Hey friends, so glad you could join us! We're looking forward to exploring this complex Bible story and a new way to interpret the symbolism within. Share your thoughts and comments as we go along. With love and wisdom - Curtis, Jonathan, and team
A great understanding of the four horsemen and the issue of transparency. This is really the Age of Transparency with all knowledge available to everyone online. All religions are now displayed with all their history and how they became the way they are today. It is so true that only the Word has the penetrating wisdom to see into the inner being of people who don't have the capacity to do this for themselves. As an example, racists usually don't have the capacity of insight to even know that they're racists. So this is an interesting time when we're all in open display as to our inner qualities. Those of higher capacity are able to see the qualities of spirit of those of lesser capacity, but not the other way around. So we're like an open book! I like your understanding of the Word as it is presented in John: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God, and the Word was made flesh. This is a paraphrase from memory, so I hope I got it right. In Baha'i terms this is saying that the Manifestation of God (i.e. Christ, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Krishna, Muhammed and Baha'u'llah), physical human beings, are born into the world from age to age in order to manifest the Word to that generation of people. The aspect of the teachings of the Word that generally becomes overlooked, as Swedenborg mentions, is the necessity of putting the Divine teachings into practice in their lives. That's why when the Manifestation of God appears, He is opposed by the leaders of the established religion of His day. My feeling is that Christianity succeeded because the teachings of Jesus were put into practice by many of the early Christians. The same can be said of all other religions. Swedenborg took a confusing book and made sense out of it. Imagine what Jesus would say to the religious leaders of today concerning their true spiritual duty to humanity. Here is a tablet sent by Baha'u'llah to Pope Pius IX: www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/summons-lord-hosts/#r=slh_en-1-pope
Thanks for the link, Harlan. It is indeed high time for all of us and all institutions to take an honest look within! And yes, it's great to think of the Word as meaning Divine Truth that existed from the beginning, and has taken form according to what has been needed on earth at the time.
I have a different interpretation for the these passages because I lived a version of this today in its entirety, or to use the language, this is how the books were opened for me today. I hope you won't think me presumptuous. I believe that when I relate this to you, you will see that although my interpretation differs from the one you present in some details, that in terms of Swedenborg's overall teachings that it fits. And I also want to tell you that you have been a continuous blessing to me, you have been there when I've needed you most, just when I need you, and today is no exception. The symbolism of the four horsemen is just what I needed to put things into perspective today. I'm going to go backwards in relating the horsemen to what happened with me today because I believe it would be more beneficial to go from the Pale horse of despair to the lamb that willingly gave itself in sacrifice to save all. It is a better narrative than going from God's love to despair as would happen if I started with the lamb and then went to the pale horse. This is going to be a little long, so I hope you will bear with me. I'll start with the symbolism and then give the reality of what happened today and what it means to me. If you are easily traumatized, I suggest you skip this post, or be with someone who can give you spiritual guidance. I wish to convey God's love, not to cause you harm. But to get to the love part, you will have to wade through a small bit of hell as here recounted. The pale horse symbolizes all the evil that people do to themselves and others. It is the ultimate in lawless free will, even to torturing and killing with impunity, and it is the consequences of that torture and killing, to perpetuate evil in the world. It is the irony that exists at the ends of eternity opposite the goodness of God’s love. It is the meaningless abyss where one turns one’s face completely from God because one can. It is the ultimate in the evil of despair perpetuated from the heart of despair. Now for the example. Today I visited with a woman in the hospital who recently attempted to kill herself. She told me during that visit that at age 14 she was forced to watch many people, including the person most dear to her in life be killed in the most horrific fashion, and then she was forced to take up arms and kill others by those who had killed her loved ones. She is from an African country where child soldiers have been used in this manner extensively and she was one of them. The pale horse is the lie that says "God could not exist and allow this to happen." It is also the truth that free will exists along with all its consequences for good and evil. The black horse is valuing things and money above the welfare of people. It is the ultimate in dehumanization, the total lack of perception of the divine in others, and reducing their value to only that of what can be bought and sold. Priorities and even knowledge of what is of true value are skewed beyond recognition by the black horse. And yet, “do not harm the oil and the wine” means that even these evils can be brought to good, because as long as the evil moving people to count dollars over lives leads them to helping others even inadvertently, then they must ultimately serve the good. I work for an agency that primarily gets its funds by pandering to people who count the dollars and pennies of the costs of people seeking services. Without agencies like mine, people who need mental health treatment are left to seek services by going to emergency rooms when they ultimately become suicidal. Emergency Room visits costs a lot of money because most of these people cannot afford to reimburse the hospitals for the bills they incur. Thus, services are justified in terms of the black horse and in reality by how much money can be saved, and not by how people can be rescued from the evil in their lives. And yet this very love of money is the fulcrum that allows me and my peers to do good, to help people overcome the wreckage that evil has left in their lives. The black horse is the lie that people don't matter, only accumulation of wealth matters. It is also the truth that God uses evil to perpetuate good. The Red horse is rage that masquerades as righteous anger. But unlike righteous anger that sets limits and protects, rage only destroys. This is the impulse to look around for other people to blame for the evil that is suffered, when ultimately, all men and women suffer to one degree or another and are victims of the evil in their lives. Unlike righteous anger, rage destroys the connection to good because it perpetuates the evil. As for my example, for a few short hours I really hated men as a group for the harm that was done to my client. I'm still struggling with this one, even as I acknowledge that the men who harmed her were also victims of the evils that were done to them by others, perhaps back to the beginnings of time. The lie and the con of the Red horse is "You are to blame, thus I will kill you and end the evil forever." It is also the truth that evil, must be named and rejected with righteous anger even when people themselves must be protected. The white horse is the the charity of spirit that allows acceptance of others with kindliness; it is the ability to view others without rejection. This is the viewpoint or perspective of the angels and of God, that welcomes all without judgment and without rejection. It is love that conquers. It is the perspective that does not allow the illusions and tricks of hell because it sees through them perfectly. For myself, I cannot sit with a client and hear their stories without loving them completely, even though the horror of it leaves me breathless and weak for a time. It is when I am with my clients in their pain that I feel most like I am sitting with the angels and doing God's work. And finally, we're back to the lamb, which willingly sacrifices itself for the benefit of others, the one who suffers with others to ease their burden, the lamb that transforms suffering into love. That, my friends, is what psychotherapists do. It is what you do, too, when you are willing to sit with a friend in the depths of his despair, when you console your lover when he has just learned that his father has died, when you do anything at all to ease the suffering of one you love. It's what I did today for my suicidal client who suffered so very indescribably much. You want to sit with God? Sit with your loved ones in their despair and suffer with them, to feel despair yourself without succumbing to it. Walk through their hells with them as the lamb did and thus transform despair into love.
This is beautiful. There are many layers of meaning in every Bible story, and we can only give a very basic interpretation. We always hope that it will be only the beginning of thoughts and applications that will inspire people to receive their own thoughts and applications. I'm very glad that you really internalized the symbolism to speak to a very specific and personal situation in your life. I hope that more and more people can use the Bible stories in this way, to navigate the situations that we encounter in life each day. Thank you for being someone who has the courage and strength to reach out to people who have been through such hell at the hands of others, to bring them back to God's love. God bless.
Love when you guys do those little acting vignettes with the rest of the SF team. Not only does it make the material even more understandable and interesting, it's really endearing. You seem like such a happy, fun group. Must be an awesome place to work. Shout out to the camera person - those angles and shots were professionally done. Bravo on the acting everyone!
It really is a lot of fun, and it makes it all the more worthwhile if it gives you a smile out there in the audience! I will pass on your kind words to the filming crew. Thanks for watching!
Amazing information and to the point. This is my experience as well, that when you purge all that is spiritual unhealthy, the bad stuff just vanishes like fog in the Sun and it does not return. So nice to have found a correct manual of life which conforms the actual process.
I enjoyed the show, so many good points were made. Around 15:30 - 15:50, you mentioned the requirements necessary to get on the road to heaven. Here is a relevant passage, imo, from the book of Acts in the New Testament… Acts 10:34,35 (KJV) “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” Thank you all. :)
this was so wonderfully done and the best explanation of the horsemen I have heard it really has helped with my understanding and I know to keep loving others helping to the best of my ability and continue to grow and work on my faults thank you for all the hard work that you do . may the blessings and love of God always be with you
Every time I watch one of your episode, I feel like my brain is steaming; so much information! Thanks !!! Especially the oil and the wine part made me think about Jesus' miracle of the wine in Cana. It is so true that most people are good at first, trying to make a good impression (hence the good wine at the wedding first) and then the true colors come out. Jesus' miracle so clearly (now, after watching this episode) points out to this transformation in us where the "good wine" is serve at the end. Crazy how it all makes sense.
