20. At this the new spirits inquired, "Why do you say that those things that were seen represent, and do not say that they are?" The angels answered, "Because each and all things which appear to the sight in this world are correspondences and representations, which contain in themselves truths, and thence signify them. Thus spiritual things are here presented under forms similar to natural things. "The spiritual things which are proper to our world, as they here appear, are also described in the Word. For the Word was written by correspondences, in order that it may be at the same time for angels and for men. These things are first offered to your sight, and are seen, that you may know how the coming of the Lord is to be understood."