Emanuel Swedenborg was a well respecting Swedish scientist and philosopher. He was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1688 and died in London, England in 1772. The first half of his life was devote to his own education and to the service of his king and country. He was appointed as Assessor of the Board of Mines (an important position in a country dependant on its natural resources) and wrote many insightful works on such varied subjects as chemistry, astronomy, economics, mining, anatomy, and theology.

Later, when Swedenborg resigned from his position on the Board of Mines and received a pension from the king (for the past service for Sweden and his continuing service in the future), he dedicated himself to the study of the Word. Throughout his life, the Lord was preparing Swedenborg for a special opportunity, to become the means for a new, rational revelation. Around this time, the Lord led him to see that the Word contained not only histories and prophecies, but ideas about each individual’s spiritual life.

It was then than Swedenborg started the task that he was continue until his death. It was his mission to write and publish the new ideas that the Lord was revealing to him through the Old and New Testaments. He never attempted to convert anyone to his way of thinking and never organized a church. He paid for all of the publication out of his own pocket and sent many copies to scholars and libraries. Swedenborg published 18 theological works before he died and several others were published posthumously.

For a complete biography of Emanuel Swedenborg, visit the New Church History website.