Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 1511

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

1511. From much experience I have been led to know, and in such a way that nothing can be known more fully, that spirits who are immersed in falsities flow into the thought present in others and are so utterly persuasive in making falsity look like truth that such falsity cannot possibly be seen as anything other than truth; and this they accomplish by their sphere. It is similar with genii who are immersed in evils. These in a similar way flow into the will, making evil seem so utterly like good that such evil cannot possibly be perceived as anything other than good; and they too accomplish it by their sphere. I have been allowed to perceive clearly that influx of spirits or of genii a thousand times, and also to perceive from whom it came, as well as how angels from the Lord removed those influences, besides many other things which cannot easily be described in detail. From this it has become clear to me, surer than anything else can be, where the falsities and evils residing with man originate, and that the sources of such spheres as remain after the life of the body and manifest themselves so plainly are false assumptions and evil desires.


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church