Mt. Fuji 100 km far from around Tokyo
St. Paul in the Afterlife Observed by Swedenborg
Swedenborg, a scientist, philosopher and mystic in the 18th century who was allowed by the God to see the spirit world while living in this world and wrote many books on his miracle spiritual experiences, saw St. Paul among the worst spirits in the afterlife, which must be the reason why the Vatican does not recognize Swedenborg as a saint.
According to The Spiritual Diary, the spirit of St. Paul kept in the afterlife his tendency and inclination he had had before his conversion to early Christianity. He tried to rule all the Jewish people with his doctrine without referring to words and teachings of Christ Jesus in his letters put in the Bible. St. Paul was shut away from spirits of other disciples of Christ Jesus and became a member of a group of evil spirits.
Swedenborg also saw the spirit of Christ Jesus watching a certain man, then shutting His eyes, and going inside Himself. Although it is not written that these two incidents in the spirit world were related or tied to each other, it is very profound and suggestive.
Swedenborg noted that what is written by any man does not necessarily represent what man he is. Any ungodly man may be able to write an excellent book of religion. Any man who writes a book or a letter promoting and recommending ethics and moral acts is not necessarily a saint, but such a man is often ignorant about true value of humanity, justice, love, etc. Any man with some ability can write a book of morality for the purpose of earning money and profit, pretending virtuous. And St. Paul looked like one of such men to the spiritual eyes of Swedenborg.
However, Swedenborg did not reject or neglect what St. Paul had written in his letters. Therefore, it is thought that the God or Christ Jesus used St. Paul for promotion of Christianity although his hidden tendency and inclination were known to Them.
On the other hand, Swedenborg praised the spirts of Seneca of ancient Rome in the 1st century and Newton of England in the early 18th century. They loved truth and accepted the holy story depicted in the Bible.
Today, there are some people who claim that they can invoke spirits of deceased men. Some people work as spiritualistic media. Even some people who had near-death experiences claim that they saw the spirit of Christ Jesus shining like bright light in their experiences. Although some people say that they have changed to become more humble, moralistic, or thoughtful after near-death experiences, others say that though they have acquired some mysterious spiritual ability, their personal quality and human natures have not changed. But, generally speaking, such people seem to become unafraid of death any more.
What should be noted is that there is Satan and evil spirits in this world and the spirit world. The reason why Swedenborg can be trusted is that he described how evil spirits worked and attacked the faithful in this world and the spirit world. Satan should not mind if people realize existence of the spirit world as long as they sell their souls to Satan.
The battles with Satan should continue to the spirit world. However, as Swedenborg wrote, men are protected by the God from Satan and evil spirits coming from the spirit world to attack them. Without such protection by the God, all men should become victims of Satan or sell their souls to Satan.
Anyway, it is a shame that the Pope in the Vatican and other leaders of churches do not report what they have seen in the spirit world when they are allowed by the God or Christ Jesus to see the status in the afterworld while living in this world like Swedenborg.
John 9, King James Version
26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?
27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?
28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.
29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.
30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.