A Divine Revelation of True Christianity

Christianity is currently divided from within, and throughout the centuries false doctrines have entered into it until a lot of what is taught to people is not only false but the exact opposite of what Jesus taught. This has led to a certain spiritual uncertainty and doubt among many, thus many have left the Church and have become spiritual independents.  You would think, that after 2,000 years, God would correct this?  Why has he been silent?  The truth of the matter, he has not been silent.  In the 18th century Jesus appeared in a vision to a highly intelligent scientist, Emanuel Swedenborg, and for over a period of 27 years was allowed to have waking visions of the spiritual world. It is without a doubt he had clairvoyant abilities: see The Confirmed Clairvoyance of Emanuel Swedenborg. I have talked about some of the revelations in this blog, but I have noticed some of these entries have become "buried" in this blog.  So instead of writing separate blogs on each point, I decided to just sum everything up in one blog entry and hit the major issues of Christianity. Why is it you may not have heard of Emanuel Swedenborg? Well for one, he shows that the theology - the foundation of many churches - is false. Some churches get it right here and there, but the truth is scattered (see The Older Forgotten Branch of Christianity). The other reason is many churches are uncomfortable to talk about those who have received visions, and quite frankly, will have a tendency to label anything of that sort as "from the Devil."  So, for people who are still searching for answers, here is a summary of some major points of what was revealed in waking visions - not from any angel, but from Jesus himself, who Swedenborg saw in a central bright Sun at the center of heaven (seen by those who have had a Near Death Experience - which Swedenborg described in detail over 200 years ago). It is this revelation is what the New Church calls the beginning of the Second Coming. I have published all these revelations on Amazon and Barnes & Noble and ITunes - see The Divine Revelation of the New Jerusalem (click here for standard edition or click here for the expanded edition.) I described this publication a while back on The complete works of Emanuel Swedenborg - on your tablet or smartphone!, where each reference (thousands of them) is hyperlinked. If you prefer to delve into this online, I prefer the web site The Heavenly Doctrines.

Or, you don't have time, and want a high level overview in 5 minutes? See the summary below. Its not complete, if you see something missing (on any spiritual topic) drop a note and I will add it.

Old Christianity	New Christianity
God is divided into three persons, who are somehow "one"	God is one Supreme Being, one Person: Jehovah. He is Being and Existence itself, and cannot be divided into separate "persons." He is love itself, and truth itself.
The Son is the "second person" who descended and was born as Jesus Christ	The human body born in time, derived from the virgin Mary, is the Son of God
Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three persons	Jesus is Jehovah in human form, and simply calls God his Father as he was born of a virgin with no human father. See The False Belief of a Trinity of three beings: TRITHEISM
The Trinity of three persons existed from eternity	The Trinity is NOT three persons. There is a trine of soul, body, and spirit in each human. The Holy Trinity came about When Jehovah became incarnate in a human form.
Among Catholics, when Mary was born she was free from "original sin" (known as the Immaculate Conception).	Mary was like any other human person, and was born in sin. She was however highly spiritual. Swedenborg does offer explanations for the Marian apparitions within the Catholic church (hard to summarize here). Prayer should only be focused on Jesus Christ.
Jesus was also born perfect	Jesus, initially, was like any other human. The body derived from Mary had sinful tendencies, by which Jesus could be tempted. But his soul was Divine and could not sin. Through Jesus, a spiritual war arose between Jehovah and all of hell.
Various Christological disputes about whether or not Jesus has one nature (Divine) or two natures (Divine and human)	Jesus initially had two natures, the external human nature that had sinful tendencies, and a Divine soul. Gradually the human was absorbed and Jesus became a "Divine Human" or "God Man".
Among Catholics, Mary is known as the "mother of God."	Mary was the mother of the human vessel of Jesus. Initially Mary was his mother, but once the human was absorbed the human became Divine. It is this human body which is the Son of God. As the human was made Divine, Mary is no longer the mother of Jesus.
God was angry and wrathful with humanity for their sin	God is love itself, and can never be angry. He appears "angry" to those who turn against Him.
God seeks to punish us for our sin	God created a law of Divine order where each sin contains within it its own punishment. These laws are designed to lead man back to good.
Various theological debates about the meaning of the Eucharist ritual, the body and blood of Jesus Christ	The Eucharist ritual is symbolic. Symbolic rituals conjoin the human mind with heaven. The body represents God's love, the blood his truth. The Eucharist is the central ritual because Jesus made his very body Divine
Jesus had to suffer and die as "payment" for our sins. Our sins were transferred onto him.	Everyone is responsible for their own actions. Sins are removed by repentance. The sins that Jesus bore are the ones he inherited from his mother Mary
Jesus saved humanity from a wrathful God by taking on punishment to satisfy this "legal debt."	Jesus saved humanity by making his very human Divine.  Once the human was made Divine, the Holy Spirit could flow through him to other humans
Jesus saved humanity by his death on the cross where sins were somehow "transferred" to him.	Jesus saved humanity by gradually making his human Divine, and resisting temptation. The cross was simply the last temptation before he made his human Divine.
Among Protestants, all one has to do is "believe" to be saved. Good works mean nothing.	Protestants have misinterpreted the writings of Paul, who was talking about the external Mosaic rituals, due to Judaizers at the time. Belief alone is a "devilish faith." Faith means "living by the truth," not mere belief. See The Fundamental Error of the Protestant Faith
Among Protestants, sins are supposedly removed by a lip confession and belief	Sins can only be removed through repentance, or turning away from them and living by God's commandments.
Among Protestants, salvation is "free" and "unconditional."	Salvation is dependent on whether or not one lives by God's commandments
Among Protestants, the 10 commandments are abrogated	The 10 commandments are based on the two great commandments of Jesus: love God, and love your neighbor. Only the Sabbath was changed from a day of rest to a day of worship and instruction.
Certain Messianic Jews seek a return to the Mosaic rituals	The external Mosaic rituals of the Jews have been abrogated. They along with the Jewish people were a symbolic representative form of the Christian Church
Among Protestants, grace means "unmerited" favor.	This is false: scripture shows God has favor to those who live by his commandments. Mercy and grace describe God's love for each person to save them. See The False Theological Definition of the word "Grace"
Atonement means somehow God will no longer see the sins you commit and will see the righteousness of Jesus	God will always know a person for who he or she is.  "Atonement" describes the spiritual protection one obtains from evil temptations after repentance and obeying God's commandments. Also see What is Blood Atonement or Vicarious Atonement?
One is sanctified by the blood of Jesus	The blood is symbolic of the life of Jesus, and his outflowing spirit of Divine Truth. One is sanctified by living according to the Divine Truth
Among Protestants, man has the capacity to do nothing through their own will. Everyone is passive, God does everything	Inasmuch one resists sin and turns away from evil, and lives by the truth, one will eventually desire to do good out of love. Inasmuch one approaches God with their whole heart, God's spirit will dwell within them. All goodness and love comes from God, but each person must be an active willing participant.
Among Catholic, ultimate authority is placed in the priesthood. Among Protestants, ultimate authority is placed in scripture	The Protestants are correct: scripture contains within it the Word of God and is the ultimate authority. Interpretation of scripture, however, is influenced by doctrine. A reading of scripture with an open heart opens a connection between the mind and heaven, according to one's understanding
The Catholic Church claims that through Peter, the Papacy is the "Vicar" of Christ and there is a direct line of succession	Catholics have misinterpreted a symbolic reference to Peter in scripture. Moreover, the decree of Chalcedon declaring Christ has two natures was done so that the Papacy could claim to be the Vicar of Christ on earth. However, what was revealed is that the Catholic church was allowed to be dominant for a time through Divine Providence, in order to remove various heresies from the Christian Church.
The Bible is the "literal" and "inerrant" Word of God.	Hidden behind the literal sense of the Bible there is a symbolic spiritual meaning. In the literal sense there are many "appearances" of truth that are not literally true.
Among Protestants there are 66 books that are equally Divinely Inspired; Catholics also have additional "Deuterocanonical" works not found in the Masoretic.	The canon of the Bible is defined as those books which contain an internal symbolic spiritual sense. The canon of the Old Testament closely follows the Jewish Canon of the Law (Torah), the Prophets (Nevi'im) and the Psalms, but many books of the writings are not inspired. In the New Testament, only the Gospels and Revelation are inspired. However the writings of Paul were included for instruction of the masses.
Among literalists, the world was created in seven days	The seven days of creation are symbolic of seven stages of spiritual development
Among literalists, we are all descended from Adam and Eve	The story of Adam and Eve is symbolic of how the first church established here on earth eventually turned away and lost direct communion with heaven. Mankind is much older than what Biblical chronology presents; the first 11 chapters of Genesis are highly symbolic.
We all have "original sin" from Adam and Eve (plus other types of sin from Catholic theologians.)	Our evil nature is distinguished between what we have successively inherited from our parents and ancestors, and the sins we commit by choice. One will be judged by the actions one committed by choice according to the intent and one's knowledge.
Many believe in a heaven and hell. Catholics also subscribe to the concept of "Purgatory" - an area between heaven and hell.	A very detailed description of the spiritual world from firsthand visions, which includes heaven, hell, and an area in between known as the "world of spirits" which is closely associated with those still alive. This waiting area is similar to Purgatory, but different than what is described by many Catholics.
Certain denominations believe that after death, one just "falls asleep" to await a literal physical resurrection.	After death, the spiritual body - human in form - withdraws and separates from its physical body. One could go to heaven or hell, but others are not ready and wait for a time in the world of spirits, some close to a state of sleep. There is no literal physical resurrection - one rises from the dead in a spiritual body. Only Jesus physically rose from the dead.
For those who believe in a "wrathful" God, he condemns sinners to eternal torment in hell	We all go where we want to go, according to our desire. We are judged according to our conscience. Evil punishes itself, not God. The burning of hell is due to the burning of hatred and jealousy. The joys of heaven are according to one's love. There is an automatic separation between those in heaven and hell, according to order.
Many subscribe to a future "end of the world" where there will be this last judgment of all mankind on earth.	There is no literal "end of the world." There is an end to each church or age or dispensation. A church ends when it becomes corrupt, and a new revelation is then given. A this time a final judgment occurs in the spiritual world - in the region of the world of spirits between heaven and hell where those who sleep are awakened and judged at this time. These "last" judgments have occurred at certain key moments in the history of spiritual development on earth. Those in heaven and hell already are not judged
One is judged according to one's belief system or religion.	One is judged according to how one lived one's life according to your conscience. The more you know, the more responsibility you have. Those who have done good, and yet knew little, can still be taught in heaven.
There will be a kingdom of God on earth	The true kingdom of God is in heaven, and in one's heart. However there is a reflection of this kingdom of God on earth: it is the community of the Church.
Some religious people think we should just withdraw from the world and pray and worship	The physical world is not evil, but can be a reflection of the heavenly life if one lives according to God's laws. One lives a spiritual life by being practical and useful to the common good in everyday life.
"Instantaneous" salvation: once one "converts" one is "saved."	Salvation is progressive, and is a life long process of continuous improvement, and even continues after we die. There are distinct spiritual stages in reformation and regeneration of the soul.