Lol you all are so much fun . So wish I had been with you all for the stinky kitchen filming . I just picture massive amounts of giggles going on . Love light and wisdom to everyone . ♥️🙏
i love the way you explain things, and how u include all people and there spiritual walk , we are all valuable souls in the truth of goodness, i thank you for expressing this ! I have so many things going thought my mind with this teaching... as i listened one thing i thought a bout was drugs.. as so many loved ones i know have been lost to this mind set and lack of morality , i watched this twice and most likely will watch again ! each time I take in a little more.. lol im one of those simple people !!! God Bless and peace out
It's so nice to hear from you, Christine! It sounds like you've really been touched by the inclusive nature of Swedenborg's writings. I'm sorry to hear about your loved ones and their battle with drugs. We actually did an entire show on the spiritual nature of addition- perhaps it would be valuable to you: ua-cam.com/video/lMxdZiguxlI/v-deo.html
Before I discovered Swedenborg, i already have the ideas of what the 4 horsemen mean through the readings of Edgar Cayce (although his interpretation is a little vague and not in that order). Swedenborg makes it more understandable and just tied everything together. I don't know if Swedenborg talk about this but understand that in the beginning there is just ONE but in essence there is TWO. There is TWO, but in essence there is THREE, there is THREE, but in essence there is SEVEN. Seven is the number of the spirited-man, circle is his symbol. Seven is the 7 spirits in man created by GOD, the perfect man. However, it was NOT perfect, ONLY 2 of the 7 spirits remains above and others fall from heaven and of those 5 spirits, i believe 4 of them are the 4 horsemen. Also it represents earth, water, air and fire. 7 spirits are the 7 chakras in our body. This is why when people meditate, they try to open up these 7 chakras and try to heal them. And they meditate by opening from bottom up beginning with the WHITE HORSE, knowledge of truth and good and live by them. I believe there are few people that do have knowledge and practice them. These are genuinely good people. Then comes the RED HORSE. Red represents LOVE as fire is red and fire is LOVE. People that are devoid of LOVE are people that maybe smart but lack compassion. For example, CEOs making tons of money and people that desire material wealth...their LOVE is not spiritual LOVE, it's material LOVE and same go for those that love themselves more than others. SO go with the hypocrite, they said one thing and do another for self gain or whatever it may be. What about people that know the TRUTH but lack LOVE? I can't see that as the real TRUTH since they already lack the real LOVE? So be careful if you see people that you think love you but may love you for another reason. Then the BLACK horse, the one devoid of WISDOM. Black represents lack of light and lack of lights mean you're not able to see the TRUTH....you're blinded. You're so into material things and money and self gratification that you don't care about the TRUTH. People that have LOVE but lack WISDOM are those that may truly love you but love for the wrong reason. For example, they may love and support you because they want to gain your respect because they want to show you how proud they are...they're full of pride. Or they LOVE you because they want something from you. Lacking WISDOM in LOVE is not true LOVE even if they show true LOVE because remember LOVE needed to united with WISDOM to reveal the good and truth. Then come the PALE HORSE which represent EVIL. This is when someone devoid of LOVE and WISDOM, they become Satan or Anti-Christ. They're like the mass murderers, the thieves, only self-gratification. I believe most people fall into the RED and BLACK HORSES categories and few in the WHITE and EVIL ones. It's interesting that when doing meditation, they teach you to open the chakra from bottom up first as you move up because that's how you created an opening or a channel. And yet everything are supposed to work from top to bottom like heaven to earth. But i believe it needs to open from bottom up is because we're upside down as a physical man or living in a physical reality...sort of like facing away from GOD. We tend to start our LOVE from the bottom first, the outer self as the father is from the body to the son the mind and the holy spirit. However, the father does not work from bottom up or outer self to inner self, it works from top to bottom. It is man's idea to work from bottom up....from the outside to the inside...from self-love to charity. BUT if we allow the father to work from top to bottom or for LOVE to come from top to bottom instead of bottom up, you begin to see that our bodies begin to rotate and then face GOD and it is not upside down anymore. And by conquering the 4 horsemen, you did just that. People said that the Book of Revelation reveal the end of the world or something terrible going to happen to the world. But that's because these people lack the understanding of what all those symbols mean. They interpreted them based on their literal meanings and not spiritual. For example, the "book" is actually the body. Revelation of the book is revealing your body and yes when you died, your BOOK will be revealed how you lead your life because whatever you do is being stored in THAT BOOK. Your work and deeds are stored in the memory of that BOOK and will open to be judged in the end. Armageddon is war within yourself....you're literally fighting against these 4 horsemen RIGHT NOW!! And try to conquered them. Well, i guess if you couldn't conquer them, they manifested outside and that's why you see some of these terrible wars in our life. They're being manifested from the books.
Love that you really think about all this symbolism, and that you see the Bible text as symbolic rather than being about literal cataclysms. Definitely a lot of parallels here in the meanings that Swedenborg learned! He does talk about 1 as the One God who is a union of 2 (love and wisdom) and who is also 3 (essence, form, and operation), just as we each also are 1 being who can become a union of love and wisdom and have the 3 elements of our soul, body and way of living all united. And 7, Swedenborg learned, represents Completeness and thus Holiness.
Great episode, thanks! One point of interest to me--- I googled "The Four Horsemen" and the second listing called up the "Four Horsemen of the Non-Apocalypse," a reference to the four stalwarts of the New Atheist movement, Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and Daniel Dennett. As I watched the episode, I thought how interesting it would be if these men watched the show (although Hitchens is already in the spiritual world) --- and what color palette might be present for them. From what I know, they all seem like basically nice people and their arguments against religion largely focus on the bad things that have been done in the name of religion. But they do take their arguments seriously and make them vociferously. This perhaps is Red Horse behavior - taking the truth they have learned in science and using it to slice up religion based on its weaknesses (and ignoring its strengths), believing that they are doing something useful. Curiously, you can say they are acting on principles. But to me, the principles of purely secular, physical rationality are emptied of goodness and life has been emptied of meaning. That's closer to the Pale Horse..... although I'm not sure if "lifelessness" is quite the same thing as "death." Nor is spiritual vastation the same as evil. The former can be filled up - the latter has closed off that option.
Glad you enjoyed the episode, George! It certainly is interesting to think about all the possible applications, to different conversations all over the world, both religious and secular. Thanks for sharing these thoughts and insights!
I do agree that different religions have appeared at different times throughout history in different cultures as God has been trying to raise all humanity. How do you understand this words from Jesus: "Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me". ?
Great question, Pierre! Watch this video, and see if it provides some answers for you: "John 3:16 Does Not Conflict With a God Who Loves Everyone" ua-cam.com/video/XQ9SgTIhX4g/v-deo.html&t
Thank you for such an insightful video. I sometimes wondered why Jesus would seemingly withhold knowledge and understanding as he said in Matthew 13:13. But I understand now that, without goodness within, people distort the truth.
Glad it makes sense to you, Nandi. It does seem frustrating that God doesn't just give it to us straight, so to speak, but it's interesting to reflect on the ideas of protection, and of spiritual freedom. The Lord is working with each of us individually in a unique way!
Interesting episode! I've been really looking forward to this one in particular because the four horsemen were such a mystery to me ever since I stumbled upon your channel, like what could it all possibly mean! They're so popular in so many bible inspired stories as well. Glad to have had that mystery solved. Sidenote: People always talk about pestilence being one of the horsemen. Where did that come from?
