18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. -Luke 20:17-18 King James Version (KJV)
Heaven and Hell, by Emanuel Swedenborg, [1758], tr. by John C. Ager [1900] at sacred-texts.com
534.
The way that leads to heaven, and the way that leads to hell were
once represented to me. There was a broad way tending towards the left
or the north, and many spirits were seen going in it; but at a distance a
large stone was seen where the broad way came to an end. From that
stone two ways branched off, one to the left and one in the opposite
direction to the right. The way that went to the left was narrow or
straitened, leading through the west to the south, and thus into the
light of heaven; the way that went to the right was broad and spacious,
leading obliquely downwards towards hell. All at first seemed to be
going the same way until they came to the large stone at the head of the
two ways. When they reached that point they divided; the good turned to
the left and entered the straitened way that led to heaven; while the
evil, not seeing the stone at the fork of the ways fell upon it and were
hurt; and when they rose up they ran on in the broad way to the right
which went towards hell. [2] What all this meant was afterwards
explained to me. The first way that was broad, wherein many both good
and evil went together and talked with each other as friends, because
there was no visible difference between them, represented those who
externally live alike honestly and justly, and between whom seemingly
there is no difference. The stone at the head of the two ways or at the
corner, upon which the evil fell and from which they ran into the way
leading to hell, represented the Divine truth, which is rejected by
those who look towards hell; and in the highest sense this stone
signified the Lord's Divine Human. But those who acknowledged the Divine
truth and also the Divine of the Lord went by the way that led to
heaven. By this again it was shown that in externals the evil lead the
same kind of life as the good, or go the same way, that is, one as
readily as the other; and yet those who from the heart acknowledge the
Divine, especially those within the church who acknowledge the Divine of
the Lord, are led to heaven; while those who do not are led to hell.
[3] The thoughts of man that proceed from his intention or will are
represented in the other life by ways; and ways are visibly presented
there in exact accord with those thoughts of intention; and in accord
with his thoughts that proceed from intention everyone walks. For this
reason the character of spirits and their thoughts are known from their
ways. This also makes clear what is meant by the Lord's words:
Enter ye in through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is
the way that leadeth to destruction, and many be they that enter in
thereby; for straitened is the way and narrow the gate that leadeth to
life, and few be they who find it (Matt. 7:13, 14). The way that leads
to life is straitened not because it is difficult but because there are
few who find it, as is said here. The stone seen at the corner where the
broad and common way ended, and from which two ways were seen to lead
in opposite directions, illustrated what is signified by these words of
the Lord: Have ye not read what is written? The stone which the
builders rejected was made the head of the corner. Whosoever shall fall
upon that stone shall be broken (Luke. 20:17, 18). "Stone" signifies
Divine truth, and "the stone of Israel" the Lord in respect to His
Divine Human; the "builders" mean those who are of the church; "the head
of the corner" is where the two ways are; "to fall" and "to be broken"
is to deny and perish.
[534-1
"Stone" signifies truth (Arcana Coelestia n. 114, 643, 1298, 3720, 6426, 8609, 10376).
For this reason the law was inscribed on tables of stone (n.
10376). "The stone of Israel" means the Lord in respect to the
Divine truth and His Divine Human (n. 6426)]
Arcana Coelestia, by Emanuel Swedenborg, [1749-56], tr. by John F. Potts [1905-10], at sacred-texts.com
...In the
Word... "to be broken," signifies dispersion and also
injury. This has its origin from the spiritual world, where each and all
things are conjoined according to the reception of truth Divine from
the Lord, thus according to the reception of order, which is induced on
each and all things through the truth Divine which proceeds from the
Lord (see n. 8700, 8988). From this it is that the truths in a man have a
connection one with another according to their reception in good.
Truths which are so connected make a one; and therefore when they are
broken in general, the truths together with the good are dispersed; and
when they are broken in particular, the truths which are there are
dispersed. For while they are in connection, the one subsists from the
other; but when they are broken, the one recedes from the other. It is
from this that in the Word by "being broken," as also by "being
divided," is signified dispersion (n. 9093), and likewise injury. [2]
Dispersion is signified when the whole is broken, and injury when a part
is broken, as is evident from the following passages in the Word... [3] In Luke: It is written, The stone which the builders rejected
hath become the head of the corner; whosoever shall fall on this stone
shall be broken, and on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to
powder (Luke 20:17-18); "the stone" denotes the Lord as to Divine truth
(n. 6426); and "to be broken," being said of the truths which are from
Him, denotes to be dispersed, and thus to be destroyed; and together
with the truths, those things which are of the spiritual life; as comes
to pass with those who deny the Lord and discard the truths which are
from Him, and these are they who "reject the stone."
10464
And ground it to powder. That this signifies the infernal [hellish] falsity thence derived, is evident from the signification of "to grind to powder," or into what is most minute, as being to form falsity from infernal delight, thus as being infernal falsity. (That this is signified by "grinding," when said of evil, can be seen from what has been already shown, n. 4335, 9995, 10303.)
Arcana Coelestia, by Emanuel Swedenborg, [1749-56], tr. by John F. Potts [1905-10], at sacred-texts.com
10464
And ground it to powder. That this signifies the infernal [hellish] falsity thence derived, is evident from the signification of "to grind to powder," or into what is most minute, as being to form falsity from infernal delight, thus as being infernal falsity. (That this is signified by "grinding," when said of evil, can be seen from what has been already shown, n. 4335, 9995, 10303.)
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