Heaven and Hell (Harley) n. 51

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

51. ANY ONE SOCIETY IS HEAVEN IN LESSER FORM, AND EACH ANGEL IN THE LEAST FORM.

Any one Society is heaven in lesser form and each angel is heaven in the least form because it is the good of love and of faith that makes heaven, and this good is in every society of heaven and in every angel of a society. It does not matter that this good everywhere differs and varies. It is still the good of heaven. The difference is only that heaven is of one quality here and another there. So, when one is raised up into some society of heaven he is said to come into heaven, and those who are there are said to be in heaven, each in his own. All who are in the other life know this. Consequently, those who stand outside or below heaven, looking from a distance at companies of angels, say that heaven is in this or that place. It is comparatively like the governors, officials and servants in one palace or court. Although they dwell apart in their own apartments or rooms, one above, another below, still they are in one palace or court, each one in the performance of his own duty in the king's service. This makes evident the meaning of the Lord's words, that

In His Father's house are many mansions. John xiv. 2.

also what is meant by

The dwelling-places of heaven,

and by

The heaven of heavens, in the Prophets


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church