4609. OF WHAT SORT IS THE IDEA OF INFINITY AND ETERNITY, IF THE IDEAS ARE TAKEN FROM SPACE AND TIME. I also spoke with spirits concerning the idea of infinity and eternity from space and time, [to the effect] that that idea altogether perishes so as to become nothing; and that, thence, there is disbelief in the Divine. A proposition was made to think of eternity before the creation of the world If time is in it, there is no idea there. If you think from time, this finite notion comes up: that there was some beginning to the existence of God, so that He had an origin: it is impossible to think otherwise; from time. Similarly concerning space out-side of the universe; which, also, cannot be conceived in infinity, if from space. Its boundary is nowhere, and so forth; and, notwithstanding its ridiculous nature, no one can ever be withdrawn from that absurdity, except when his idea of time and space perishes. The more interiorly any one is elevated into heaven, the further [is he removed] from the idea of time and space; and the more fully [he is removed] from heaven the further [is he plunged] into the idea of time and space; thus, the more is he removed from the idea of infinity and eternity, consequently from faith. Time and space are those things which bound human ideas, and make them altogether natural, and adhere to other ideas; whereof man is ignorant; and they constitute the natural man, which reasons. The case is similar with the Divine Human of the Lord, a finite idea of which man takes from corporeal things, in himself and others: from which idea, unless he be removed, he cannot conceive other than that the Lord is like another man. Likewise, the numerical idea of Three in one God, or a trine, belong to space and time; from the human finite idea, it is conceive as being a separated trine: but the angels then have the idea as of a one.