accomplish our goals in life and after death. For example, perhaps the most powerful I AM Decree Jesus used was "I AM the Resurrection and the Life" (St John 11:25) When we return to our Father in Heaven and stand before Him it is said we will exclaim; "I am That, I AM." In other words, as we stand before our Higher Self, or Mighty I AM Presence, we will realize that this Individualization of God is in fact our own Higher Self the Mighty I AM Presence of God. Jesus of course knew this, which is evident when He said to the Jews such things as; "Before Abraham was, I AM" meaning in fact that before Abraham was born Jesus and all of us existed as an I AM Presence. The reason this Grand Master Key was not taught openly by Jesus was that the people weren't ready for it or especially another Grand Master Key which must be taught with it. This Sacred Fire Key was not permitted to be revealed until the 1930s by one of Beloved Jesus' fellow Ascended Masters Saint Germain. This Secret Key involves using the Violet Consuming Flame, by visualizing or decreeing it, to cleanse ourselves of all our past mistakes or negative karma which we have accumulated over many lifetimes on this earth. If the Holy Fire is the Bridge for the Angels and Gods to our world then it must also be the Bridge for us to enter into their Heavens. Saint Germain represents Freedom to this earth for the next 10,000 years. With regards to Saint Germain Beloved Jesus declares: "I say to the orthodox world...those who cannot accept Saint Germain and the Ascended Masters, will not have My Radiation...In former ages, it was not possible to bring forth the clearness of this understanding which Saint Germain has brought forth today! The Law of the Cosmic Light did not permit it! I brought forth to the world more of the "I AM," than any individual up to the time, when Saint Germain brought this Instruction forth."

Acts 6:2 Should we serve God or serve tables?

² Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. -Acts 6:2 Bible, King James Version

 

Many good people are giving great caring service to others believing that this is all they need to do to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven permanently. On the other hand a few good people have chosen to serve God by turning their attention to the Teachings of the Ascended Masters in this lifetime, while the opportunity is available to them, in order to receive and share these Teachings which if followed will enable mankind to gain the Ascension in this lifetime and therefore be able to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven for eternity and be free forever from the necessity of re-embodiment or reincarnation. The Beloved God Tabor teaches us: "Mankind go on having hundreds of embodiments sometimes, and all the things they think are so important down here, do not do one really important thing! They do not give back to Life one thing which the "I AM Presence" can use to give them their Ascension or purify the world." ('The Voice of the I AM' 1947 January p22)

Acts 5:29 We ought to obey God rather than men

²⁹ Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. -Acts 5:29 Bible, King James Version

 

It is extremely important that we obey God rather than man but many in this world do not know who represents God and who does not therefore they end up following man instead of God.

Acts 4:10,12 Salvation in the Name of Jesus Christ

 

¹⁰ Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole... ¹² Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. -Acts 4:10,12 Bible, King James Version

 

 

 

 

Beloved Jesus teaches us regarding the use of an Ascended Masters' Name: "You could just as well use the Name of the Beloved Master Saint Germain and all the Ascended Host. They have all said to you: "We offer you the Use of Our Ascended Master Consciousness," and anything you would ask in any Ascended Masters' Name, the "Mighty I AM Presence" would give It to you, so long as it be constructive." ('The Voice of the I AM' 1948 May p8)

Acts 3:14-17 Ignorance of the religious leaders

                                           Ascended Masters Saint Germain and Jesus

¹⁴ But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; ¹⁵ And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead... ¹⁷ And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. -Acts 3:14-17 Bible, King James Version

The Mormon Church teaches: It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance. (The Doctrine and Covenants, Section 131:6) The Ascended Masters teach that the Bible contains only 30% of the Truth which means that those who only have the Bible as their source of Truth will remain 70% ignorant of the Truth. This is why in the Bible Jesus teaches: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13-14) ²¹ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23 Bible, King James Version)

The Beloved Mighty Cyclopia teaches regarding the Truth:"You see many people in some of the Religious channels of the World, have a Fragment of the Truth; but they do not understand the Cosmic Law enough, to show mankind the Application necessary, to set That Truth into Service for themselves and for the World. So, We have to come again, and again, and again." ('The Voice of the I AM' August 1948 p12)

