Selection from Apocalypse Explained ~ Emanuel Swedenborg
All things done by man flow out from the interiors belonging to his mind, also that the mind is the all in everything that man does, and that the body is a mere obedience through which is exhibited, in a form visible before the eye, that which the mind wills and thinks.Man has two faculties, called will and understanding, and that these two faculties are called by the one term "mind;" also that man has an internal and an external - an internal in the light of the spiritual world, and an external in the light of the natural world.
"I know thy works" — it is clear that "works" signify, in general, all things of the church; and as all things of the church have reference to love and faith, therefore these are what are meant in the spiritual sense by "works." These are meant in the spiritual sense by "works," because every work or deed or act, that to appearance is done from the body, is not done from the body, but is done by means of the body from man's will and thought, for not a particle of the body moves itself except from the will and thought. From this it is that "works" signify, not the things that appear in outward form, but the things of will and thought. That this is so is known to everyone who reflects. Who that is wise regards a man from his deeds alone, and not from his will? If the will is good, he loves the deeds; but if the will is evil, he does not love the deeds. He sees the deeds also, but interprets them according to the intention of the will. He who is spiritual attends still less to the deeds, but explores the will; for the reason already given, that deeds in themselves are nothing, but all that they are is from the will, for deeds are the will in act. It is said "will," but in the spiritual sense love is meant, for a man wills what he loves, and he loves what he wills. Man's will is only the receptacle of his love.
Because "works" or deeds in the Word signify specifically the things that proceed from man's love or will, it is often said in the Word that a man shall be judged and it shall be rendered unto him according to his works; and the meaning is according to works in the internal form, not in the external; as in the following passages:
The Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then shall He render unto everyone according to his works (Matt. 16:27).
Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; their works do follow them (Rev. 14:13).
I will give unto each one of you according to his works (Rev. 2:23).In Jeremiah:
I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. The sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell gave up those that were in them; and they were judged everyone according to their works (Rev. 20:12, 13).
Behold I come, and My reward is with Me, to render to each one according to his works (Rev. 22:12).
I will recompense them according to their work, and according to the doing of their hands (Jer. 25:14).Elsewhere:
Jehovah, whose eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his works (Jer. 32:19).
I will visit upon him his ways, and will render unto him for his works (Hosea 4:9).Where the Lord prophesies respecting the Last Judgment He makes mention of works only, and declares that:
According to our ways and according to our works Jehovah hath done with us (Zech. 1:6).
Those who have done good works shall enter into life eternal, and those who have done evil works into condemnation (Matt. 25:32-46).That "works" signify the things that are of love and faith the Lord also shows in these words:
They said to Jesus, What shall we do that we may work the works of God? Jesus answered, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom [the Father] hath sent (John 6:28, 29)."Night" signifies the last time of the church, when there is no faith, because there is no charity.
The night cometh, when no man can work (John 9:4).
"Works" are so frequently mentioned, because the sense of the letter of the Word is made up solely of things external, which are in nature and which appear before the eyes: and this in order that there may be a spiritual sense in each particular, as a soul in a body, for otherwise the Word would not be a means of communication with the angels, for it would be like a house without a foundation. From this also it is that when "works" are mentioned, angels, because they are spiritual, do not understand works, but the things from which works spring, which are, as was said above, the will or love, and thought therefrom which is of faith.
(from Apocalypse Explained 98)