I'm glad this show could shed some light on the topic for you! Great question about "pestilence" as a horseman. I didn't know the answer, so I looked on Wikipedia, and this is what it said: "Under another interpretation, the first Horseman is called Pestilence, and is associated with infectious disease and plague. It appears at least as early as 1906, when it is mentioned in the Jewish Encyclopedia. The interpretation is common in popular culture references to the Four Horsemen.The origin of this interpretation is unclear. Some translations of the Bible mention "plague" (e.g. the NIV) or "pestilence" (e.g. the RSV) in connection with the riders in the passage following the introduction of the fourth rider; cf. "They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine, plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth." (NASB). However, it is a matter of debate as to whether this passage refers to the fourth rider, or to the four riders as a whole.Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, in his 1916 novel The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (filmed in 1921 and in 1962), provides an early example of this interpretation, writing "The horseman on the white horse was clad in a showy and barbarous attire. [...] While his horse continued galloping, he was bending his bow in order to spread pestilence abroad. At his back swung the brass quiver filled with poisoned arrows, containing the germs of all diseases." So the origins of that concept seem vague! And obviously, we don't agree with that interpretation! :)
Sounds like it's pretty much one of many interpretations of the literal meaning of the word. MEH, Conquest is waaay cooler and certainly a good mindset to aim for!
I agree with you guys as far as the instant coverage of everything so that it seems like more is going on however we've had that capability for a number of years now and I truly think worse things are happening now as if an evil spirits have more influence
It sure can feel that way, Lajuana! All the more reason to do what we each can, individually, to put goodness and love and usefulness and kindness out into the world!
Brings a new light to that old saying that one's life is an open book! It seems the teaching here is that the truth is hidden in plain sight before us yet without God's help we just pass it by. Makes the apocalyptic revelation more of a 'be here now' thing than a futuristic projection.
Yes, LLC, it seems the world would be a better place if all people and institutions could just go about being the best they can be, rather than spending energy finding fault with others.
From now on I guess I will picture myself jumping from different colouring horses. What an allegori (I've been waiting for this subject and had no idea what would comes out of it ) ----
I'm so glad this episode was useful to you. The correspondences of the 4 horses really are powerful and reflective of our spiritual states. Thanks for reaching out, Arne!
THE JUDGMENT THE CREATIVE works sublime success, Furthering through perseverance. According to the original meaning, the attributes [sublimity, potentiality of success, power to further, perseverance] are paired. When an individual draws this oracle, it means that success will come to him from the primal depths of the universe and that everything depends upon his seeking his happiness and that of others in one way only, that is, by perseverance in what is right. The specific meanings of the four attributes became the subject of speculation at an early date. The Chinese word here rendered by "sublime" means literally "head," "origin," "great." This is why Confucius says in explaining it: "Great indeed is the generating power of the Creative; all beings owe their beginning to it. This power permeates all heaven." For this attribute inheres in the other three as well. The beginning of all things lies still in the beyond in the form of ideas that have yet to become real. But the Creative furthermore has power to lend form to these archetypes of ideas. This is indicated in the word success, and the process is represented by an image from nature: "The clouds pass and the rain does its work, and all individual beings flow into their forms." Applies to the human world, these attributes show the great man the way to notable success: "Because he sees with great clarity and cause and effects, he completes the six steps at the right time and mounts toward heaven on them at the right time, as though on six dragons." The six steps are the six different positions given in the hexagram, which are represented later by the dragon symbol. Here it is shown that the way to success lies in apprehending and giving actuality to the way of the universe [Tao], which, as a law running through end and beginning, brings about all phenomena in time. Thus each step attained forthwith becomes a preparation for the next. Time is no longer a hindrance but the means of making actual what is potential. The act of creation having found expression in the two attributes sublimity and success, the work of conservation is shown to be a continuous actualization and differentiation of form. This is expressed in the two terms "furthering" (literally, "creating that which accords with the nature of a given being") and "persevering" (literally, "correct and firm"). "The course of the Creative alters and shapes beings until each attains its true, specific nature, then it keeps them in conformity with the Great Harmony. Thus does it show itself to further through perseverance." In relation to the human sphere, this shows how the great man brings peace and security to the world through his activity in creating order: "He towers high above the multitude of beings, and all lands are united in peace." Another line of speculation goes still further in separating the words "sublime," "success," "furthering," "perseverance," and parallels them with the four cardinal virtues in humanity. To sublimity, which, as the fundamental principle, embraces all the other attributes, it links love. To the attribute success are linked the morals, which regulate and organize expressions of love and thereby make them successful. The attribute furthering is correlated with justice, which creates the conditions in which each receives that which accords with his being, that which is due him and which constitutes his happiness. The attribute perseverance is correlated with wisdom, which discerns the immutable laws of all that happens and can therefore bring about enduring conditions. These speculations, already broached in the commentary called Wên Yen , later formed the bridge connecting the philosophy of the "five stages (elements) of change," as laid down in the Book of History (Shu Ching) with the philosophy of the Book of Changes, which is based solely on the polarity of positive and negative principles. In the course of time this combination of the two systems of thought opened the way for an increasingly intricate number symbolism. THE IMAGE The movement of heaven is full of power. Thus the superior man makes himself strong and untiring. Since there is only one heaven, the doubling of the trigram Ch'ien, of which heaven is the image, indicates the movement of heaven. One complete revolution of heaven makes a day, and the repetition of the trigram means that each day is followed by another. This creates the idea of time. Since it is the same heaven moving with untiring power, there is also created the idea of duration both in and beyond time, a movement that never stops nor slackens, just as one day follows another in an unending course. This duration in time is the image of the power inherent in the Creative. With this image as a model, the sage learns how best to develop himself so that his influence may endure. He must make himself strong in every way, by consciously casting out all that is inferior and degrading. Thus he attains that tirelessness which depends upon consciously limiting the fields of his activity.
Doesn't the book of revelation prove that some things are written with an internal meaning. Our man Swedenborg has given us the code to Genesis, Exodus, and Revelation. I remember before Swedenborg came into my life having a strong desire to know what revelation meant, hence my joy on finding Swedenborg's interpretations, inspirations. Keep it up, great material in my opinion.
I think the Rider on the White Horse, I Believe, Holds a Bow, because he is Arjuna., Beloved of the Lord, Christ Jesus. Lord of Saboth. To Sin is to miss the mark. Arjuna, Lord of the Lord's Field of Battle, Hit the Mark!
LOL I'm dying laughing at the kitchen scene- WHAT are you trying to pour syrup on? There's nothing there! lol- are they hypothetical pancakes? Are you willing them into being?? You're so deep, dude....
We had a lot of fun making that skit, so, really glad you enjoyed it! In the behind-the-scenes video in Patreon it can be seen that the syrup is being poured down onto a plate. But yeah, in the skit it is not clear where all that syrup is going! :)
Some really good insights. It can be incredibly frustrating when those tipping points into judgement (or other negative states) occur and when a part of you knows that you have left love to the side as negativity reigns. Sometimes it is like being a back seat passenger in the actual moment of that 'flip', as if my sense of 'free will' has been taken despite getting to observe it as a seemingly separated entity from the position of love in the actual moment of that 'flip'. I guess as one coming from ignorance (for me in many a sense) to being aware in the moment, and even if that is sometimes as a back seat passenger, that this is still a step in the right direction. Its a painful process but this is what happens when one plays dice with devils due to hubris and folly, unwittingly allowing evil to build up inside. The longer it is left the more painful it is to change and to exercise a choice. It is like being dismembered. Sorry to ramble and I hope some get something from my sharing.
Please don't apologize. Your insights here are great! Awareness is the first step in the journey to breaking free of negativity, but it is indeed a journey. It can't happen all at once. And I believe we need to be able to feel hope and encouragement with each "step in the right direction." And yes, to get started is important, because to procrastinate only makes it harder.
White horse. He that sitteth on the white horse is Christ, going forth to subdue the world by his gospel. The red horse signifies war; the black horse, famine; & the pale horse (which has Death for its rider), plagues & pestilence.
Basically, it means having a home in a heavenly existence after death, saved from the pull and power of evil. Swedenborg describes steps of repentance to help us turn away from evil/hurtfulness/self-obsession and turn toward God, and in this way we build our pathway to heaven. A very short and simplistic answer, but it's a start! Here's a long show we did called "The Day-to-day Process of Our Salvation." ua-cam.com/video/KkTtsrFbLTs/v-deo.html And here's a short excerpt from that show, called "What is Salvation." ua-cam.com/video/3mwhao7I__o/v-deo.html And here's another short clip called, "Are We Saved by Grace or Works?" -- ua-cam.com/video/-Nuxn8sm_p0/v-deo.html See what you think of those!
I love the ending thoughts, the transparency or the post modern, the age of reflection some might say. For my simple mind I always have a song in my head that captures this sentiment and that includes the line "don't stop just yet, we've got the world looking in, our window" ua-cam.com/video/h9ErGxoRcOU/v-deo.html
I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. ~Revelation 6:2 We could be in the 1st seal...the white horse being medical community (white coats) and Corona means "Crown" in Latin.... it's being used to conquer and likewise the bow, but where are the "arrows"?
