Heaven and Hell (Harley) n. 35

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35. Because such distinction exists, an angel of one heaven cannot go among the angels of another heaven, that is, no one can ascend from a lower heaven, neither can anyone descend from a higher heaven. One ascending from a lower heaven is seized with a distress amounting to anguish and is unable to see those who are there, still less can he talk with them, while one descending from a higher heaven is deprived of his wisdom, hesitates in his speech and gives up in despair. There were some from the outermost heaven, who had not yet been taught that heaven is established in the interiors of an angel, and who believed that they might come into a higher heavenly happiness simply by access to a heaven where higher angels are. They were even permitted to enter among such angels, but when they were there, they saw no one however much they searched, although there was a great multitude present. For the interiors of the newcomers had not been opened in the same degree as the interiors of the angels there, consequently neither was their sight opened. Shortly after this, they were seized with such anguish of heart that they scarcely knew whether they were alive or not. Therefore they hastily betook themselves to the heaven from which they came, glad to come again among their own companions, and promising that they would no longer desire things higher than are in agreement with their life. Again, I have seen some sent down from a higher heaven, and deprived of their wisdom until they no longer knew what their own heaven was. It happens otherwise when, as is often done, the Lord raises some angels out of a lower into a higher heaven that they may behold its glory. Then they are prepared beforehand, and are encompassed by intermediate angels through whom there is communication. From all this it is evident that the three heavens are entirely distinct one from another.


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