Heavenly Arcana

4. It is impossible, whilst the mind abides in the literal sense only, to see that it is full of such spiritual contents. Thus, in these first chapters of Genesis, nothing is discoverable from the literal sense, but that they treat of the creation of the world, and of the garden of Eden which is called Paradise, and also of Adam as the first-created man; and scarcely a single person supposes them to relate to any thing besides. But that they contain arcana Latin: "arcana," meaning hidden secrets or mysteries that are not immediately obvious. which were never heretofore revealed, will sufficiently appear from the following pages; where it will be seen that the first chapter of Genesis, in its internal sense, treats of the NEW CREATION In this context, "New Creation" refers to the psychological and spiritual development of a person, rather than the physical creation of the universe. of man, or of his REGENERATION The process of being "born again" or spiritually renewed., in general, and specifically of the most ancient church Swedenborg uses this term to describe the very first "golden age" of humanity, which he believes was more spiritually intuitive than later eras.; and this in such a manner, that there is not a single syllable which does not represent, signify, and involve something spiritual.

5. That this is really the case, in respect to the WORD A term often used to refer to the Bible as the Divinely inspired text., it is impossible for any mortal to know, however, except from the Lord. Wherefore it is expedient here to premise, that, of the Lord’s divine mercy, it has been granted me, now for several years, to be constantly and uninterruptedly in company with spirits and angels, hearing them converse with each other, and conversing with them. Hence it has been permitted me to hear and see things in another life which are astonishing, and which have never before come to the knowledge of any man, nor entered into his imagination. I have there been instructed concerning different kinds of spirits, and the state of souls after death,—concerning hell, or the lamentable state of the unfaithful,—concerning heaven, or the most happy state of the faithful,—and particularly concerning the doctrine of faith which is acknowledged throughout all heaven: on which subjects, by the divine mercy of the Lord, more will be said in the following pages.

CHAPTER I.

1. * IN the beginning, the God created heaven and the earth.
2. And the earth was vacuity, and emptiness, and darkness was upon the faces of the abyss. And the Spirit of God moved upon the faces of the waters.
3. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
4. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided between the light and the darkness.

Footnote at the bottom of the page

• It is to be observed, that the AUTHOR writing in Latin, has given his own translation, in that language, of the Hebrew text of Genesis and Exodus, in which, for the sake of the spiritual sense, he has rendered the original almost as literally as possible, and that in all important particulars, it has been deemed necessary to follow him, in this translation of the work into English.