Day 4: Wednesday, March 11

But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, that he said, Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? On this account they could not believe, because Isaiah said again, He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart, that they should not see with the eyes, and consider with the heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. Isaiah said these things when he saw His glory and spoke about Him. Still, however, many of the rulers also believed in Him, but on account of the Pharisees, they did not profess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue. For they loved the glory of men more than the glory of God.

And Jesus cried out and said, He who believes in Me, believes not in Me, but in Him who sent Me. And he who beholds Me, beholds Him who sent Me. I have come the Light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me should not remain in darkness. And if anyone should hear My sayings and not believe, I do not judge him; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He who spurns Me, and receives not My sayings, has one who judges him: the Word which I have spoken, the same shall judge him at the last day, because I have not spoken from Myself, but the Father who sent Me, He gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is life eternal. Therefore what I speak, as the Father has told Me, so I speak. John 12:44-50

“The Word” which is to judge means the truth; and the truth is that all evil is from hell, and thus that they are one. So when a wicked man is raised up by the Lord toward heaven, his evil draws him down; and because he loves evil, he himself freely follows it. It is also a truth in the Word that good is heaven; so when a good man is raised by the Lord toward heaven, he ascends as it were freely, and is introduced. Such are said “to be written in the book of life” (Daniel 12:1; Revelation 13:8; 17:8; 20:12,15; 21:27).

There is actually a sphere raising all towards heaven which continually proceeds from the Lord and fills the entire spiritual world and the entire natural world. It is like a strong current in the ocean which unobservedly draws a vessel. All who believe in the Lord and live according to His precepts enter that sphere or current and are elevated; while those who do not believe are unwilling to enter, but withdraw themselves to the sides, and are there carried away by a current that sets toward hell. True Christian Religion 652

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