SWEDENBORG THE REVELATOR

Introduction

There are many interesting people whose lives we can examine and learn from. What sets Swedenborg apart from many of these people is the fact that he claims to have been in the spiritual world. What sets him apart from the many others who have made such a claim is the fact that he claims to have been in the spiritual world on a daily basis for many years. Add to this the fact that he claims to have been given a new revelation which is the Second Coming of the Lord, and you are dealing with a unique personality.

However, the more you see that his claims are true, when you examine his works and teachings, the more you will focus on this revelation and the less on the person of Swedenborg. Swedenborg will decrease and the Lord's revelation will increase. And Swedenborg himself would be the first to applaud this.

Some New Church theologians are still interested in Swedenborg's life, because they are interested in his process of preparation for the work of revelator and also in the process of revelation itself. If you are interested in either of these two aspects of Swedenborg's life you should let me know, and I will try to help in that area. But otherwise I will assume that you are a normal layman whose interest in Swedenborg will soon fade, and who will focus on his theological writings and its teachings. So here I will give a very short life history, and then a good reference.

Short Life History

Swedenborg was born in a Christian family as the son of Swedish Bishop Jesper Swedberg. From early on Swedenborg was a religious person. He became a scientist, but as a scientist his great ambition was to find the soul in the body, so he could prove to atheists that belief in God was normal. Swedenborg was a very intelligent man, which is recognized even by his fiercest critics.

However, in his search for the soul he failed miserably, and when he realized he would never succeed, he acknowledged this failure and began to turn his attention towards philosophy, psychology and finally theology.

Like all other people, Swedenborg was prepared to perform a certain use in this life. When it became clear he would be a revelator, he accepted this call, and did his work. While we are grateful for his faithful performance, we move on with the results of his labor, and leave him in his place in history.

It is the same with our attitude towards Mary, who gave birth to our Lord Jesus Christ. She was involved in the greatest event that ever took place. She was a faithful handmaiden of the Lord who has fulfilled her destiny. We are grateful for her life, but we leave her alone in history and move on with the new presence of the Lord.

Reference

If you want to read more about Swedenborg, I would advise you to get Cyriel Sigstedt's Swedenborg Epic which can can order from the Swedenborg Society and/or the General Church Book Room. This book was well researched and this research checked by Dr. Hugo Lj. Odhner. It is an excellent reference work and also good reading.

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