Beloved Mighty Helios teaches us: "I trust I may elucidate one of those Magnificent Statements of the Mighty Master Jesus... When He said: "Know the Truth and the Truth shall set you Free," that Statement contains tremendous Wisdom, and few know what It means. Every little fragment of Truth which individuals have contemplated, they have imagined He meant by that Statement; but until they know This Truth concerning the Master Authority of the Fire Element thruout all Creation- they do not have the Way and Means of dissolving that which keeps them bound... The Sacred Fire from the Higher Mental Body! There is no Freedom to Life other than thru That Sacred Fire!... The Only Way provided by Life for the consuming of human mistakes and the frightful torture they have created in this World, is by the Use of the Cosmic Fire... UNTIL MANKIND KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THE SACRED FIRE THEY CAN NEVER BE FREE. Individuals in your churches and philosophers all thru the centuries, have referred occasionally to the Sacred Fire, but the masses of the people know not what is meant. Your Beloved Saint Germain brought you the detailed Explanation and Use of the Violet Consuming Flame which is One Ray, or One Flame, that I direct from My Thousand Petal Lotus, which appears to you as the Physical Sun! That is the only Way and Means which the Cosmic Law of the whole Universe, provides to This System of Worlds, to change outer manifestations that are less than Perfection into Perfection, and then ever expand that Perfection." ('The Voice of the I AM' 1949 January p9-11)

In the Books of the Saviour, Jesus teaches: Cease not to seek day and night… until ye find the mysteries of the Light-kingdom, which will purify you and make you into refined light and lead you into the Light-kingdom. (Pistis Sophia by G. R. S. Mead p213) Because mankind receive varying degrees of Truth according to the righteous man, prophet, Master or Ascended Master they follow, there are varying spiritual rewards. Also in the Books of the Saviour, Jesus teaches:

Pistis Sophia translated by G. S. R. Mead

CHAPTER 97

"...And Mary answered again and said unto the Saviour: "My Lord, bear with me, if I question thee, and be not wroth with me. Now, therefore, my Lord, unless we live and know the gnosis [esoteric knowledge of spiritual truth held by the ancient Gnostics to be essential to salvation] of the whole word of the Ineffable, [Indescribable] shall we not be able to inherit the Light-kingdom?"

And the Saviour answered |233. and said unto Mary: "Surely; for every one who shall receive a mystery of the Light-kingdom, will go and inherit up to the region up to which he hath received mysteries... unless he knoweth the one and only word of the Ineffable... But all the men who shall receive mysteries in the Light, -every one will go and inherit up to the region up to which he hath received mysteries. On this account I have said unto you aforetime: 'He who hath faith in a prophet, will receive a prophet's reward, and he who hath faith in a righteous [man] will receive a righteous [man's] reward,' -that is: Every one will go to the region up to which he hath received mysteries. He who receiveth a lesser mystery, will inherit the lesser mystery, and he who receiveth a higher mystery, will inherit the higher regions. And every one will abide in his region in the light of my kingdom, and every one will have power over the orders which are below him, but he will not have the power to go to the orders which are above him; but he will abide in the region of the Inheritance of the Light |234. of my kingdom, being in a great light immeasurable for the gods and all the invisibles, and he will be in great joy and great jubilation."

In Jesus' day the Jewish people and their leaders in their spiritual ignorance rejected the Teachings of the Master Jesus. In this day and age the Religious leaders and their followers make the same mistake in this embodiment when they out of their spiritual ignorance reject the Teachings of the Ascended Masters including the Master Jesus and Saint Germain. Jesus points out to all mankind on this earth: "I say to all people of America and the Earth: You who have said you love Me so greatly, must remember that you cannot have Me without Saint Germain and all the other Ascended Masters. They are One in Their Great Eternal Perfection. They have gained Their Victory, as you are now endeavouring to do... Remember! and I say this to the whole world: All of you who have loved Me, remember Saint Germain has brought forth the continuation of that which I started two thousand years ago." ('The Voice of the I AM' 1941 December p6,8) One of the Seven Mighty Elohim in God's Cosmic Hierarchy serving our system of worlds, Mighty Hercules teaches us: "Your Beloved Ascended Master, Jesus,... His so-called representatives- were He to come forth- would be the first ones to deny Him." ('The Voice of the I AM' 1941 May p21)


