16. For the time is at hand. That this signifies that the interior state is such, is evident from the signification of time, as denoting state (respecting which see the work, Heaven and Hell, n. 162-169, where time in heaven is treated of); and from the signification of at hand, as denoting what is internal; here, therefore, because it is said of state, it denotes an interior state, such as is described above. By state is meant the state of the affection and thence of the thought. He who reads this, and knows nothing of the internal sense, supposes that, by the time being at hand, is meant that the time was then near when the things contained in the Apocalypse would be fulfilled. But that this is not meant may be evident from the fact that seventeen centuries have elapsed without their being fulfilled. But because the Word, in the letter, is natural, but interiorly spiritual, it is therefore said the time is at hand, in order that an interior state might be understood in heaven; for if it had been there said, "interior state," according to the spiritual sense mentioned, it would not be understood by the angels; for they perceive all things in the Word according to correspondences. [2] The reason why at hand signifies what is interior is, because distances in heaven are entirely according to the differences of the good of love therefore, those who are in kindred good are also near together. It is for this reason that affinities on earth are called relationships* because they refer to spiritual affinities, which in heaven are actually such. The reason why this is the case in heaven is, because the good of love conjoins; and the more interior the good, the nearer is the conjunction; hence it is that the more interiorly a man is in the good of love the nearer heaven is to him. This originates from the fact that the Lord is nearer to an angel, a spirit, or a man, the more interiorly they love Him; to love Him interiorly is to love His precepts interiorly; that is, to perceive, will, and do them from the delight of love. For this reason, nearness, in the Word, signifies presence and conjunction (as may be seen, Arcana Coelestia, n. 5911, 9378, 9997, 10,001.) This nearness is thus described in John: