2.
3.
4.
5.
when He became aware of the dreadful condition of the whole human
race, and even wished to withdraw from such knowledge. (# 2222)
But instead of withdrawing He inquired into all the states in human
beings which would allow Him to rescue them. (See the passages
following # 2222) Another example tells how the Lord fought all the
hells, and finally, on the cross, He also fought the angels who, loving
Him so much, felt that His mission had failed. (# 4299) Such insights
into the Lord’s work as an infant and throughout His ministry give us
a vision of the Divine work that is not available elsewhere.
The seven days of creation, telling of the seven stages of our
regeneration.
The remarkable change at the time of the representative flood, when
the Lord separated our understanding from our perverted will,
created a new will in our understanding, and made salvation possible
once again. Nowhere in human learning is this work of mercy even
vaguely apprehended.
The teachings about “remains” are to be found only here.
There are amazing gems about our regeneration, especially in the
Jacob series. Consider # 3603, which says that we find enjoyment in
the truth at first because it points out other people’s faults, and slowly
progresses through three other stages until we love it for the life it
makes possible.
Such insights are lost, even to the dedicated reader, if he or she does not
read this work.
Willard has therefore permission from the Swedenborg Society, whose
translation he used, to continue to make this work available on a limited basis
and to publish and distribute it privately. He can be contacted for further
information at [email protected].
Several people are reading this abridged version of the Arcana, and finding
great delight in doing so – people who would not otherwise have tackled this
task. One man, who has indeed read the Arcana three times, found it clarified
much that was not previously clear to him.
It is probably true to say that no lay person in recent history has worked
so systematically and so effectively on making a section of the Lord’s New
Word available to the Church. I believe this is an amazing gift to the Church,
and encourage its propagation in the manner permitted by the Swedenborg
Society.
Contact: [email protected]
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