Mighty Victory teaches us: "...the masses of mankind, until they are taught this Law, do not have permanent Victory! ...Like a pendulum they swing and swing and swing, and never stabilize anywhere; because they cannot, until they know That Glorious Word "I AM"; understand where the "Mighty I AM Presence" is; what It is and what It can do for them. Only then can they see, know and accept the Reality of the Mighty Ascended Masters; the Great Cosmic Beings... Until they know the "Beloved Mighty I AM Presence" and Its Cosmic Law, they are not stabilized within Permanent Happiness nor Perfection." ('The Voice of the I AM' 1951 June p28-29)


Last Judgment, by Emanuel Swedenborg, [1758], tr. by John Whitehead [1892], at sacred-texts.com

14. III. HEAVEN AND HELL ARE FROM THE HUMAN RACE. It is altogether unknown in the Christian world that heaven and hell are from the human race; for it is believed that angels were created at the beginning, and that heaven was formed of them; and that the Devil or Satan was an angel of light, who, becoming rebellious, was cast down with his crew, and that this was the origin of hell. The angels are greatly astonished at such a faith in the Christian world, and still more, that nothing at all is there known of heaven, when yet it is a primary doctrine in the church; and since such ignorance prevails, they are rejoiced in heart that it has now pleased the Lord to reveal to men many things concerning heaven, and also concerning hell; and by this means, as far as possible, to dissipate the darkness which daily increases, because the church has come to its end. Wherefore they wish me to declare from them, that there is in the universal heaven not one who was created an angel from the first, nor any devil in hell who was created an angel of light, and cast down, but that all both in heaven and in hell are from the human race; in heaven those who had lived in the world in heavenly love and faith, and in hell those who had lived in infernal love and faith; and that hell in the whole complex is called the Devil and Satan; that the hell behind, where those are who are called evil genii, is the Devil, and the hell in front, which is the abode of evil spirits, is Satan... What the nature of one hell is, and what the other, may be seen in the work on Heaven and Hell, towards the end. The angels said, that the Christian world have conceived such a belief about those in heaven and hell, from certain passages in the Word not otherwise understood than according to the sense of the letter, and not illustrated and explained by genuine doctrine from the Word... The Word is not understood without doctrine... True doctrine is a lamp to those who read the Word... They who are in the sense of the letter of the Word without doctrine, can come into no understanding of Divine truths... And they are led into many errors...

 

Acts 2:26-27 Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell

²⁶ Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: ²⁷ Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell... -Acts 2:26-27 Bible, King James Version

In a revelation given through Joseph Smith, at Manchester, New York, March 1830, Christ the Lord reveals what was meant by Eternal damnation in the Bible: 1 I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world. 4 And surely every man must repent or suffer, for I, God, am endless. 5 Wherefore, I revoke not the judgments which I shall pass, but woes shall go forth, weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, yea, to those who are found on my left hand. 6 Nevertheless, it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment, but it is written endless torment. 7 Again, it is written eternal damnation; wherefore it is more express than other scriptures, that it might work upon the hearts of the children of men, altogether for my name’s glory. 8 Wherefore, I will explain unto you this mystery, for it is meet unto you to know even as mine apostles. 9 I speak unto you that are chosen in this thing, even as one, that you may enter into my rest. 10 For, behold, the mystery of godliness, how great is it! For, behold, I am endless, and the punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, for Endless is my name. Wherefore— 11 Eternal punishment is God’s punishment. 12 Endless punishment is God’s punishment. (The Doctrine and Covenants, Section 19:1,4-12)

Contrary to what some Christian Priests would have us believe no one goes to hell for eternity. Sooner or later all spirits who find themselves in hell will be able to move out of it by progressing up to a higher spiritual level and enter temporarily into a Heaven or through the death of their spirit body they will find themselves on a higher Plane. If mankind do not attain the Ascension in this lifetime then they must re-embody in another lifetime to try again. 

