A Shinto Shrine around Tokyo
Rich Swedenborg Saw Souls of the Rich in the Afterlife
The passages in the Gospels that present the words of Christ Jesus showing most clearly His intent of His preaching are as follows:
Luke 6:20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Christ Jesus evidently came to this world to save the poor, the oppressed, and the unhappy and to give warnings to the rich, the persons in the position of power, and the happy. He clearly stated that the poor, the oppressed, and the unhappy will be accepted in Heaven while the rich, the persons in the position of power, and the happy will be deprived of their wealth, positions, and happiness in the spirit world or in the hell.
However, Swedenborg, a Swedish theologian, scientist, philosopher and mystic in the 18th century, who was allowed to witness the spirit world, the afterlife, Heaven, and the hell while living in this world, wrote that he saw in Heaven souls of those who had been rich and in the high position when they had lived in this world. He concluded that rich men and elite men who used their wealth and political/social power not for their own profits but for social benefits or promotion of public good could be accepted in Heaven.
Indeed, Christ Jesus did not say that rich men cannot 100% enter into Heaven:
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. (Matthew 19)
It is true that Swedenborg himself was a rich and elite person, so that he must have been relieved to see even rich and elite men get allowed into Heaven. Truly, Christ Jesus did not say that rich and elite men could not 100% enter into Heaven. He said only that it was very difficult for rich men to enter into Heaven like a camel went through the eye of a needle.
Poor and unhappy people seem to be automatically allowed into Heaven if only they have faith in the God. But being rich and happy in this world means that they lack enough faith in the God, so that they cannot usually enter into Heaven. But, if the God admits that they have any merits, He should make the eye of a needle large enough for the rich to pass it and enter into Heaven. And, who expresses dissent to the God if the God so decides?
Nonetheless, if the poor, the oppressed, and the unhappy had not been victims of the rich, the elite men, and the happy, Christ Jesus should not have come to this world. Otherwise, if Christ Jesus had not loved the poor, the oppressed, and the unhappy, He should not come to this world to save them.
Anyway, Christ Jesus visited this human world 2000 years ago to put the poor, the oppressed, and the unhappy at their ease by promising them that they would be accepted in Heaven to be happy, since the God loved them.
In this context, love of the God and Christ Jesus is most correctly and sincerely understood by the poor, the oppressed, and the unhappy. Therefore, it is a mystery that Christ Jesus chose the rich and elite man Swedenborg as a reporter of the afterlife or the spirit world. Having said that, Swedenborg was not so rich and high in the position as the Pope in Rome. It might have to be thought at such a level.
Finally, it must be stressed that the God and Christ Jesus love the poor far more than the rich, although they have power, authority, and liberty to forgive them at any time.
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Acts 9, King James Version
22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.