Two Kinds of Dominion

Selection from Arcana Coelestia ~ Emanuel Swedenborg

When the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. (Matthew 12:24-30)

Dominion from evil and falsity is altogether contrary to dominion from good and truth.

• Dominion from evil and falsity consists in desiring to make all slaves
• Dominion from good and truth in desiring to make all free.
• Dominion from evil and falsity consists in destroying all.
• Dominion from good and truth in saving all.

From which it is evident that dominion from evil and falsity is of the devil, and that dominion from good and truth is of the Lord. That the two kinds of dominion are altogether contrary to each other may be seen from the Lord's words in Matthew 12:24-30 (above); also from His saying that no one can serve two masters (Matt. 6:24; Luke 16:13).

(from Arcana Coelestia 1749:3)