8. II THE STATE OF THE WORLD AND THE CHURCH BEFORE AND AFTER THE LAST JUDGMENT The facts stated above are enough to prove that the Last Judgment has taken place in the spiritual world. But to acquire some knowledge of the state of the world and the church before and after that event, the following facts need to be known.

(i) What is meant by the former heaven and the former earth which passed away (Rev. 21:1). (ii) Who the inhabitants of the former heaven and earth were and what they were like. (iii) Before the Last Judgment was carried out on them, much of the communication between heaven and the world, and so between the Lord and the church, was blocked. (iv) After the Last Judgment this communication was restored. (v) This is why revelations have been made for the New Church after, and not before, the Last Judgment. (vi) The state of the world and the church before the Last Judgment resembled evening and night, but after it morning and day.