Time and space are, according to Swedenborg, physical realities which do not exist in the spiritual realm. Instead, people in the spiritual world experience differences in spiritual state the way we experience time and space. Thus someone in a different spiritual state appears distant, and someone in a similar spiritual state appears close. This is difficult to grasp, but we experience some elements of the same thing; we can feel “close” to someone we love even if we are halfway around the world, based on the affection we have for them (affection being a spiritual state, even in this life).
So when the Bible discusses where someone or something came from, it is really talking about their spiritual origins, or the spiritual states that led them to their current state.
Passages from Swedenborg
Apocalypse Explained (Tansley) n. 472
472. These that are clothed in white robes, who are they and whence came they? – That this signifies concerning those who are now in truths, and in the protection of the Lord, what their quality is and what it has been, as is evident from the signification of being clothed in white robes, which denotes those who are now in truths, and in the protection of the Lord, see above (n. 395:1-2, 457); and from the signification of “Who are they? and whence came they?” as denoting of what quality they are, and of what quality they have been. “Who are they and whence came they,” signifies of what quality they are, and of what quality they have been, for the reason that in the spiritual world, when angels see and meet others, they never inquire who they are, and whence they come, but what their quality is; wherefore this is the spiritual meaning of these words. The reason why the angels inquire only concerning the quality of those whom they see is, that in the spiritual world all have habitations according to the quality of their affections. Again, to inquire who they are implies personality, and to inquire whence they come involves place; and in the thought, and thence in the spiritual speech of the angels, there is no idea of person and place, but in their stead they have an idea of things and states in reference to quality, therefore also a name is given to every one there from his quality. That the angels think apart from person and place, and that consequently they possess wisdom, may be seen above (n. 99, 100, 270, 325). From these considerations it is evident, that the words, “Who are they? and whence came they?” signify in the spiritual sense, what their quality is, and what it has been. Their quality is also described in what now follows.
Apocalypse Explained (Tansley) n. 105
105. (v. 5) Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works. That this signifies remembrance of former things, and hence that they have departed from the truth, and that the good of life of the church at its beginning may come into mind, is evident from the signification of “remember,” as here being remembrance of former things; and from the signification of whence thou art fallen, as being departure therefrom, thus departure from the truth; and from the signification of repent, as being that it should come into mind; and from the signification of do the first works, as being the good of life of the church at its beginning.
Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 278
278. ‘Returning to the ground from which he was taken’ means that the Church would revert to the external man, such as it had been before regeneration took place. This is clear from the fact that ‘the ground’ means the external man, as stated already; and ‘dust’ means condemned and hellish.
Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 3031
3031. ‘Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?’ means whether it could nevertheless be joined to the Divine good of the Rational. This becomes clear from what has been stated already about Abram and about the land he came from, see 1343, 1356, 1992, 2559. From these paragraphs it is evident that the land from which Abram came was Syria, where the second Ancient Church existed, called the Hebrew Church after its founder Eber, 1238, 1241, 1327, 1343. But around the time of Abram this Church too had fallen away from the truth, some households so far away from it that they did not know Jehovah at all but worshipped other gods. This is the land which is meant here and to which the servant was referring when he asked whether he was required to take Abraham’s son ‘to the land from which you came’. Consequently ‘the land’ here means an affection which is not compatible with truth. This being the meaning of ‘the land’, ‘taking his son there’, or what amounts to the same, taking a woman for him and remaining with her there, means joining an affection incompatible with truth to the Divine good of the Rational. But this could not be done, as Abraham declares in his reply which follows.
Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 3776
3776. ‘My brothers, where are you from?’ means, What is the origin of the charity there? This is clear from the meaning of ‘brothers’ as people governed by good, and consequently as good itself and therefore as charity, dealt with in 367, 2360, 3303, 3459, and from the meaning of ‘Where are you from?’ as, What is the origin? From these considerations it is also evident that the matters which in the sense of the letter are expressed as a question and have reference to persons fall in the internal sense into a mental image which has no reference to any person. For when the historical descriptions that belong to the letter leave man and pass into heaven they cease to be anything among the angels in heaven. From this it is clear that Jacob’s question addressed to the men of Haran, ‘My brothers, where are you from?’ means, What is the origin of the charity there? The implications of this are that charity which looks like charity in outward appearance is not always charity inwardly. It is from the end in view that one recognizes which kind of charity it is and where it originates. Charity which springs from a selfish or a worldly end in view is not charity inwardly. Nor indeed ought it to be called charity. But charity which springs from the neighbour, the common good, heaven, and so the Lord, as the end in view is charity itself and contains the affection for doing good from the heart, and therefore contains the delight of life, which in the next life becomes a blessed delight. It is highly important for a person to know this if he is to know what the Lord’s kingdom is within himself. Inquiry concerning this charity, or what amounts to the same, concerning this good, is the subject in the present verses. And the question is first put here, What is the origin of the charity there? meant by the question, ‘My brothers, where are you from?’
Apocalypse Revealed (Rogers) n. 376
376. Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” 14 And I said to him, “Lord, you know.” (7:13) This symbolizes their desire to know and wish to inquire, and the reply and instruction given.