Interesting thoughts, Michele. We see the symbolism of these stories as being *spiritual* -- that is, talking about each individual's spiritual growth and development as we spend a lifetime learning to turn more and more toward God. So we don't put too much emphasis on the *literal* meaning of Revelation, but we have a few more episodes about the spiritual/symbolic meaning of various other parts of the Book of Revelation.
@@offTheLeftEye thank you for your response. I can see that too. There are many layers to Revelation for sure as well as history repeats itself and hopefully we learn from our past and grow closer to our Father in heaven. 💜
@@offTheLeftEye i dont know about the end times, not when and why. This time its i guess not in the spiritual plane , i guess this one is on the material one. Like the one with noah. Not a punishment more like a reset button, sometimes if you have a problem with a programm, restarting fixes all...
@@massimogamper232 Yes we do need a reset button, perhaps another name for it is regeneration. Choosing a different way of treating people. Here is a playlist describing the way we change spiritually ua-cam.com/play/PLgtFTXGqZdSlzr2Z1xOLaTdUlJoFURtIm.html
Yes, this is from the Book of Revelation as written by John. The deeper meaning unlocked in this video is via Emanuel Swedenborg, who was an 18th century Christian mystic. Have you heard of him before?
Nothing is new under the sun .... what weve made from our minds eye , the mind God gave us, i think is insulting to HIM.... But he is our father , and a father know his kids mess up...... Im so Glade he loves us !!!!
Yes, you have the right idea. The word is "licentiously", and here are some of the definitions of the word "licentious": sexually unrestrained; lascivious; libertine; lewd, unrestrained by law or general morality; lawless; immoral.
Hi Susan! Angels are human beings who have died and gone to heaven. All of us are finite; God is the only INFINITE being! But we have eternal life FROM God. Since angels, like us, were born into a physical life first, they had a finite beginning. God, on the other hand, has no beginning and no end.
Chapter 11: The Universal Form TEXT 21 ami hi tvam sura-sangha visanti kecid bhitah pranjalayo grnanti svastity uktva maharsi-siddha-sanghah stuvanti tvam stutibhih puskalabhih SYNONYMS ami-all those; hi-certainly; tvam-unto You; sura-sanghah-groups of demigods; visanti-entering; kecit-some of them; bhitah-out of fear; pranjalayah-with folded hands; grnanti-offering prayers unto; svasti-all peace; iti-thus; uktva-speaking like that; maharsi-great sages; siddha-sanghah-perfect sages; stuvanti-singing hymns; tvam-unto You; stutibhih-with prayers; puskalabhih-Vedic hymns. TRANSLATION All the demigods are surrendering and entering into You. They are very much afraid, and with folded hands they are singing the Vedic hymns. PURPORT The demigods in all the planetary systems feared the terrific manifestation of the universal form and its glowing effulgence and so prayed for protection.
offTheLeftEye dear Curtis and friends. Yes brother. I see it Unified. It is Lord Krishna, Lord Jesus Christ of the 🌲 Tree of Jesse, The Supreme Personality of Godhead 😍⛲️☝️🦋🎺🎺🎺🙏☮️. Does that resonate? I’m on my phone so limited on how fast I can write here. Wish to share much more, many videos explaining it on my Facebook page, Love and Truth Inc. shalom
@@offTheLeftEye hey 👋 thanks for the reply. While watching I looked up the lion and the lamb, and it was telling me its the wolf and the lamb. Just wording if you guys noticed this too. I looked in my Bible to double check myself. I dunno, thanks tho! I go back in the catalog and watch a video atleast once a day. The kind hearts are so welcoming here
@@michaelfrisch1784 Maybe you were thinking of Isaiah 11:6-9, which does talk about when the "wolf will lie down with the lamb." But in this video we were quoting Revelation 5:5-6, which talks about the "Lion of Judah" and then the "Lamb standing as though slain." Does that clear up the confusion? I'm so glad you are enjoying digging into our library of videos each day, Michael. We're really grateful to have you in the audience!
Revelation was written the way it is because John was a prisoner in the island of Patmos and could not just write a letter to suffering and serverley persecuted Christians on the mainland. He used this familiar language from Ezekiel and Daniel also a written in captivity, because the people would understand it and the Roman guard would not be suspicious and just think it is some religious people jargon. John is telling them that Rome would even over thrown and encouraged them to endure until the end. The beast represents the oppressive government system and the emperor himself “who set himself to be god and even defiling the temple”. He demanded worship. And those who would. It worship we’re giving a “mark of certificate” that would allow them to participate in commerce. Many Christians were cut off. Christians of this time suffered the worst persecution to that point and the worst there ever would be. Don’t fall for glaze teachers fancy stories and lies. Johns said “it was written to the seven churches of Asian” and said it was about things “that must SOON TAKE PLACE”. So don’t let people tell you there is some tribulation to come or mark of the beast. While it was written to us we will most definitely have our own beasts and systems to complete with and they will suppress us and resemble the writing of the past just don’t be fooled but the learning still remains. “Endure to the end”.
Thank you for sharing your perspective, Truth Seeker. I appreciate your concern about the availability of information which might deceive people on their spiritual journeys. Ultimately each of us can choose to employ what Swedenborg calls our God-given rationality to make sense of the information out there on God, the Bible, and heaven. On our channel we believe that there is more to the words in Revelation than the literal text, but not all will agree. And that's okay!
@@offTheLeftEye was there something you disagree with on my text. And I appreciate the kind response. Also from your comment are you saying one persons can read the Bible and find “truth” and someone else can read the same things find different “truth” And both of them be correct ?
@@realtruthseeker521 I was saying that people can understand the text of the book of Revelation in different ways. We understand it to be a personal message to each one of us, but it is not about earthly events. It is about spiritual events -- things that happened in the spiritual world, and things that happen in the spiritual development of our own hearts and minds. Did you have a chance to watch this episode? It will give an example of the kind of understanding of the book of Revelation that I am talking about.
Hey friends, so glad you could join us! We're looking forward to exploring this complex Bible story and a new way to interpret the symbolism within. Share your thoughts and comments as we go along. With love and wisdom - Curtis, Jonathan, and team
A great understanding of the four horsemen and the issue of transparency. This is really the Age of Transparency with all knowledge available to everyone online. All religions are now displayed with all their history and how they became the way they are today. It is so true that only the Word has the penetrating wisdom to see into the inner being of people who don't have the capacity to do this for themselves. As an example, racists usually don't have the capacity of insight to even know that they're racists. So this is an interesting time when we're all in open display as to our inner qualities. Those of higher capacity are able to see the qualities of spirit of those of lesser capacity, but not the other way around. So we're like an open book! I like your understanding of the Word as it is presented in John: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God, and the Word was made flesh. This is a paraphrase from memory, so I hope I got it right. In Baha'i terms this is saying that the Manifestation of God (i.e. Christ, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Krishna, Muhammed and Baha'u'llah), physical human beings, are born into the world from age to age in order to manifest the Word to that generation of people. The aspect of the teachings of the Word that generally becomes overlooked, as Swedenborg mentions, is the necessity of putting the Divine teachings into practice in their lives. That's why when the Manifestation of God appears, He is opposed by the leaders of the established religion of His day. My feeling is that Christianity succeeded because the teachings of Jesus were put into practice by many of the early Christians. The same can be said of all other religions. Swedenborg took a confusing book and made sense out of it.
Imagine what Jesus would say to the religious leaders of today concerning their true spiritual duty to humanity. Here is a tablet sent by Baha'u'llah to Pope Pius IX: www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/summons-lord-hosts/#r=slh_en-1-pope
Thanks for the link, Harlan. It is indeed high time for all of us and all institutions to take an honest look within! And yes, it's great to think of the Word as meaning Divine Truth that existed from the beginning, and has taken form according to what has been needed on earth at the time.
Your work is so priceless. You are helping me more than you know. Thanks you guys - as always!!
We are so grateful for you, Alex. Thanks for continuing to let us know the impact this show has made on you. Wishing you well!
Swedenborg expound the horses in Revelation not of fear. I love you Guys. You bring light in this world.🦁🐏.🐎🐎🐎🐎
We love you too, Rov Li! Glad these concepts are bringing you light :)
You get a thumbs up for the emojis. :D
I have a different interpretation for the these passages because I lived a version of this today in its entirety, or to use the language, this is how the books were opened for me today. I hope you won't think me presumptuous. I believe that when I relate this to you, you will see that although my interpretation differs from the one you present in some details, that in terms of Swedenborg's overall teachings that it fits. And I also want to tell you that you have been a continuous blessing to me, you have been there when I've needed you most, just when I need you, and today is no exception. The symbolism of the four horsemen is just what I needed to put things into perspective today.
I'm going to go backwards in relating the horsemen to what happened with me today because I believe it would be more beneficial to go from the Pale horse of despair to the lamb that willingly gave itself in sacrifice to save all. It is a better narrative than going from God's love to despair as would happen if I started with the lamb and then went to the pale horse. This is going to be a little long, so I hope you will bear with me. I'll start with the symbolism and then give the reality of what happened today and what it means to me. If you are easily traumatized, I suggest you skip this post, or be with someone who can give you spiritual guidance. I wish to convey God's love, not to cause you harm. But to get to the love part, you will have to wade through a small bit of hell as here recounted.
The pale horse symbolizes all the evil that people do to themselves and others. It is the ultimate in lawless free will, even to torturing and killing with impunity, and it is the consequences of that torture and killing, to perpetuate evil in the world. It is the irony that exists at the ends of eternity opposite the goodness of God’s love. It is the meaningless abyss where one turns one’s face completely from God because one can. It is the ultimate in the evil of despair perpetuated from the heart of despair. Now for the example. Today I visited with a woman in the hospital who recently attempted to kill herself. She told me during that visit that at age 14 she was forced to watch many people, including the person most dear to her in life be killed in the most horrific fashion, and then she was forced to take up arms and kill others by those who had killed her loved ones. She is from an African country where child soldiers have been used in this manner extensively and she was one of them. The pale horse is the lie that says "God could not exist and allow this to happen." It is also the truth that free will exists along with all its consequences for good and evil.
The black horse is valuing things and money above the welfare of people. It is the ultimate in dehumanization, the total lack of perception of the divine in others, and reducing their value to only that of what can be bought and sold. Priorities and even knowledge of what is of true value are skewed beyond recognition by the black horse. And yet, “do not harm the oil and the wine” means that even these evils can be brought to good, because as long as the evil moving people to count dollars over lives leads them to helping others even inadvertently, then they must ultimately serve the good. I work for an agency that primarily gets its funds by pandering to people who count the dollars and pennies of the costs of people seeking services. Without agencies like mine, people who need mental health treatment are left to seek services by going to emergency rooms when they ultimately become suicidal. Emergency Room visits costs a lot of money because most of these people cannot afford to reimburse the hospitals for the bills they incur. Thus, services are justified in terms of the black horse and in reality by how much money can be saved, and not by how people can be rescued from the evil in their lives. And yet this very love of money is the fulcrum that allows me and my peers to do good, to help people overcome the wreckage that evil has left in their lives. The black horse is the lie that people don't matter, only accumulation of wealth matters. It is also the truth that God uses evil to perpetuate good.
The Red horse is rage that masquerades as righteous anger. But unlike righteous anger that sets limits and protects, rage only destroys. This is the impulse to look around for other people to blame for the evil that is suffered, when ultimately, all men and women suffer to one degree or another and are victims of the evil in their lives. Unlike righteous anger, rage destroys the connection to good because it perpetuates the evil. As for my example, for a few short hours I really hated men as a group for the harm that was done to my client. I'm still struggling with this one, even as I acknowledge that the men who harmed her were also victims of the evils that were done to them by others, perhaps back to the beginnings of time. The lie and the con of the Red horse is "You are to blame, thus I will kill you and end the evil forever." It is also the truth that evil, must be named and rejected with righteous anger even when people themselves must be protected.
The white horse is the the charity of spirit that allows acceptance of others with kindliness; it is the ability to view others without rejection. This is the viewpoint or perspective of the angels and of God, that welcomes all without judgment and without rejection. It is love that conquers. It is the perspective that does not allow the illusions and tricks of hell because it sees through them perfectly. For myself, I cannot sit with a client and hear their stories without loving them completely, even though the horror of it leaves me breathless and weak for a time. It is when I am with my clients in their pain that I feel most like I am sitting with the angels and doing God's work.
And finally, we're back to the lamb, which willingly sacrifices itself for the benefit of others, the one who suffers with others to ease their burden, the lamb that transforms suffering into love. That, my friends, is what psychotherapists do. It is what you do, too, when you are willing to sit with a friend in the depths of his despair, when you console your lover when he has just learned that his father has died, when you do anything at all to ease the suffering of one you love. It's what I did today for my suicidal client who suffered so very indescribably much. You want to sit with God? Sit with your loved ones in their despair and suffer with them, to feel despair yourself without succumbing to it. Walk through their hells with them as the lamb did and thus transform despair into love.
This is beautiful. There are many layers of meaning in every Bible story, and we can only give a very basic interpretation. We always hope that it will be only the beginning of thoughts and applications that will inspire people to receive their own thoughts and applications. I'm very glad that you really internalized the symbolism to speak to a very specific and personal situation in your life. I hope that more and more people can use the Bible stories in this way, to navigate the situations that we encounter in life each day. Thank you for being someone who has the courage and strength to reach out to people who have been through such hell at the hands of others, to bring them back to God's love. God bless.
As always so much truth wisdom and love. Curtis you are becoming Famous !
You guys had me in stitches in the kitchen Thank you for this episode A lot of information to ponder
Agreed.... hilarious 😅
Ha, I'm so glad you liked that section!
Love when you guys do those little acting vignettes with the rest of the SF team. Not only does it make the material even more understandable and interesting, it's really endearing. You seem like such a happy, fun group. Must be an awesome place to work. Shout out to the camera person - those angles and shots were professionally done. Bravo on the acting everyone!
It really is a lot of fun, and it makes it all the more worthwhile if it gives you a smile out there in the audience! I will pass on your kind words to the filming crew. Thanks for watching!
Amazing information and to the point. This is my experience as well, that when you purge all that is spiritual unhealthy, the bad stuff just vanishes like fog in the Sun and it does not return. So nice to have found a correct manual of life which conforms the actual process.
Thanks for sharing this reflection, faf, and thanks for enriching our community here!
Dr. Rose is also wonderful. This is a truth !
Dr. Rose really is fantastic. I'm glad you like our new co-host!
I just love seeing the Swedenborg family all in the kitchen, feels like a visual going home.......
We are certainly a family- which includes our viewers!
I enjoyed the show, so many good points were made.
Around 15:30 - 15:50, you mentioned the requirements necessary to get on the road to heaven. Here is a relevant passage, imo, from the book of Acts in the New Testament…
Acts 10:34,35 (KJV) “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”
Thank you all. :)
Love it, Keith! That's a really great parallel to this idea of the Lord's universal church.
this was so wonderfully done and the best explanation of the horsemen I have heard it really has helped with my understanding and I know to keep loving others helping to the best of my ability and continue to grow and work on my faults thank you for all the hard work that you do . may the blessings and love of God always be with you
I'm glad Swedenborg's uncovering of the four horsemen resonated with you, Cheri!
Every time I watch one of your episode, I feel like my brain is steaming; so much information! Thanks !!!
Especially the oil and the wine part made me think about Jesus' miracle of the wine in Cana. It is so true that most people are good at first, trying to make a good impression (hence the good wine at the wedding first) and then the true colors come out. Jesus' miracle so clearly (now, after watching this episode) points out to this transformation in us where the "good wine" is serve at the end. Crazy how it all makes sense.
I'm so happy to hear that things are making more sense for you, Dorota!
Lol you all are so much fun . So wish I had been with you all for the stinky kitchen filming . I just picture massive amounts of giggles going on . Love light and wisdom to everyone . ♥️🙏
It sounds like you felt delight in watching this one! I love it! Thank you for joining us in the fun!
This was hilarious and informative!! A joy to watch! Thank you 😁
You're welcome, my friend! I'm glad you found it useful and entertaining!
Dr Rose and the horses opened an understanding
It sounds like this episode really was helpful to you!
It isn't too far out. It is Here Now! Celebrate. The Good News Has Arrived. Peace Like a River... Coming In.
