43. 1893. As for dreams in particular, I would like to say this, that they are brought upon a person by spirits. Dreams by which future events, as well as truths, are revealed, are brought on by spirits of God the Messiah, but the rest by spirits who are not of God the Messiah. But dreams by which people are deceived are caused by evil spirits, thus by the devil's gang. Furthermore, dreams are brought on either by means of actual voices, or for the most part by displays in their countless forms. One who is not acquainted with these can never learn the meaning of symbolic dreams. For the portrayals of realities in heaven are effected by means of the same sort of things as there are on earth, especially those which are gazed upon, thus objects of nature. Sometimes they are composed in such a way that they can hardly be unraveled unless one is acquainted with the individual types of displays. That dreams are of this nature appears very clearly from the dreams of Joseph, as well as of the Pharaoh, and notably those in the books of the prophets, where much is read about dreams. This is not to mention actual visions when people are awake. These visions are also altogether like dreams, being the same kind of displays, just like real life, as if in clear daylight, also at times of wakefulness before and after sleep, as well as other times [see 15]. There are likewise actual portrayals, when the spirits are presented in person just as one person would be to another on earth; but this happened to me when I was in a different state. mWith some, the dreams brought on by spirits are only illusions amounting to almost nothing but games. They seize upon whatever is brought to mind by the blood and by thoughts that have slipped by.n [Dream, Sleep]