Spiritual Meaning of

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 Orphan

That orphans denote those who have been instructed in the truths of faith of the church from the Word, and thereby are afterward led to good, is plain also from the Lord's words in John:--

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Paraclete, that he may abide with you to eternity, the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, for it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him, for he abideth with you, and is among you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come unto you. These things have I spoken unto you while abiding with you. But the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, he shall teach you all things (John 14:16-18, 25, 26).

[3] That those are orphans who are in truths and long for food, can be seen here from every detail; for by the Paraclete is meant the Divine truth, which the Lord was while in the world, and which proceeded from the Lord after He had glorified His Human and had gone out of the world. Therefore He says that He will send the Paraclete, and that He Himself will come. Sending the Paraclete denotes enlightening and instructing in the truths of faith; and coming to them denotes leading into good. Therefore He says, I will not leave you orphans.

from AC 9199

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Author:  E. Swedenborg (1688-1772). Design:  I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002. www.BibleMeanings.info