Amen! These Bible stories are all symbolically talking about things happening right now, in our hearts and minds.
i love the way you explain things, and how u include all people and there spiritual walk , we are all valuable souls in the truth of goodness, i thank you for expressing this ! I have so many things going thought my mind with this teaching... as i listened one thing i thought a bout was drugs.. as so many loved ones i know have been lost to this mind set and lack of morality , i watched this twice and most likely will watch again ! each time I take in a little more.. lol im one of those simple people !!! God Bless and peace out
It's so nice to hear from you, Christine! It sounds like you've really been touched by the inclusive nature of Swedenborg's writings. I'm sorry to hear about your loved ones and their battle with drugs. We actually did an entire show on the spiritual nature of addition- perhaps it would be valuable to you: ua-cam.com/video/lMxdZiguxlI/v-deo.html
I highly appreciate you uploaded this - thanks a lot!
Thanks so much for letting us know! We really appreciate you :)
looking forward to hearing about the inner meaning! yay!
:)
Before I discovered Swedenborg, i already have the ideas of what the 4 horsemen mean through the readings of Edgar Cayce (although his interpretation is a little vague and not in that order). Swedenborg makes it more understandable and just tied everything together. I don't know if Swedenborg talk about this but understand that in the beginning there is just ONE but in essence there is TWO. There is TWO, but in essence there is THREE, there is THREE, but in essence there is SEVEN. Seven is the number of the spirited-man, circle is his symbol. Seven is the 7 spirits in man created by GOD, the perfect man. However, it was NOT perfect, ONLY 2 of the 7 spirits remains above and others fall from heaven and of those 5 spirits, i believe 4 of them are the 4 horsemen. Also it represents earth, water, air and fire. 7 spirits are the 7 chakras in our body. This is why when people meditate, they try to open up these 7 chakras and try to heal them. And they meditate by opening from bottom up beginning with the WHITE HORSE, knowledge of truth and good and live by them. I believe there are few people that do have knowledge and practice them. These are genuinely good people. Then comes the RED HORSE. Red represents LOVE as fire is red and fire is LOVE. People that are devoid of LOVE are people that maybe smart but lack compassion. For example, CEOs making tons of money and people that desire material wealth...their LOVE is not spiritual LOVE, it's material LOVE and same go for those that love themselves more than others. SO go with the hypocrite, they said one thing and do another for self gain or whatever it may be. What about people that know the TRUTH but lack LOVE? I can't see that as the real TRUTH since they already lack the real LOVE? So be careful if you see people that you think love you but may love you for another reason. Then the BLACK horse, the one devoid of WISDOM. Black represents lack of light and lack of lights mean you're not able to see the TRUTH....you're blinded. You're so into material things and money and self gratification that you don't care about the TRUTH. People that have LOVE but lack WISDOM are those that may truly love you but love for the wrong reason. For example, they may love and support you because they want to gain your respect because they want to show you how proud they are...they're full of pride. Or they LOVE you because they want something from you. Lacking WISDOM in LOVE is not true LOVE even if they show true LOVE because remember LOVE needed to united with WISDOM to reveal the good and truth. Then come the PALE HORSE which represent EVIL. This is when someone devoid of LOVE and WISDOM, they become Satan or Anti-Christ. They're like the mass murderers, the thieves, only self-gratification.
I believe most people fall into the RED and BLACK HORSES categories and few in the WHITE and EVIL ones.
It's interesting that when doing meditation, they teach you to open the chakra from bottom up first as you move up because that's how you created an opening or a channel. And yet everything are supposed to work from top to bottom like heaven to earth. But i believe it needs to open from bottom up is because we're upside down as a physical man or living in a physical reality...sort of like facing away from GOD. We tend to start our LOVE from the bottom first, the outer self as the father is from the body to the son the mind and the holy spirit. However, the father does not work from bottom up or outer self to inner self, it works from top to bottom. It is man's idea to work from bottom up....from the outside to the inside...from self-love to charity. BUT if we allow the father to work from top to bottom or for LOVE to come from top to bottom instead of bottom up, you begin to see that our bodies begin to rotate and then face GOD and it is not upside down anymore. And by conquering the 4 horsemen, you did just that.
People said that the Book of Revelation reveal the end of the world or something terrible going to happen to the world. But that's because these people lack the understanding of what all those symbols mean. They interpreted them based on their literal meanings and not spiritual. For example, the "book" is actually the body. Revelation of the book is revealing your body and yes when you died, your BOOK will be revealed how you lead your life because whatever you do is being stored in THAT BOOK. Your work and deeds are stored in the memory of that BOOK and will open to be judged in the end. Armageddon is war within yourself....you're literally fighting against these 4 horsemen RIGHT NOW!! And try to conquered them. Well, i guess if you couldn't conquer them, they manifested outside and that's why you see some of these terrible wars in our life. They're being manifested from the books.
Love that you really think about all this symbolism, and that you see the Bible text as symbolic rather than being about literal cataclysms. Definitely a lot of parallels here in the meanings that Swedenborg learned! He does talk about 1 as the One God who is a union of 2 (love and wisdom) and who is also 3 (essence, form, and operation), just as we each also are 1 being who can become a union of love and wisdom and have the 3 elements of our soul, body and way of living all united. And 7, Swedenborg learned, represents Completeness and thus Holiness.
Great episode, thanks! One point of interest to me--- I googled "The Four Horsemen" and the second listing called up the "Four Horsemen of the Non-Apocalypse," a reference to the four stalwarts of the New Atheist movement, Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and Daniel Dennett. As I watched the episode, I thought how interesting it would be if these men watched the show (although Hitchens is already in the spiritual world) --- and what color palette might be present for them. From what I know, they all seem like basically nice people and their arguments against religion largely focus on the bad things that have been done in the name of religion. But they do take their arguments seriously and make them vociferously. This perhaps is Red Horse behavior - taking the truth they have learned in science and using it to slice up religion based on its weaknesses (and ignoring its strengths), believing that they are doing something useful. Curiously, you can say they are acting on principles. But to me, the principles of purely secular, physical rationality are emptied of goodness and life has been emptied of meaning. That's closer to the Pale Horse..... although I'm not sure if "lifelessness" is quite the same thing as "death." Nor is spiritual vastation the same as evil. The former can be filled up - the latter has closed off that option.
Glad you enjoyed the episode, George! It certainly is interesting to think about all the possible applications, to different conversations all over the world, both religious and secular. Thanks for sharing these thoughts and insights!
Guys, that kitchen scene...I"m dead!! Your production value has truly gone through the roof! LOL. Great job.
Hahaha, it's turning out to be a popular scene! Thanks for reaching out, my friend.
I do agree that different religions have appeared at different times throughout history in different cultures as God has been trying to raise all humanity.
How do you understand this words from Jesus: "Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me". ?
Great question, Pierre! Watch this video, and see if it provides some answers for you: "John 3:16 Does Not Conflict With a God Who Loves Everyone" ua-cam.com/video/XQ9SgTIhX4g/v-deo.html&t
Thank you for such an insightful video. I sometimes wondered why Jesus would seemingly withhold knowledge and understanding as he said in Matthew 13:13. But I understand now that, without goodness within, people distort the truth.
Glad it makes sense to you, Nandi. It does seem frustrating that God doesn't just give it to us straight, so to speak, but it's interesting to reflect on the ideas of protection, and of spiritual freedom. The Lord is working with each of us individually in a unique way!
Interesting episode! I've been really looking forward to this one in particular because the four horsemen were such a mystery to me ever since I stumbled upon your channel, like what could it all possibly mean! They're so popular in so many bible inspired stories as well. Glad to have had that mystery solved.
Sidenote: People always talk about pestilence being one of the horsemen. Where did that come from?
I'm glad this show could shed some light on the topic for you!
Great question about "pestilence" as a horseman. I didn't know the answer, so I looked on Wikipedia, and this is what it said:
"Under another interpretation, the first Horseman is called Pestilence, and is associated with infectious disease and plague. It appears at least as early as 1906, when it is mentioned in the Jewish Encyclopedia. The interpretation is common in popular culture references to the Four Horsemen.The origin of this interpretation is unclear. Some translations of the Bible mention "plague" (e.g. the NIV) or "pestilence" (e.g. the RSV) in connection with the riders in the passage following the introduction of the fourth rider; cf. "They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine, plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth." (NASB). However, it is a matter of debate as to whether this passage refers to the fourth rider, or to the four riders as a whole.Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, in his 1916 novel The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (filmed in 1921 and in 1962), provides an early example of this interpretation, writing "The horseman on the white horse was clad in a showy and barbarous attire. [...] While his horse continued galloping, he was bending his bow in order to spread pestilence abroad. At his back swung the brass quiver filled with poisoned arrows, containing the germs of all diseases."