Heaven and its Wonders and Hell By Emanuel Swedenborg

 

Chapter 61

The Appearance, Situation, and Number of the Hells

 

 

582. "In the spiritual world, that is, in the world where spirits and angels are, the same objects appear as in the natural world, that is, where men are. In external appearance there is no difference. In that world plains and mountains, hills and rocks, and valleys between them are seen; also waters, and many other things that are seen on earth. And yet all these things are from a spiritual origin, and all are therefore seen by the eyes of spirits and angels, and not by the eyes of men, because men are in the natural world. Spiritual beings see such things as are from a spiritual origin, and natural beings such things as are from a natural origin. Consequently man with his eyes can in no way see the objects that are in the spiritual world unless he is permitted to be in the spirit, or after death when he becomes a spirit. On the other hand, an angel or a spirit is unable to see any thing at all in the natural world unless he is with a man who is permitted to speak with him. For the eyes of man are fitted to receive the light of the natural world, and the eyes of angels and spirits are fitted to receive the light of the spiritual world; although the eyes of the two are exactly alike in appearance. That the spiritual world is such the natural man cannot comprehend, and least of all the sensual man, who believes nothing except what he sees with his bodily eyes and touches with his hands, and therefore takes in by sight and touch. As his thought is from such things it is material and not spiritual. Such being the likeness between the spiritual world and the natural world, man can hardly believe after death that he is not in the world where he was born, and from which he has departed. For this reason death is called simply a translation from one world into another like it.

583. The heavens are in the higher parts of the spiritual world, the world of spirits in the lower parts, and under both are the hells. The heavens are visible to spirits in the world of spirits only when their interior sight is opened; although they sometimes see them as mists or as bright clouds. This is because the angels of heaven are in an interior state in respect to intelligence and wisdom; and for this reason they are above the sight of those who are in the world of spirits. But spirits who dwell in the plains and valleys see one another; and yet when they are separated there, which takes place when they are let into their interiors, the evil spirits do not see the good spirits; but the good spirits can see the evil spirits. Nevertheless, the good spirits turn themselves away from the evil spirits; and when spirits turn themselves away they become invisible. But the hells are not seen because they are closed up. Only the entrances, which are called gates, are seen when they are opened to let in other like spirits. All the gates to the hells open from the world of spirits, and none of them from heaven.

584. The hells are everywhere, both under the mountains, hills, and rocks, and under the plains and valleys. The openings or gates to the hells that are under the mountains, hills, and rocks, appear to the sight like holes and clefts in the rocks, some extended and wide, and some straitened and narrow, and many of them rugged. They all, when looked into, appear dark and dusky; but the infernal spirits that are in them are in such a luminosity as arises from burning coals. Their eyes are adapted to the reception of that light, and for the reason that while they lived in the world they were in thick darkness in respect to Divine truths, because of their denying them, and were in a sort of light in respect to falsities because of their affirming them. In this way did the sight of their eyes become so formed. And for the same reason the light of heaven is thick darkness to them, and therefore when they go out of their dens they see nothing. All this makes it abundantly clear that man comes into the light of heaven just to the extent that he acknowledges the Divine, and establishes in himself the things of heaven and the church; and that he comes into the thick darkness of hell just to the extent that he denies the Divine, and establishes in himself what is contrary to the truths of heaven and the church.

585. The openings or gates to the hells that are beneath the plains and valleys present to the sight different appearances. Some resemble those that are beneath the mountains, hills and rocks; some resemble dens and caverns, some great chasms and whirlpools; some resemble bogs, and some standing water. They are all covered, and are opened only when evil spirits from the world of spirits are cast in...

