682. And there followed great voices in the heavens.- That this signifies enlightenment and joy in the higher heavens, is evident from the signification of great voices, in the heavens, as denoting enlightenment, wisdom, and joy, in the higher heavens; for voices in the Word, signify various things, as Divine Truth, revelation, the Word itself with us, also every precept and command of the Word; these, however, are signified by "voices out of heaven," but voices in heaven signify enlightenment from which the angels have wisdom and thence joy. For when the angels are in enlightenment, they are also in wisdom, and then they have great voices, by which they express the interior things (arcana) of wisdom; and there is consequent joy because the angels have joy from wisdom, therefore the voices are also called great, for great is said of the affection for good and truth, which is the source of joy in the heavens.
[2] The higher heavens are meant, because by means of them and from them there descend inflowings into the lower parts, by means of which the evil who have been conjoined as to externals to those who were in the lower heavens are separated; and so long as this conjunction continued the latter had no enlightenment or joy, but so far as separation was effected they had joy and enlightenment; this is the reason why the higher heavens are meant. For there is such a connection between higher and lower things in the spiritual world that so far as lower things are in order, the higher are also. For lower things there are like the lower parts of a house and its foundations; so far, therefore, as these are sound, so far the parts above are in a firm, secure, and perfect state, not swaying to and fro, tottering, and gaping open; or they are like the exterior things in man, as the organs of sight, taste, hearing, and touch, for as far as these are sound, so far do his interiors see, taste, and hear perfectly and have sensation by touch; for it is interior things that perceive or feel in exterior things, the latter being nothing in themselves. The case is similar in the heavens, the higher heavens close in and rest upon the lower heavens; between these therefore there is such a connection as exists between things prior and posterior, or between causes and effects; if the effect does not perfectly correspond to its cause, that is, if it does not contain in itself everything that is in the efficient cause, having reference to the forces and efforts of action, the cause is weakened, and acts imperfectly, for all things of the cause are inscribed on the effect; therefore it is the cause alone that acts; no effect acts apart from its cause. It is similar with the higher and lower heavens; and causes are in the higher heavens, and effects corresponding to the causes present themselves in the lower heavens. These things are said, in order that it may be known, whence it is, that great voices in heaven signify enlightenment, which is the source of wisdom and joy in the higher heavens, when the lower heavens are purified, that is, when the evil are separated from the good and removed.
This page is part of 
© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church