From The Doctrines For Spiritual Christianity
The Divine omnipresence may be illustrated by the wonderful way in which angels and spirits become present to each other in the spiritual world. Because there is no space in that world, but only an appearance of space, an angel or spirit may instantly become present with another whenever he comes into a like affection and consequent thought; for it is these two that cause the appearance of space. (True Christian Religion 64)
Since angels and spirits are affections of love and thoughts thence derived, they are consequently not in space and time, but only in the appearance of them. To them there is an appearance of space and time according to the states of their affections and of the thoughts arising from these. When anyone therefore thinks of another from affection, intently desiring to see him or to speak with him, he instantly appears in his presence. Hence it is, that there are present with every man spirits who are in like affection with himself, evil spirits with one who is in the affection of similar evil, and good spirits with one who is in the affection of similar good; and they are as really present as if the man were included in their society. Space and time contribute nothing to presence, because affection and thought thence derived are not in space and time, and spirits and angels are affections and thoughts derived from these. (Divine Providence 50{1,2})
That “removal far away” denotes aversion, originates from the removals of this kind which appear in the spiritual world, in that they are according to dissimilarities, differences, and aversions, in respect to the things of spiritual life. For those who appear there in one place are in a like state of the affections and of the derivative thoughts; but as soon as they are at variance, they are separated and go far away from one another; and this according to the degree of their variance. This comes to pass because in the spiritual world both spaces and times are states, and therefore distances are differences of states. Nevertheless, before the external sight, states appear there as spaces, and their differences as distances. That spaces and distances, and also times, are states, but that nevertheless there are appearances of spaces and distances, which originate from changes of state in the interiors. (Arcana Coelestia 9261)
It has been stated that the angels dwell separate from each other; some in the eastern quarter, some in the western, some in the southern, and some in the northern; and that those who dwell in the eastern quarter are in a higher degree of love; those in the western, in a lower degree of love; those in the southern, in the light of wisdom; and those in the northern, in the shade of wisdom. This diversity of dwelling-places appears as though it were from the Lord as a sun, when, in fact it is from the angels. The Lord is not in a greater and lesser degree of love and wisdom, that is, as a sun He is not in a greater or lesser degree of heat and light with one than with another, for He is everywhere the same. But He is not received by one in the same degree as by another; and this makes them appear to themselves to be more or less distant from one another, and also variously as regards the quarters. From this it follows that quarters-in the spiritual world are nothing else than various receptions of love and wisdom, and thence of heat and light from the Lord as a sun. In the spiritual world distances are appearances. (Divine Love and Wisdom 124)
Everyone can see from reason alone that the Lord, who is Good itself and Truth itself, cannot enter into man unless the evils and falsities in him are removed. For evil is the opposite of good, and falsity is the opposite of truth; and two opposites can in no wise mingle together, but when one approaches the other a combat takes place, which lasts till one gives way to the other; and the one that yields departs while the other takes its place. In such opposition are heaven and hell, or the Lord and the devil. Can anyone from reason think that the Lord can enter where the devil reigns, or that heaven can be where hell is? Who does not see, from the rationality granted to every sane man, that for the Lord to enter, the devil must be cast out, or that for heaven to enter, hell must be removed?This opposition is meant by Abraham’s words from heaven to the rich man in hell: Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Luke 16:26.Evil itself is hell and good itself is heaven; or what is the same, evil itself is the devil and good itself is the Lord; and the man in whom evil reigns is a hell in the least form, and the man in whom good reigns is a heaven in the least form. Since this is the case, how can heaven enter hell when between them there is such a great gulf fixed that there can be no crossing from one to the other? Hence it follows that hell must be completely removed that it may be possible for the Lord to enter with heaven. (Divine Providence 100{1,2})
Evils and goods are opposites or contraries, and two opposites or contraries cannot be together, for they turn away from each other, and are in conflict. This can be plainly seen from the fact that evils are from hell, and goods from heaven; and that hell is as far as possible from heaven – not in respect to distance, because in the other life there is no distance – but in respect to state. (Arcana Coelestia 9346)
Key Points From The Video
The Speed of Change as Reflection of Love and Mind: Slow changes in the heavenly externals indicate imperfections of the mind, while rapid changes reflect intense, transcendent love.