586. I have also been permitted to look into the hells and to see what they are within; for when the Lord wills, the sight of a spirit or angel from above may penetrate into the lowest depths beneath and explore their character, notwithstanding the coverings. In this way I have been permitted to look into them. Some of the hells appeared to the view like caverns and dens in rocks extending inward and then downward into an abyss, either obliquely or vertically. Some of the hells appeared to the view like the dens and caves of wild beasts in forests; some like the hollow caverns and passages that are seen in mines, with caverns extending towards the lower regions. Most of the hells are threefold, the upper one appearing within to be in dense darkness, because inhabited by those who are in the falsities of evil; while the lower ones appear fiery... Some hells present an appearance like the ruins of houses and cities after conflagrations, in which infernal spirits dwell and hide themselves. In the milder hells there is an appearance of rude huts, in some cases contiguous in the form of a city with lanes and streets, and within the houses are infernal spirits engaged in unceasing quarrels, enmities, fightings, and brutalities; while in the streets and lanes robberies and depredations are committed. In some of the hells there are nothing but brothels, disgusting to the sight and filled with every kind of filth and excrement. Again, there are dark forests, in which infernal spirits roam like wild beasts and where, too, there are underground dens into which those flee who are pursued by others. There are also deserts, where all is barren and sandy, and where in some places there are ragged rocks in which there are caverns, and in some places huts. Into these desert places those are cast out from the hells who have suffered every extremity of punishment, especially those who in the world have been more cunning than others in undertaking and contriving intrigues and deceits. Such a life is their final lot. 

587. As to the positions of the hells in detail, it is something wholly unknown even to the angels in heaven; it is known to the Lord alone. But their position in general is known from the quarters in which they are. For the hells, like the heavens, are distinguished by their quarters; and in the spiritual world quarters are determined in accordance with loves; for in heaven all the quarters begin from the Lord as the sun, who is the East; and as the hells are opposite to the heavens their quarters begin from the opposite point, that is, from the  west. For this reason the hells in the western quarter are the worst of all, and the most horrible, becoming gradually worse and more horrible by degrees the more remote they are from the east. In the western hells are those who in the world were in the love of self, and in consequent contempt of others, and in enmity against those who did not favor them, also in hatred and revenge against those who did not render them respect and homage. In the most remote hells in that quarter are those that had belonged to the Catholic religion, so called, and that had wished to be worshiped as gods, and consequently had burned with hatred and revenge against all who did not acknowledge their power over the souls of men and over heaven. These continue to have the same disposition, that is, the same hatred and revenge against those who oppose them, that they had in the world... In the northern and southern quarters there are many hells; and in them are those who while in the world were in love of the world, and in various kinds of evil therefrom, such as enmity, hostility, theft, robbery, cunning, avarice, and unmercifulness... The worst hells of this kind are in the northern quarter, the milder in the southern... Behind the hells that are in the western quarter there are dark forests, in which malignant spirits roam like wild beasts; and it is the same behind the hells in the northern quarter. But behind the hells in the southern quarter there are deserts, which have been described just above...

588. In regard to the number of the hells, there are as many of them as there are angelic societies in the heavens, since there is for every heavenly society a corresponding infernal society as its opposite... The heavenly societies are numberless, and are all distinguished in accordance with the goods of love, charity, and faith... The like is true, therefore, of the infernal societies, which are distinguished in accordance with the evils that are the opposites of those goods. Every evil, as well as every good, is of infinite variety... That this is true is beyond the comprehension of those who have only a simple idea regarding every evil, such as contempt, enmity, hatred, revenge, deceit, and other like evils... The hells are innumerable, near to and remote from one another in accordance with the differences of evils generically, specifically, and particularly. There are likewise hells beneath hells. Some communicate with others by passages, and more by exhalations, and this in exact accordance with the affinities of one kind or one species of evil with others. How great the number is of the hells I have been permitted to realize from knowing that there are hells under every mountain, hill, and rock, and likewise under every plain and valley, and that they stretch out beneath these in length and in breadth and in depth. In a word, the entire heaven and the entire world of spirits are, as it were, excavated beneath, and under them is a continuous hell..."