So the origins of that concept seem vague! And obviously, we don't agree with that interpretation! :)
Sounds like it's pretty much one of many interpretations of the literal meaning of the word. MEH, Conquest is waaay cooler and certainly a good mindset to aim for!
I agree with you guys as far as the instant coverage of everything so that it seems like more is going on however we've had that capability for a number of years now and I truly think worse things are happening now as if an evil spirits have more influence
It sure can feel that way, Lajuana! All the more reason to do what we each can, individually, to put goodness and love and usefulness and kindness out into the world!
Brings a new light to that old saying that one's life is an open book! It seems the teaching here is that the truth is hidden in plain sight before us yet without God's help we just pass it by. Makes the apocalyptic revelation more of a 'be here now' thing than a futuristic projection.
Wow, this is a great perspective, steelgila. Thank you!
If only churches taught this, instead they are too busy calling the other church wrong.
Yes, LLC, it seems the world would be a better place if all people and institutions could just go about being the best they can be, rather than spending energy finding fault with others.
From now on I guess I will picture myself jumping from different colouring horses. What an allegori (I've been waiting for this subject and had no idea what would comes out of it ) ----
I'm so glad this episode was useful to you. The correspondences of the 4 horses really are powerful and reflective of our spiritual states. Thanks for reaching out, Arne!
THE JUDGMENT
THE CREATIVE works sublime success, Furthering through perseverance.
According to the original meaning, the attributes [sublimity, potentiality of success, power to further, perseverance] are paired. When an individual draws this oracle, it means that success will come to him from the primal depths of the universe and that everything depends upon his seeking his happiness and that of others in one way only, that is, by perseverance in what is right. The specific meanings of the four attributes became the subject of speculation at an early date. The Chinese word here rendered by "sublime" means literally "head," "origin," "great." This is why Confucius says in explaining it: "Great indeed is the generating power of the Creative; all beings owe their beginning to it. This power permeates all heaven." For this attribute inheres in the other three as well. The beginning of all things lies still in the beyond in the form of ideas that have yet to become real. But the Creative furthermore has power to lend form to these archetypes of ideas. This is indicated in the word success, and the process is represented by an image from nature: "The clouds pass and the rain does its work, and all individual beings flow into their forms." Applies to the human world, these attributes show the great man the way to notable success: "Because he sees with great clarity and cause and effects, he completes the six steps at the right time and mounts toward heaven on them at the right time, as though on six dragons." The six steps are the six different positions given in the hexagram, which are represented later by the dragon symbol. Here it is shown that the way to success lies in apprehending and giving actuality to the way of the universe [Tao], which, as a law running through end and beginning, brings about all phenomena in time. Thus each step attained forthwith becomes a preparation for the next. Time is no longer a hindrance but the means of making actual what is potential. The act of creation having found expression in the two attributes sublimity and success, the work of conservation is shown to be a continuous actualization and differentiation of form. This is expressed in the two terms "furthering" (literally, "creating that which accords with the nature of a given being") and "persevering" (literally, "correct and firm"). "The course of the Creative alters and shapes beings until each attains its true, specific nature, then it keeps them in conformity with the Great Harmony. Thus does it show itself to further through perseverance." In relation to the human sphere, this shows how the great man brings peace and security to the world through his activity in creating order: "He towers high above the multitude of beings, and all lands are united in peace." Another line of speculation goes still further in separating the words "sublime," "success," "furthering," "perseverance," and parallels them with the four cardinal virtues in humanity. To sublimity, which, as the fundamental principle, embraces all the other attributes, it links love. To the attribute success are linked the morals, which regulate and organize expressions of love and thereby make them successful. The attribute furthering is correlated with justice, which creates the conditions in which each receives that which accords with his being, that which is due him and which constitutes his happiness. The attribute perseverance is correlated with wisdom, which discerns the immutable laws of all that happens and can therefore bring about enduring conditions. These speculations, already broached in the commentary called Wên Yen , later formed the bridge connecting the philosophy of the "five stages (elements) of change," as laid down in the Book of History (Shu Ching) with the philosophy of the Book of Changes, which is based solely on the polarity of positive and negative principles. In the course of time this combination of the two systems of thought opened the way for an increasingly intricate number symbolism.
THE IMAGE
The movement of heaven is full of power.
Thus the superior man makes himself strong and
untiring.
Since there is only one heaven, the doubling of the trigram Ch'ien, of which heaven is the image, indicates the movement of heaven. One complete revolution of heaven makes a day, and the repetition of the trigram means that each day is followed by another. This creates the idea of time. Since it is the same heaven moving with untiring power, there is also created the idea of duration both in and beyond time, a movement that never stops nor slackens, just as one day follows another in an unending course. This duration in time is the image of the power inherent in the Creative. With this image as a model, the sage learns how best to develop himself so that his influence may endure. He must make himself strong in every way, by consciously casting out all that is inferior and degrading. Thus he attains that tirelessness which depends upon consciously limiting the fields of his activity.
Doesn't the book of revelation prove that some things are written with an internal meaning. Our man Swedenborg has given us the code to Genesis, Exodus, and Revelation. I remember before Swedenborg came into my life having a strong desire to know what revelation meant, hence my joy on finding Swedenborg's interpretations, inspirations. Keep it up, great material in my opinion.
It sounds like Swedenborg has answered some deep-seated questions you've had, Thomas.
It seems to me that our task is to have the courage of a lion and the heart of a lamb. How can hell get between these two? I understand now.
Thanks for sharing this great discovery with us, Jen!
I think the Rider on the White Horse, I Believe, Holds a Bow, because he is Arjuna., Beloved of the Lord, Christ Jesus. Lord of Saboth. To Sin is to miss the mark. Arjuna, Lord of the Lord's Field of Battle, Hit the Mark!
LOL I'm dying laughing at the kitchen scene- WHAT are you trying to pour syrup on? There's nothing there! lol- are they hypothetical pancakes? Are you willing them into being?? You're so deep, dude....
We had a lot of fun making that skit, so, really glad you enjoyed it! In the behind-the-scenes video in Patreon it can be seen that the syrup is being poured down onto a plate. But yeah, in the skit it is not clear where all that syrup is going! :)
9/11/01 afghan conflict, iraq conflict, mortgage crisis, arab spring.
Some really good insights. It can be incredibly frustrating when those tipping points into judgement (or other negative states) occur and when a part of you knows that you have left love to the side as negativity reigns. Sometimes it is like being a back seat passenger in the actual moment of that 'flip', as if my sense of 'free will' has been taken despite getting to observe it as a seemingly separated entity from the position of love in the actual moment of that 'flip'. I guess as one coming from ignorance (for me in many a sense) to being aware in the moment, and even if that is sometimes as a back seat passenger, that this is still a step in the right direction. Its a painful process but this is what happens when one plays dice with devils due to hubris and folly, unwittingly allowing evil to build up inside. The longer it is left the more painful it is to change and to exercise a choice. It is like being dismembered. Sorry to ramble and I hope some get something from my sharing.
Please don't apologize. Your insights here are great! Awareness is the first step in the journey to breaking free of negativity, but it is indeed a journey. It can't happen all at once. And I believe we need to be able to feel hope and encouragement with each "step in the right direction." And yes, to get started is important, because to procrastinate only makes it harder.
What are the seven spirits that are on earth for people to connect with God
Curtis begins a discussion of this very thing at minute marker 13:33 in this episode, Tammy. See what you think!
haha.. I just cleaned that same drawer last night lol
;)
White horse. He that sitteth on the white horse is Christ, going forth to subdue the world by his gospel. The red horse signifies war; the black horse, famine; & the pale horse (which has Death for its rider), plagues & pestilence.
The white horse is indeed a powerful symbol of the Lord's goodness and truth, both in Revelation chapter 6 and chapter 19.
What does being saved mean by swedenborg?
Basically, it means having a home in a heavenly existence after death, saved from the pull and power of evil. Swedenborg describes steps of repentance to help us turn away from evil/hurtfulness/self-obsession and turn toward God, and in this way we build our pathway to heaven. A very short and simplistic answer, but it's a start!
