Tokyo Station, etc.
The Soul of a Rich or Powerful Man in Heaven
Emanuel Swedenborg (1688 – 1772), a Swedish pluralistic-Christian theologian, scientist, philosopher and mystic who became best known for his book on the afterlife, Heaven and Hell (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emanuel_Swedenborg), claimed that he had seen the afterlife, Heaven, the hells, the spirit world, and spiritual entities such as dead men and angels. Most of his writings and assertions look trustworthy. But some parts of his reports on the afterlife are difficult to accept as truth, although he mostly lived in the 18th century that was very different from the early 21st century.
Swedenborg wrote about rich men in Heaven or the afterlife:
He observed souls of those who had been very rich and powerful while living in this world being happy and more than happier in Heaven. Therefore, he concluded that if anybody had been rich or powerful while living in this world, he could live happily in Heaven. But, Christ Jesus delivered a different teaching:Spiritual Experiences #4158I know of someone among the most powerful when he was living in the world, and he is among the happy; also another among the most wealthy who is also among the happiest. Both of these I had known during their life in the body. Thus power and riches do not prevent anyone from coming into heaven.
Matthew 1924 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.
According to Swedenborg, if one has big wealth and strong power, he can be accepted in Heaven as long as he uses his wealth and power for good purposes. If rich men or powerful men perform good and avoid evil, he can be accepted in Heaven. And, Swedenborg claimed that he had seen such men in Heaven.
However, without any conditions, Christ Jesus said that almost no rich men could enter into Heaven, although He did not use the words such as absolutely and definitely.
Nonetheless, being rich and socially powerful in this world is evil according to the teaching of Christ Jesus. For a man to acquire wealth or social power, he must neglect or defeat others in competition for wealth or social positions. Without making others poor or powerless, you cannot obtain wealth or social power. And to win the competition, you would surely sell any part of your soul to Satan; you would want to be rich or high in the social status even by asking help from Satan. On the other hand, if you follow the teaching of Christ Jesus, you would love the poor and the weak around you, so that you would give money to them or yield your power to them. In other words, with love to the poor and weaker, you cannot continue to be wealthy or powerful while living in this human world until your death.
Truly, Christ Jesus did not declare that rich men could not be absolutely accepted in Heaven or He would surely stop them from entering into Heaven. A rich or powerful man who was actually Swedenborg was really accepted in Heaven.
However, without any conditions, Christ Jesus said that almost no rich men could enter into Heaven, although He did not use the words such as absolutely and definitely.
Perhaps, in Sweden in the 18th century, there must have bee some rich or powerful men who did not inflict poor men intentionally or who avoided inflicting the poor intentionally. Therefore, although they did not realize that being rich or powerful itself was evil to the poor, they must have been allowed to enter into Heaven, as they had not done evil in a purposeful way.
Nonetheless, being rich and socially powerful in this world is evil according to the teaching of Christ Jesus. For a man to acquire wealth or social power, he must neglect or defeat others in competition for wealth or social positions. Without making others poor or powerless, you cannot obtain wealth or social power. And to win the competition, you would surely sell any part of your soul to Satan; you would want to be rich or high in the social status even by asking help from Satan. On the other hand, if you follow the teaching of Christ Jesus, you would love the poor and the weak around you, so that you would give money to them or yield your power to them. In other words, with love to the poor and weaker, you cannot continue to be wealthy or powerful while living in this human world until your death.
What is more, Swedenborg was a rich and elite scholar in Sweden in the 18th century who was close to the Swedish royal family. He must have not understood pains and agony of poor and powerless people. But Christ Jesus focused on saving the such poor or powerless people. Christ Jesus promised that the poor and powerless would be accepted in Heaven after death in this life.
Besides, Swedenborg did not report that Heaven was full of souls of poor men. He did not even define what being evil is, although he wrote that sols of evil men would go to the hells. He also mentioned souls of people living in the moon and other planets in our solar system, which looks so ridiculous according to the modern science. Swedenborg might have taken another solar system as our own.
Indeed, there are some difficulties in Swedenborg's books describing the spirit world, the afterlife, Heaven, the hells, angels, spiritual entities, etc., but most of his descriptions look trustworthy, since he had faith in the God and Christ Jesus.
That somebody being happy and powerful as seen by Swedenborg in Heaven might have been himself. Indeed, only a rich and powerful man in Europe in the 18th century could write his spiritual experiences that spanned over 30 years.
The fact that Swedenborg especially mentioned souls of wealthy and powerful men living happily in Heaven must mean that it was notable that such souls of wealthy and powerful men could live happily among angles and poor men's souls in Heaven.
Truly, Christ Jesus did not declare that rich men could not be absolutely accepted in Heaven or He would surely stop them from entering into Heaven. A rich or powerful man who was actually Swedenborg was really accepted in Heaven.
Yet. it must be exceptional and very rare that a rich man can enter into Heaven since he must go through the barrier between Heaven and the hell like through a quantum tunnel effect.
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Luke 12, King James Version
4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
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Luke 12, King James Version
4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.