Selections from Apocalypse Revealed ~ Emanuel Swedenborg
The New Church, which is the New Jerusalem, is formed of those who repent of evil works is also manifest from the Lord's words to the churches:- To Ephesus; I know thy works; I have against thee, that thou hast left thy first charity. Repent, and do the former works; or else I will remove thy lampstand out of its place, except thou repent (Rev. 2:2, 4-5).
- To the church in Pergamos; I know thy works, repent (Rev. 2:13, 16).
- To the church in Thyatira; I will deliver her into affliction, except they repent of their works, I will give unto everyone of you according to his works (Rev. 2:19, 22-23).
- To the church in Sardis; I have not found thy works perfect before God, repent (Rev. 3:1-3).
- To the church in Laodicea; I know thy works, be zealous, and repent (Rev. 3:15, 19).
(from Apocalypse Revealed 72)
I KNOW THY WORKS — The Lord Sees All the Interiors and Exteriors of Man at Once
I know thy works, signifies that He sees all the interiors and exteriors of man at once."Works" are often mentioned in Revelation, but few know what is meant by works. This is known, that ten men can do works which externally appear alike, but which yet are dissimilar with them all; and this because they proceed from different ends and different causes, the end and the cause rendering the works either good or evil; for every work is a work of the mind, therefore, such as is the quality of the mind, such is the work. If the mind is charity, the work becomes charity; but if the mind is not charity, the work does not become charity; still, however, they may both appear alike in externals.
Works appear to men in external form, but to angels in internal form; and to the Lord their quality is apparent from inmost to outmosts. Works in their external form appear like the outside of fruits, but works in their internal form appear like the inside of fruits, where there are innumerable edible parts, and in the midst seeds, in which there are also things innumerable, which are too minute for the keenest eye to discern, yea, which are above the intellectual sphere of man. Such are all works, the internal quality of which the Lord alone sees, and which the angels also perceive from the Lord, when man is doing them.
(from Apocalypse Revealed 76)
The Lord sees all their interiors and exteriors at once — He sees that they are in falsities, and yet as to life in goods, which they believe to be the goods of life, when yet they are not.(from Apocalypse Revealed 94)
I WILL GIVE UNTO EVERYONE ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS
I will give unto everyone according to his works, signifies that He gives unto everyone according to the charity and its faith which are in his works. That "works" are the containers of charity and faith, and that charity and faith without works are only like airy images, which vanish as soon as they have appeared.(from Apocalypse Revealed 141)
FOR THEIR WORKS FOLLOW WITH THEM
For their works follow with them, signifies as they have loved and believed, and thence have done and spoken. By "the works which follow with them" are signified all things which remain with man after death. It is known, that the externals, which appear before men, derive their essence, soul, and life from the internals, which do not appear before men, but which appear before the Lord and the angels; the latter and the former, or the externals and the internals taken together, are works; good works, if the internals are in love and faith, and the externals act and speak from them; but evil works, if the internals are not in love and faith, and the externals act and speak from them. If the externals act and speak as if from love and faith, those works are either hypocritical or meritorious. Ten persons may do works which are similar in externals, but still they are dissimilar, because the internals from which the externals proceed are dissimilar.Who does not see that there is an internal and an external, and that these two make one? For who does not see that the understanding and will are the internal of man, and speech and action his external? For who can speak and act without the understanding and the will? And since everyone sees this, he may also see that works are external and internal at the same time; and because the external derives its essence, soul, and life from its internal, as was said above, it follows that the external is such as is its internal; consequently, that "the works which follow with them" are according as they have loved and believed, and thence have done and spoken. That good works are charity and faith, and that the internal of man or the internal man does not consist in understanding without willing, but in willing and thence understanding, consequently that it does not consist in believing without loving, but in loving and thence believing; and that the doing these things is the external of man, or the external man. From these things it is evident, that by "the works that follow with them" is signified according as they have loved and believed, and thence have done and spoken. The same is signified by "works" in the following passages:
In the day of judgment God will render to every man according to his works (Rom. 2:6).
We must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, that each one may give account of the things which he hath done by the body, whether good or evil (2 Cor. 5:10).
The Son of man will come in the glory of His Father, and then shall He render to everyone according to his works (Matt. 16:27).
They that have done good shall come forth unto the resurrection of life, but they that have done evil unto the resurrection of judgment (John 5:29).
They were judged according to those things which were written in the books, all according to their works (Rev. 20:12-13).
Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his works (Rev. 22:12).
I will give to everyone of you according to his works (Rev. 2:23).
I know thy works (Rev. 2:1-2, 4, 9, 13, 19, 26; 3:1-3, 7-8, 14-15, 19).
I will recompense them according to their work, and according to the deed of their hands (Jer. 25:14).
Jehovah doeth with us according to our ways and according to our works (Zech. 1:6; and in many other places).
(from Apocalypse Revealed 641)
ALL WERE JUDGED ACCORDING TO THEIR INTERNAL LIFE IN EXTERNALS
The dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works, signifies that all were judged according to their internal life in externals.By "the dead" are signified all who died from the earth, and were then in the world of spirits. "Out of those things which were written in the books," signifies out of the interiors of everyone's mind then laid open. "According to their works," signifies, according to the internal life of everyone in externals.
WORKS OF THE MIND AND WORKS OF THE BODY
There are works of the mind and works of the body, both of them at once internal and external.- The works of the mind are intentions and endeavors
- The works of the body are words and actions
To which may be added the following from Paul:
In the day of anger and revelation of the just judgment of God; who will render to everyone according to his deeds (Rom. 2:5, 6).
For we must all be manifested before the judgment-seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the things done in the body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or evil (2 Cor. 5:10).
(from Apocalypse Revealed 868)