Universal Language and Divine Life: Angels gain proficiency in a universal spiritual language as they align with Divine life, making the external world reflect their internal spiritual state.
Application to Heavenly Societies: Spiritual proximity in heaven is determined by receptivity to Divine goodness, affecting how societies interact and fulfil unique roles.
The Relationship Between Heaven and Hell: Heaven and hell are governed by contrasting internal states and remain distinctly separated, illustrated by the “great gulf” mentioned in Scripture.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What does the speed of change in heaven primarily signify?
a) the alignment of material wealth
b) the mind’s imperfections or intensity of love
c) the desire for power
d) the persistence of physical attributes
Answer: b)
2. As an angel aligns with Divine life, what happens to their external world?
a) it fades away completely
b) it becomes irrelevant
c) it mirrors their internal thoughts and affections
d) it merges with the physical world
Answer: c)
3. What determines the spiritual distances between heavenly societies?
a) their material wealth
b) their earthly accomplishments
c) their receptivity to Divine goodness
d) their physical appearance
Answer: c)
4. What does the “great gulf” represent in the relationship between heaven and hell?
a) an actual physical distance
b) the distinction between divine beings and humans
c) the separation of different religions
d) the profound divide between contrasting spiritual states
Answer: d)
5. In the heavenly realm, the principle of manifestation applies to:
a) both individual and collective spiritual states
b) individual minds only
c) only collective societies
d) only earthly experiences
Answer: a)
Reflective Questions
1. Is there a difference between perceived positive and negative changes that are slow and quick, and what might this reflect regarding the speed of change in heaven versus hell?
2. In what ways do you notice your external experiences reflecting your inner world? Can you draw any parallels to the idea of a “universal language” of spirit?
3. How do you experience “distances” in your spiritual relationships? Do you sense a form of “proximity” or “distance” with people based on shared values or state of mind?
Experiential Integration
Spend a few minutes reflecting on any significant changes you noticed in your day. Consider the speed at which they occurred and what that might reflect about your current state of mind, love, or alignment with your inner truth.
Write down a few notes about this reflection in a journal to track any patterns over time.
Further Exploration
But let him know that in the spiritual world knowledge and acknowledgment produce all presence, and that affection which is of love effects all conjunction. For spaces there are nothing else but appearances according to similarity of minds, that is, of affections and thence of thoughts. Wherefore when anyone knows another either by reputation, or from intercourse with him, or from conversation, or from relationship, while he thinks of him from the idea of that knowledge, he becomes present with him, although he might be to appearance a thousand stadia off. And if one also loves another whom he knows, he dwells with him in one society; and if he loves him inmostly, in one house. (Apocalypse Revealed 937)
In the other life those who enter the house of another, and converse together in one room, so communicate their thoughts with all who are there, that the latter absolutely know no otherwise than that they themselves are thinking these thoughts from themselves. But if they stand outside, the thoughts are indeed perceived, but as coming from another, and not from themselves. This happens every day in the other life; and therefore those who are of one opinion, or of one sentiment, appear together in one house; and this is still more the case if they appear in one room of the house; and when these same persons disagree, those who do so disappear. In the other life such appearances are everywhere, and are continually happening. The reason is that parity of thoughts conjoins and causes presence, for thought is internal sight, and distances of places there, are not as in the world. (Arcana Coelestia 9213{5})
Some of the spirits of this earth passed over to the spirits of the earth Saturn, who as already said are afar off at a vast distance, for they appear at the end of our solar world. The passage is effected in a moment, for distances in the other life are appearances arising from diversity of the states of life; and conjunction is effected by a state of desire to speak with another. From this it is that in the other life those meet together, when they so desire, who have been in some conjunction in the world, either by love, or by friendship, or by high regard; but they are afterward separated according to the unlikenesses of their state of life. (Arcana Coelestia 9104)
On account of the differences of reception of the Lord by the angels, the heavens also appear separate from one another. The highest heaven, which is called the third, appears above the second, and the second above the first; not that the heavens are apart, but they appear to be apart, for the Lord is present equally with those who are in the lowest heaven and with those who are in the third heaven. That which causes the appearance of distance is not in the Lord but in the subjects, that is, the angels. (Divine Love and Wisdom 110)