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authenticity . ( cf . True Christian Religion 714 ) England is probably linked to Israel – its role in 1948 in Israel ’ s independence , and remember the “ Holy Grail ” legend , Camelot , Avalon , implying Jesus visiting ancient Britain ? And Stonehenge is a religious link to ancient times . Since England has “ the greatest spiritual freedom ” – transferred also to America which probably means the same thing , perhaps that is why the New Church has its main strength in English-speaking parts of the world .
Sweden , we might speculate , was the land of ancient knowledge . Uppsala University where archeology was taught , and where then Emanuel Svedberg graduated in 1709 , was the northernmost Reformed university . And Sweden had become the center of Lutheranism after the Providential Thirty Year War , ( 1618-1648 ) whereby in Divine Providence the Reformation “ liberated the Word from its tomb ” ( Invitation 24 ) so that it “ was again received .” ( Sacred Scripture 110 ) 13
Thus , Sweden might be a fit for the biblical ( not modern !) Syria , meaning “ rational knowledge of spiritual realities .” ( Arcana Coelestia 3762.5 , 5223.3 , Apocalypse Explained 559.8 ) That was why Balaam earlier came from Syria , and later also the Wise Men who gave the Lord gifts in Bethlehem . Swedenborg fits for “ rational knowledge of spiritual realities ” – same realities as music ? -- and as someone who would worship the Lord as the wise men did .
And France ? Believe it or not “ the noble kingdom of France ” is the “ internal sense ” of Revelation 17 : 12 , “ the nation which had not yet a king ” – because of France ’ s opposition to Papal authority . ( Apocalypse Revealed 740 , 745 ) History verifies France ’ s role in keeping Papal authority in check , from Charlemagne on . Besides , Charlemagne ’ s grandfather , Charles Martel , had stopped the Muslims crossing the Pyrenees in the Battle of Tours in 732 A . D . And in 1683 , it was King Sobieski of Poland who saved Vienna from the Muslim Ottoman Turks .
What truths and evils of the Church were involved then ? What of the naval battle of Lepanto , on October 7 , 1571 , where the Ottoman forces were decisively defeated by Don Juan of Austria ’ s Catholic forces ? Cervantes served Don John , experiences on which he based Don Quixote . Does Don Quixote , the Battle of Lepanto , as well as G . K . Chesterton ’ s epic poem Lepanto of 1911 , as well as Tours and Vienna , contain the same truth triumphing over some church evil long ago ?
Dim drums throbbing , in the hills half heard , Where only on a nameless throne a crownless prince has stirred , Don John of Austria is going to the war ,
13 Cf . Apocalypse Explained 988 , 684.40 , 1069 , Apocalypse Revealed 759 , Invitation 24 , Divine Providence 258
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