After six months of strange dreams, Swedenborg experienced a complete spiritual awakening in 1745. While dining alone in London, he suddenly saw an otherworldly figure standing in the same room. Later that night the figure appeared to Swedenborg in his dreams and opened Swedenborg's eyes to the spiritual world. After this experience, Swedenborg embarked on a new major work: a complete interpretation and explanation of the Biblical books of Genesis and Exodus based on his newfound spiritual vision. Written after Swedenborg began having visions of heaven and angels, this 10-volume work took a decade to complete and became the basis of all of Swedenborg's further theological works. While many books of Biblical commentary have been written over the centuries, Swedenborg searches the Biblical text for a deeper, ecstatic and mystical meaning.