Heaven and Hell (Harley) n. 416

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

416. The immensity of the heaven of the Lord is confirmed also by this, that all little children, whether born within the Church or out of it, are adopted by the Lord and become angels; and the number of these amounts to a fourth or fifth part of the whole human race on the earth. It can be seen above (n. 329- 345) that every little child, wherever born, whether within the Church or out of it, whether of pious or impious parents, is received by the Lord when he dies, and is brought up in heaven, and is taught and imbued with affections for good, and through these with cognitions of truth, in accordance with Divine order, and as he becomes perfected in intelligence and wisdom is brought into heaven and becomes an angel. From all this a conclusion may be formed of the multitude of angels of heaven, derived from this source alone, from the first creation to the present time.


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church