Apocalypse Explained, by Emanuel Swedenborg, [1757-9], tr. by John Whitehead [1911], at sacred-texts.com

1164. ...(Continuation) [2] That a man may be led out of hell and led into heaven by the Lord, he must himself resist hell, that is, evils, as if from himself. If he does not resist as if from himself, he remains in hell and hell in him, nor is he separated from it to eternity... Evils are removed from man either by punishments, or by temptations, and consequent turning away, or by the affections of truth and good. With those not reformed evils are removed by punishments; with those about to be reformed they are removed by temptations and consequent turning away; and with the regenerate by the affections of truth and good. The experience is this: When an unreformed or evil person endures punishments, as takes place in hell, he is kept in the punishments until it is perceived that of himself he does not will the evils; not until then is he set free. Thus is he compelled of himself to put away evils. If he is not punished even to that intention and will he continues in his evil. Yet even then the evil is not rooted out, because he has not compelled himself. The evil remains within, and returns when the fear ceases. With those about to be reformed evils are removed by temptations, which are not punishments... Such persons are not compelled to resist evils, but they compel themselves and pray to the Lord, and thus are delivered from the evils which they have resisted. Such afterwards refrain from evils, not from any fear of punishment but from an aversion to evil; and at length this aversion to evil is their resistance. But with the regenerate there are no temptations..., but the affections of truth and good that keep evils far away from them; for they are wholly separated from hell, which is the source of evils, and are conjoined to the Lord. [3] To be separated and removed from evils is the same thing as to be separated and removed from infernal societies. The Lord has the power to separate and remove from infernal societies, that is, from evils, and the power to transfer to heavenly societies, that is, to goods, anyone He may wish; but such a change can continue only for a few hours, after which the evils return. I have frequently seen this done; and seen that the evil continued evil as before. In the whole spiritual world there is not an instance of anyone's having been removed from evils in any other way than by combat or resistance as if from himself, or of anyone doing this except of the Lord alone.

Acts 2:1-4 Baptism of Fire

                                                 Pentecost

2 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. ³ And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. -Acts 2:1-4 Bible, King James Version



It would appear that this is what is meant by the Baptism of Fire as apposed to the Baptism of water. The Baptism of water is only symbolic of the cleansing process one must go through in order to enter permanently into the Kingdom of Heaven. The real Baptism that cleanses us spiritually is the Baptism of Fire. The Ascended Master Saint Germain teaches us the importance of using the Violet Consuming Flame to cleanse ourselves spiritually of all our past mistakes. Heavenly Love is symbolized by Fire, therefore Heaven is a World of Divine Fire which is also the Divine Power of God. 

The Beloved Master Jesus teaches us that; "At Pentacost when the Lord the Maha Chohan sent down the Assistance to the Disciples, who were to carry on and use These Greater Powers which We had explained to them, there had to be Tongues of Flame come from the Lord Maha Chohan, directly into the brain structure of those who were to stand against the destructive forces of the outer world! ...The Beloved Lord the Maha Chohan... HE IS THE AUTHORITY AND THE PRESENCE WHICH PROJECTS THAT FLAME INTO THE BRAIN STRUCTURE OF THOSE IN THIS WORLD! I received It from Him, at the moment of baptism; and the Disciples received It from Him, just before they were to go to the outer world. It is the Gift of the Greater Powers of the Sacred Fire, which enables the outer self to be FREE from many and all limitations. It is the release of the Fire Element necessary to consume the human; and give the Greater Strengh to the outer self of others, to do that which sets each Life Stream FREE." ('The Voice of the I AM' July 1948 p15)
  

Acts 1:22-26 The Apostle Judas was replaced

^{Jesus Christ ordaining the 12 Apostles}

²² Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. ²³ And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. ²⁴ And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, ²⁵ That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. ²⁶ And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. -Acts 1:22-26 Bible, King James Version

When Jesus established the Christian Church it had a foundation of twelve apostles. After the apostle Judas died he needed to be replaced so they chose two suitable replacement apostles and cast lots to decide which one to ordain in order to maintain the Church's foundation of twelve apostles.