10. THE INTERNAL SENSE OF THE WORD IS INTENDED ESPECIALLY FOR ANGELS BUT IT IS ALSO INTENDED FOR MEN. In order that it may be known what the internal sense is, its quality and its origin, this shall be stated in general. In heaven they think and speak differently from what they do in the world-in heaven spiritually, in the world naturally; wherefore, when man reads the Word, the angels who are with him perceive it spiritually, whilst men understand it naturally. Hence, angels are in the internal sense, whilst men are in the external sense. Yet, nevertheless, they make one by correspondence. Not only do angels think spiritually, but they also speak spiritually. They are likewise present with man and their conjunction with man is by means of the Word. This may be seen in the work on HEAVEN AND HELL, where it treats of the wisdom of angels of heaven, (n. 265-275); their speech, (n. 234-245) their conjunction with man, (n. 291-302) and of conjunction by means of the Word, (n. 303-310). The Word is understood in a different way by angels in the heavens from what it is by men on earth. With angels there is the internal or spiritual sense, but with men there is the external or natural sense, (n. 1887, 2395). Angels perceive the Word according to the internal sense, and not according to the external sense, shown by the experience of those who have spoken with me from heaven when I was reading the Word, (n. 1769-1772). Angelic ideas of thought and also angelic speech are spiritual, but human ideas and speech are natural; the internal sense, therefore, which is spiritual, is for angels, (explained from experience, n. 2333). Nevertheless, the sense of the letter of the Word serves as a medium for the spiritual ideas of angels, comparatively as the words of speech express the sense of a subject with men, (n. 2143). The things of the internal sense of the Word fall into such things as are of the light of heaven, thus into angelic perception, (n. 2618, 2619, 2629, 3086). On that account those things which angels perceive from the Word are precious to them, (n. 2540, 2541, 2545, 2551). Angels do not understand even one word of the sense of the letter of the Word, (n. 64, 65, 1434, 1929). Neither do they have any knowledge of the names of persons and places mentioned in the Word, (n. 1434, 1888, 4442, 4480). Names cannot enter into heaven, nor can they be pronounced there, (n. 1876, 1888). All the names in the Word signify things, and in heaven they are changed into ideas of the things, (n. 768, 1888, 4310, 4442, 5225, 5287, 10329). Angels even think abstractly from persons, (n. 6613, 8343, 8985, 9007). How elegant is the internal sense of the Word, even where there are only names, (shown by examples from the Word, n. 1224, 1888, 2395). Again, many names in series express one thing in the internal sense, (n. 5095); all numbers, also, in the Word signify things, (n. 482, 487, 647, 648, 755, 813, 1963, 1988, 2075, 2252, 3252, 4264, 6175, 9488, 9659, 10217, 10253). Spirits, too, perceive the Word in its internal sense, in so far as their interiors are open to heaven, (n. 1771). The sense of the letter of the Word, which is natural, is, with angels, changed in a moment into the spiritual sense, because of the correspondence that exists, (n. 5648). And this is without their hearing or knowing what is in the sense of the letter or external sense, (n. 10215). Thus the sense of the letter or external sense is with man alone and does not pass beyond him, (n. 2015). There is an internal sense of the Word, and also an inmost or supreme sense, (concerning which, see, n. 9407, 10604, 10614, 10627). Spiritual angels, that is, those who are in the Lord's spiritual kingdom, perceive the Word in the internal sense, and celestial angels, that is, those who are in the Lord's celestial kingdom, perceive the Word in the inmost sense, (n. 2157, 2275). The Word is for men, and also for angels, being adapted to both, (n. 7381, 8862, 10322). The Word is what unites heaven and earth, (n. 2310, 2493, 9212, 9216, 9357). The conjunction of heaven with man is by means of the Word, (n. 9396, 9400, 9401, 10452). On that account the Word is called a covenant, (n. 9396), inasmuch as covenant signifies conjunction, (n. 665, 666, 1023, 1038, 1864, 1996, 2003, 2021, 6804, 8767, 8778, 9396, 10632). There is an internal sense in the Word, because the Word has come down from the Lord through the three heavens even to man, (n. 2310, 6597). And in this manner it has become adapted to angels of the three heavens, and also to men, (n. 7381, 8862). Hence it is that the Word is Divine, (n. 2899, 4989), [4279]; that it is holy, (n. 10276); that it is spiritual, (n. 4480); and that it is inspired by the Divine, (n. 9094). This is inspiration, (n. 9094). Indeed, the man who is regenerated is actually in the internal sense of the Word, although he is unaware of it, since his internal man, which has spiritual perception, is open, (n. 10400). But with him the spiritual of the Word flows into natural ideas and is thus presented naturally, since while he lives in the world, he thinks in the natural man, so far as it comes to his perception, (n. 5614). Hence the light of truth, with those who are enlightened, is derived from their internal, thus, through the internal, from the Lord, (n. 10691, 10694). In that way, also, there is an influx of holiness with those who regard the Word as holy, (n. 6789). Since the regenerated man is actually in the internal sense of the Word, and in its holiness, although unaware of it, therefore after death he comes into it of himself, and is no longer in the sense of the letter, (n. 3226, 3342, 3343). The ideas of the internal man are spiritual, but man, while he is living in the world, does not notice them since they are within his natural thought, to which they impart its rational faculty, (n. 10236, 10240, 10551). But after death man comes into them as into his own, because they are peculiar to his spirit, and he then not only thinks but also speaks from them, (n. 2470, 2478, 2479, 10568, 10604). Hence it is, as has been stated, that the regenerated man is not aware that he is in the spiritual sense of the Word, and that he has enlightenment therefrom.