A Great Light.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;

They who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, on them has the light given brightness. (Isaiah 9:2)

“Darkness” signifies in the Word the falsities of evil. “Darkness” also signifies falsities not of evil, such as were the falsities of religion among upright Gentiles, which falsities were with them because of their ignorance of the truth...These falsities are altogether distinct from the falsities of evil, which have evil stored up in them because they are from evil, while the former have good stored up in them because they have good as an end. Those, therefore, who are in these falsities can be instructed in truths, and when instructed they also receive truths in the heart, for the reason that good, which is in their falsities, loves truth, and also conjoins itself to truth when it is heard—as with little children—if not in this world, yet in the other life; and then all the earthly and worldly things they have brought with them from their life in the world are at the same time uplifted so as together to look upward. In this way they are in a state to receive the truths of faith and the goods of charity from the Lord, and to become imbued with intelligence and wisdom, and thus to be endowed with eternal happiness. Such is the lot of all who have lived in good in accordance with their religion. (Apocalypse Explained 526:15, Arcana Coelestia 9256:2, 4)

“Seeing a great light” signifies receiving and believing the truths which are of faith. (Arcana Coelestia 3863)

The Divine mercy is pure mercy towards the whole human race, to save it; and it is also unceasing towards every man, and it is never withdrawn from anyone; so that everyone is saved who can be saved. And yet no one can be saved except by Divine means, the means the Lord reveals in the Word. The Divine means are what are called Divine truths, which teach how man must live in order to be saved. By these truths the Lord leads man to heaven, and by them He implants in man the life of heaven. This the Lord does for all. (Heaven and Hell 522)

And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying… “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:1-2, 5)

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