20. In the world of spirits, which is midway between heaven and hell, the Reformed make up its inmost part or heartland; in it they are arranged according to their countries. The British occupy the centre of this heartland; the Dutch are towards the south and east; the Germans towards the north; the Swedes towards the west and north and the Danes towards the west. But only those who have lived a life of charity and the faith that goes with it are in the heartland. They have numerous communities there. Surrounding them are the Reformed who have not led a life of faith and charity; these are the ones who made something like heavens for themselves. But in heaven, as well as in hell, all occupy a different arrangement.

The reason why the Reformed make up the heartland there is that among them the Word is read, and the Lord is also worshipped. This produces the strongest light there, and it sheds its illumination as it spreads out as it were from a central point to all the surrounding areas. For the light enjoyed by spirits and gels radiates from the Lord as a sun, which in essence is Divine love, and the light radiating from it is in essence Divine wisdom. This is the source of all the spirituality of that world. On the Lord as the sun in the spiritual world and the light and heat from it see HEAVEN AND HELL (116-140).