Secrets of Heaven : Portable New Century Edition

Secrets of Heaven: Portable New Century Edition vol. 9 by Emanuel Swedenborg offers readers an invitation to uncover the hidden spiritual messages embedded within the final chapters of the Book of Genesis. As Swedenborg explains Genesis 45–50, he illuminates the inner meanings behind the reunion of Joseph and his family, the deaths of Jacob and Joseph, and how these events symbolize the path of glorification of Jesus and, by extension, the spiritual journey that each individual undertakes.

Each Secrets of Heaven volume can be read in sequence, or as a stand-alone book. In this volume, Swedenborg returns to themes central to understanding the spiritual world’s influence on humanity―how divine forces shape the human will and intellect, and how they operate within the soul and the outer and inner selves. His insights provide a window into the complex relationships between the spiritual and natural worlds, helping readers make sense of life’s greater purpose and the divine wisdom underlying Scripture.

This edition, translated with clarity and precision by Lisa Hyatt Cooper, brings these profound teachings to modern readers in an accessible format. Whether you are a long-time student of Swedenborg, a spiritual seeker looking to dive deeper into Christian mysticism, or someone drawn to the mysteries of Genesis and Exodus, this volume serves as a powerful guide on the journey toward inner spiritual meaning.

With its focus on making Emanuel Swedenborg’s writings accessible to contemporary readers, the Portable New Century Edition is both a trusted reference and a source of ongoing reflection. Scholars, ministers, and those identifying as "spiritual but not religious" will find Secrets of Heaven: Volume 9 to be an essential addition to their spiritual library, offering insights that enrich the soul and open the mind.

Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772) was a Swedish scientist, nobleman, and theologian who spent his life investigating the mysteries of the soul. Born in Stockholm to a staunchly Lutheran family, he graduated from the University of Uppsala and then traveled to England, Holland, France, and Germany to study with the leading scientists of the time. Between 1743 and 1745, he began to have visions of heaven, hell, and Jesus Christ, which resulted in a stream of books about the nature of God, the afterlife, and the inner meaning of the Bible. He devoted the last decades of his life to studying Scripture and presenting his own unique theology to the world.

Lisa Hyatt Cooper is translator of the fifteen-volume Secrets of Heaven for the Swedenborg Foundation’s New Century Edition of the Works of Emanuel Swedenborg.