"let him down by the wall in a basket" - Rich Swedenborg Saw Souls of the Rich in the Afterlife

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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.

"thy faith hath made thee whole" - The Notion of Immortality of the Soul to be Widely Promoted

 

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The Notion of Immortality of the Soul to be Widely Promoted

Christianity is based on the belief that there is the afterlife or life after death in this world.  Therefore, believers of Christianity as well as priests of Christianity in principle are not afraid of death. 

According to witness and reports of those who had near-death experiences, men's souls get out of dying bodies to enter into the spirit world.  Their souls usually feel happy in the spirit world soon after death.  No matter how evil they are in this world, their souls are not immediately punished or condemned to the hell.

According to Swedenborg, a philosopher and mystic in the 18th century, men's souls after death of their bodies get into the spirit world where they spend some time and gradually split to those who are accepted in Heaven and others who fall into the hell.

So, if churches emphasized that there is no death for one's soul after death of his physical body in this world, it should not be false.  It must be right to anybody regardless of his religion or whether or not he is a Christian or not.

Indeed, it is the belief shared by ancient Egyptians who wrote the Book of the Dead, ancient Greek philosophers such as Socrates and Plato, Tibetan Buddhists who wrote The Tibetan Book of the Dead, Pure Land Buddhists in East Asia, etc.

So, it is no wonder that there are many people in this world who believe in the immortality of the soul.  But, churches never stress it and elementary schools never teach it; what is worse, universities never have faculties to study the spirit world or the afterlife.  In this context, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, Raymond Moody, Allan Kardec, etc. who openly studied dying, near-death experiences, and death should have deserved a Nobel prize.

However, experts/scholars and churches seem to be reluctant to diffuse widely this notion of immortality of the soul.  Churches might be thinking that this secret should be taught only to members of churches.  Experts/scholars might be thinking that it is the knowledge that makes them especially important and privileged.  Or, some people with connection to political power might be thinking that such knowledge that everybody can live happily in the spirit world after death in this world must make law and order of the society unstable or endangered.  Indeed, a political revolution might happen more often with many insurgents who are not afraid of death. 

But, men without the knowledge of immortality of the soul would tend to think that there is nothing after death in this world, so that they try to enjoy their lives as much as possible by obtaining money as much as possible while living in this world.  Accordingly, they should easily follow Satan. 

Indeed, it is 2000 years after Christ Jesus appeared in this world.  As He clearly stated that poor and faithful men should be accepted in Heaven after death in this world where they are given eternal life, we have to widely promote this notion of immortality of the soul.  By doing this, we can save as many people as possible from traps and temptation of Satan.                

    

         

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Matthew 9, King James Version
21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
23 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
26 And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

”how then doth he now see?” - Required Doctrine of Christianity

 

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Required Doctrine of Christianity

Everybody physically and materially dies in this world someday.  But this death of the body in this world is not the final death.  For example, Christ Jesus was killed on the cross but was resurrected as a spiritual entity three days later with a spiritual body that can work even as a body of a living man.  

According to teaching of Christ Jesus, the second or final death occurs after one's soul that has entered into the afterlife is condemned to the hell where the God destroys every evil soul to nothingness.  But, souls of poor men recognized as faithful would be allowed to enter into Heaven where eternal life is given.

This situation in the spirit world or the afterlife is written in Revelation:
Revelation 20

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

To save people from this severe fate, Christ Jesus told people to be poor so that they will not sell their souls to Satan promising them to make them rich and happy in this world, since selling one's soul to Satan means to accept and perform every evil thing Satan teaches.

So, churches and the Vatican should teach that souls of people continue to live after their bodies die in this world.  But souls of poor and faithful people would be accepted in Heaven where they are given eternal life while souls of rich and evil people should fall into the hell where they are destroyed by the God.   

This is simple and reasonable.  Even poor fishers, farmers, shepherds, tax collectors, etc. living in Palestine 2000 years ago could understand.  That is why teachings of Christ Jesus were accepted by many people even in the Roman Empire and thereafter.

So, the doctrine of Christianity should be: 
1. Everyman dies but his soul survive material death to go to the spirit world.

2. Souls of the poor and faithful go to Heaven while souls of the rich and evil fall into the hell.

3. Eternal life is given in Heaven but final destruction of souls occur in the hell.

As Christ Jesus loved people so much, He purposely came to this world to tell this truth and make people understand God's plan so that people as many as possible can escape the trap set by Satan and enter into Heaven.  


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John 9, King James Version
18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.
19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?
20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:
21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.
22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.
23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.
24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

"they should cast him out; and they could not" - Satan's Evil Influence in this World and the Afterlife

 

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Satan's Evil Influence in this World and the Afterlife

If you have got knowledge by reading the Gospels that there is life of your soul after physical death in this world and the poor can be accepted and welcomed in Heaven while the rich are condemned to the hell, it is not enough.

You have to still fight against Satan, which is the core of the Gospels.  There could not have been the Gospels at all, if Christ Jesus had not fight and defeat Satan.  

However, most of those who had near-death experiences to catch a glimpse of an entrance to the afterlife or the spirit world have reported that they had seen mysterious light or a bright figure like the God or Christ Jesus but not evil figures like Satan. Nonetheless, it cannot be believed that there is no Satan in the spirit world, since the Bible reads: 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves (Matthew 7).  False prophets should be sent by Satan from the spirit world to this world. 

 
Satan should be afraid that if everybody understands the truth declared by Christ Jesus that souls of the poor are to go to Heaven while those of the rich are to fall into the hell in the afterlife after their death in this world and wishes to enter into Heaven, none will want to be rich by selling his soul to Satan.  Satan should not mind if people believe that there is the afterlife where they can live happily as they can live materially happy life in this world only if they have big money or wealth.  So, Satan should not appear in near-death experiences even of rich people so as not to make them hate material wealth by realizing what Satan is: namely the one that will eventually lead them to the hell. 

In this context, phrases concerning warning to Satan, devils, evil spirits, false prophets, etc. in the Gospels and words of Christ Jesus are essentially critical.  For this purpose of giving warning to Satan, devils, evil spirits, false prophets, etc., the Gospels were written.  Therefore, the state of Christ Jesus on the cross as a victim of Satan is highlighted and emphasized in the Gospels.  Nonetheless, Christ Jesus defeated Satan by not giving up His love to men till His death on the cross as a man.  Satan could not harm Christ Jesus any more after He entered into the afterlife or the spirit world.  And, with faith in Christ Jesus we must be also safe from Satan in the afterlife or the spirit world.

We should not forget that Satan might have still some evil power in the afterlife or the spirit world like in this world, although those who had near-death experiences have seldom reported it.  

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Mark 9, King James Version
18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.