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The Celestial Kingdom refers to a division of heaven and was coined by the controversial Swedish theologian Emanuel Swedenborg in his 1758 book entitled Heaven and Hell. In Mormonism, it is the highest of three kingdoms of heaven, where God dwells.
Emanuel Swedenborg
Celestial Kingdom has historically referred to a division of heaven and was coined by the controversial Swedish theologian Emanuel Swedenborg in his 1758 book entitled Heaven and Hell. Based on a vision he said he had, Swendenborg believed in an infinite variety of heavens, classified into two "kingdoms", three "heavens", and innumerable "societies". The two "kingdoms" he called the celestial kingdom and the spiritual kingdom. The three "heavens" he called "celestial", "spiritual", and "natural". The celestial kingdom, according to Swedenborg, was "the Lord's priestly kingdom", inhabited by "higher angels", described as follows:
- The angels in the Lord's celestial kingdom, from their more interior reception of the Divine of the Lord, far excel in wisdom and glory the angels that are in His spiritual kingdom; for they are in love to the Lord, and consequently are nearer and more closely conjoined to Him. Heaven and Hell 4:25.
Within Mormonism
In Mormonism, the Celestial Kingdom is the highest of what are believed to be three heavens or heavenly kingdoms, or degrees of glory. It is thought to be the "third heaven" referred to in 2 Corinthians 12:2 of the Bible, and it is also thought to correspond to the "celestial bodies" mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:40 (King James Version). The Latin word celestial means "heavenly".
Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of Mormonism, provided a description of the afterlife based primarily upon a vision he reportedly received together with his associate Sidney Rigdon, at Hiram, Ohio, February 16, 1832, and recorded in Doctrine and Covenants, Section 76.
According to Smith and Rigdon, the afterworld consists of three "degrees of glory", called the Celestial Kingdom, the Terrestrial Kingdom (terrestrial meaning "earthly"), and the Telestial Kingdom (the word telestial is a neologism not used in other contexts; see its own article for some possible derivations).
According to this doctrine, only those who attain the Celestial Kingdom will be united with their families in the eternities. It will be the residence of those who have been righteous, accepted the Gospel (Mormonism) and its ordinances and covenants, and lived their lives in harmony with their covenants or received the ordinances and covenants with all their hearts in the spirit world.
“They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given--That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power; And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.” (Doctrine and Covenants, 76:51-53)
Children who die before the age of eight all qualify for the Celestial Kingdom in the afterlife, as well as those who did not have the chance to receive the gospel in this life, but do in the post-mortal spirit world (see Baptism for the dead). Persons who reach maturity and receive full gospel teachings in this life will only be judged by God to be worthy of the Celestial Kingdom if they have received all required ordinances (baptism, endowment, and sealing if they are married), repented of their sins, and endured to the end through retaining their conversion. Some rebellious children of righteous parents may, like Alma the Younger in the Book of Mormon, receive a spiritual awakening in this life or in the spirit world whereby they finally understand and embrace the teachings of their parents and the atonement of Jesus Christ. (Alma 36:5-24)
The Celestial Kingdom is the residence of God the Father and Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost dwells there. Those who are worthy to dwell in the Celestial Kingdom will be exalted, and become God-like.
Smith taught that the Earth will receive a celestial glory. Because of this, many Mormons believe that the Earth will be the Celestial Kingdom, or a Celestial World within the Celestial Kingdom, for Humans who lived on the Earth and qualified for Celestial glory.
Possible Correlations
Smith's own description of the Celestial Kingdom contains both striking similarities and fundamental differences to Swedenborg's work.At least one historian has suggested that Smith may have been familiar with Swedenborg's writings during the Kirtland or Nauvoo period. Most similar books that supported various doctrines introduced by Smith were discussed in Church publications, however this particular one was not discussed in contemporary accounts, and claims one way or the other cannot be verified. However, during the Utah period, the book was purchased from a New York publisher and referenced by church leaders.
External links
- Words used in Swedenborg (A-D)
- Doctrine and Covenants,
References
- Swedenborg, Emanuel. (1984) Heaven and Hell Trans. George F. Dole. New York: Swedenborg Foundation. ISBN 0877854769
"Celestial Kingdom"