Here's a long show we did called "The Day-to-day Process of Our Salvation." ua-cam.com/video/KkTtsrFbLTs/v-deo.html
And here's a short excerpt from that show, called "What is Salvation." ua-cam.com/video/3mwhao7I__o/v-deo.html
And here's another short clip called, "Are We Saved by Grace or Works?" -- ua-cam.com/video/-Nuxn8sm_p0/v-deo.html
See what you think of those!
I love the ending thoughts, the transparency or the post modern, the age of reflection some might say. For my simple mind I always have a song in my head that captures this sentiment and that includes the line "don't stop just yet, we've got the world looking in, our window" ua-cam.com/video/h9ErGxoRcOU/v-deo.html
Yeah, great song indeed! Thanks for sharing it.
I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. ~Revelation 6:2
We could be in the 1st seal...the white horse being medical community (white coats) and Corona means "Crown" in Latin.... it's being used to conquer and likewise the bow, but where are the "arrows"?
Interesting thoughts, Michele. We see the symbolism of these stories as being *spiritual* -- that is, talking about each individual's spiritual growth and development as we spend a lifetime learning to turn more and more toward God. So we don't put too much emphasis on the *literal* meaning of Revelation, but we have a few more episodes about the spiritual/symbolic meaning of various other parts of the Book of Revelation.
@@offTheLeftEye thank you for your response. I can see that too. There are many layers to Revelation for sure as well as history repeats itself and hopefully we learn from our past and grow closer to our Father in heaven. 💜
I pray that god has a little more patience with us, i know we can do it befor the trumpets of the angels will make a anti-logos
Tell me more about an "anti-logos," Massimo.
@@offTheLeftEye i dont know about the end times, not when and why. This time its i guess not in the spiritual plane , i guess this one is on the material one. Like the one with noah.
Not a punishment
more like a reset button, sometimes if you have a problem with a programm, restarting fixes all...
@@massimogamper232 Yes we do need a reset button, perhaps another name for it is regeneration. Choosing a different way of treating people. Here is a playlist describing the way we change spiritually ua-cam.com/play/PLgtFTXGqZdSlzr2Z1xOLaTdUlJoFURtIm.html
what about prophecy in this book? Doesn't revelation tell us something about what will happen at the end of the age?
Much of that is covered in our episode on the last judgement! Check it out here: ua-cam.com/video/1aatSnt0ahc/v-deo.html
What's a Meta - for~?
56 minutes of Halloween as a Christian Holiday
Please would you let me know which of ES video talks about the mark of the beast.
Here is a short clip about that, out of our longer show about the symbolism of numbers: ua-cam.com/video/u-llrbz5DE4/v-deo.html
tell me who's that writting..
...John the Revelator
Yes, this is from the Book of Revelation as written by John. The deeper meaning unlocked in this video is via Emanuel Swedenborg, who was an 18th century Christian mystic. Have you heard of him before?
"Iie-sent-u-ally" is that how its spelled I need to look up that word to see what it means.
Here the spelling and definition:
"licentious" = sexually unrestrained; lascivious; libertine; lewd.
Nothing is new under the sun .... what weve made from our minds eye , the mind God gave us, i think is insulting to HIM.... But he is our father , and a father know his kids mess up...... Im so Glade he loves us !!!!
Epic dramatization.
Thanks James!
What is lichetously? She says it when talking about what evil is. Is it lecherously?
Yes, you have the right idea. The word is "licentiously", and here are some of the definitions of the word "licentious": sexually unrestrained; lascivious; libertine; lewd, unrestrained by law or general morality; lawless; immoral.
...and A-shot-of-Sullivan Lol
:)
LOL I have found a few nasty things in the way back of my fridge before I know that feeling of terror! :-\
Hahaha ;)
What does it mean that angels are finite?
Hi Susan! Angels are human beings who have died and gone to heaven. All of us are finite; God is the only INFINITE being! But we have eternal life FROM God. Since angels, like us, were born into a physical life first, they had a finite beginning. God, on the other hand, has no beginning and no end.
@@offTheLeftEye I see, so eternal but finite…
@@susanlittlesthobo6422 that's how I understand it!
Chapter 11: The Universal Form
TEXT 21
ami hi tvam sura-sangha visanti
kecid bhitah pranjalayo grnanti
svastity uktva maharsi-siddha-sanghah
stuvanti tvam stutibhih puskalabhih
SYNONYMS
ami-all those; hi-certainly; tvam-unto You; sura-sanghah-groups of demigods; visanti-entering; kecit-some of them; bhitah-out of fear; pranjalayah-with folded hands; grnanti-offering prayers unto; svasti-all peace; iti-thus; uktva-speaking like that; maharsi-great sages; siddha-sanghah-perfect sages; stuvanti-singing hymns; tvam-unto You; stutibhih-with prayers; puskalabhih-Vedic hymns.
TRANSLATION
All the demigods are surrendering and entering into You. They are very much afraid, and with folded hands they are singing the Vedic hymns.
PURPORT
The demigods in all the planetary systems feared the terrific manifestation of the universal form and its glowing effulgence and so prayed for protection.
Hi, Todd! Does the Universal Form have special significance in your life?
offTheLeftEye dear Curtis and friends. Yes brother. I see it Unified. It is Lord Krishna, Lord Jesus Christ of the 🌲 Tree of Jesse, The Supreme Personality of Godhead 😍⛲️☝️🦋🎺🎺🎺🙏☮️. Does that resonate? I’m on my phone so limited on how fast I can write here. Wish to share much more, many videos explaining it on my Facebook page, Love and Truth Inc. shalom
Does it say wolf or lamb? Are you confused and made a whole show on something that exists in a different universe?
Can you point to something specific in this video that you're referring to, michael? I'm not getting a clear message....
@@offTheLeftEye hey 👋 thanks for the reply. While watching I looked up the lion and the lamb, and it was telling me its the wolf and the lamb. Just wording if you guys noticed this too. I looked in my Bible to double check myself. I dunno, thanks tho! I go back in the catalog and watch a video atleast once a day. The kind hearts are so welcoming here
@@michaelfrisch1784 Maybe you were thinking of Isaiah 11:6-9, which does talk about when the "wolf will lie down with the lamb." But in this video we were quoting Revelation 5:5-6, which talks about the "Lion of Judah" and then the "Lamb standing as though slain." Does that clear up the confusion? I'm so glad you are enjoying digging into our library of videos each day, Michael. We're really grateful to have you in the audience!
Learned so much! Many thanks.
Revelation was written the way it is because John was a prisoner in the island of Patmos and could not just write a letter to suffering and serverley persecuted Christians on the mainland. He used this familiar language from Ezekiel and Daniel also a written in captivity, because the people would understand it and the Roman guard would not be suspicious and just think it is some religious people jargon. John is telling them that Rome would even over thrown and encouraged them to endure until the end. The beast represents the oppressive government system and the emperor himself “who set himself to be god and even defiling the temple”. He demanded worship. And those who would. It worship we’re giving a “mark of certificate” that would allow them to participate in commerce. Many Christians were cut off. Christians of this time suffered the worst persecution to that point and the worst there ever would be.
Don’t fall for glaze teachers fancy stories and lies. Johns said “it was written to the seven churches of Asian” and said it was about things “that must SOON TAKE PLACE”. So don’t let people tell you there is some tribulation to come or mark of the beast. While it was written to us we will most definitely have our own beasts and systems to complete with and they will suppress us and resemble the writing of the past just don’t be fooled but the learning still remains. “Endure to the end”.
Thank you for sharing your perspective, Truth Seeker. I appreciate your concern about the availability of information which might deceive people on their spiritual journeys. Ultimately each of us can choose to employ what Swedenborg calls our God-given rationality to make sense of the information out there on God, the Bible, and heaven. On our channel we believe that there is more to the words in Revelation than the literal text, but not all will agree. And that's okay!
@@offTheLeftEye was there something you disagree with on my text. And I appreciate the kind response. Also from your comment are you saying one persons can read the Bible and find “truth” and someone else can read the same things find different “truth” And both of them be correct ?
@@realtruthseeker521 I was saying that people can understand the text of the book of Revelation in different ways. We understand it to be a personal message to each one of us, but it is not about earthly events. It is about spiritual events -- things that happened in the spiritual world, and things that happen in the spiritual development of our own hearts and minds. Did you have a chance to watch this episode? It will give an example of the kind of understanding of the book of Revelation that I am talking about.