The man who thinks from natural light alone is unable to comprehend
that there is any thing in heaven like what is in the world; and for
the reason that from natural light he has previously thought, and
established himself in the idea, that angels are nothing but minds,
and that minds are like ethereal breaths, having no senses like those
of men, thus no eyes, and if no eyes no objects of sight; and yet the
angels have every sense that a man has, and far more exquisite
senses; and the light by which angels see is far brighter than the
light by which man sees. That angels are men in the most complete
form, and enjoy every sense, may be seen above (n. 73-77); and that
the light in heaven is far brighter than the light in the world (n.
126-132).
171. The nature of the objects that are visible to angels in heaven
cannot be described in a few words. For the most part they are like
things on earth, but in form far more perfect, and in number more
abundant. That such things exist in the heavens is evident from
things seen by the prophets,--as by Ezekiel in relation to the new
temple and the new earth (as described from chaps. 40 to 48); by
Daniel (from chap. 7 to 12); by John (from the first chapter of the
Apocalypse to the last); and by others, as described both in the
historic and the prophetic part of the Word. These things were seen
by them when heaven was open to them, and heaven is said to be opened
when the interior sight, which is the sight of man's spirit, is
opened. For what is in the heavens cannot be seen by the eyes of a
man's body, but are seen by the eyes of his spirit; and when it seems
good to the Lord these are opened, and man is then withdrawn from the
natural light that he is in from the bodily senses and is raised up
into spiritual light, which he is in from his spirit. In that light
the things in heaven have been seen by me.
172. But although the things seen in heaven are in large part like
those on the earth, in essence they are unlike them; for the things
in heaven come forth from the sun of heaven, and those on the earth
from the sun of the world. The things that come forth from the sun of
heaven are called spiritual; those that come forth from the sun of
the world are called natural.
173. The things that come forth in heaven do not come forth in the
same manner as those on the earth. All things in heaven come forth
from the Lord in correspondence with the interiors of the angels. For
angels have both interiors and exteriors. All things in their
interiors have relation to love and faith, thus to the will and
understanding, since the will and understanding are their
receptacles; while their exteriors correspond to their interiors.
That exterior things correspond to interior things may be seen above
(n. 87-115). This is illustrated by what has been said above about
the heat and light of heaven, that angels have heat in accordance
with the quality of their love, and light in accordance with the
quality of their wisdom (n. 128-134). The like is true of all other
things that present themselves to the senses of angels.
174. When I have been permitted to be in company with angels, the
things there appeared precisely the same as those in the world; and
so plainly that I would not have known that I was not in the world
and in a king's palace. I also talked with the angels as man with
man.
175. As all things that correspond to interiors also represent them
they are called representatives; and as they differ in each case in
accordance with the state of the interiors they are called
appearances. Nevertheless, the things that appear before the eyes of
angels in heaven and are perceived by their senses appear to their
eyes and senses as fully living as things on earth appear to man, and
even much more clearly, distinctly and perceptibly. Appearances from
this source in heaven are called real appearances, because they have
real existence. There are appearances also that are not real, which
are things that become visible, but do not correspond to
interiors.{1} These will be treated of further on.
{Footnote 1} All things that are visible to the angels are
representative (n. 1971, 3213-3226, 3342, 3457, 3475, 3485,
9481, 9457, 9576, 9577). The heavens are full of
representatives (n. 1521, 1532, 1619). The representatives are
more beautiful as they are more interior in the heavens (n.
3475). As the representatives there are from the light of
heaven they are real appearances (n. 3485). The Divine influx
is turned into representatives in the higher heavens, and
therefrom in the lower heavens also (n. 2179, 3213, 9457, 9481,
9576, 9577). Those things are called representative that appear
before the eyes of the angels in such form as are in nature,
that is, such as are in the world (n. 9457). Internal things
are thus turned into external (n. 1632, 2987-3002). What
representatives in the heavens are; this made clear by various
examples (n. 1521, 1532, 1619-1628, 1807, 1973, 1974, 1977,
1980, 1981, 2299, 2601, 2761, 2762, 3217, 3219, 3220, 3348,
3350, 5198, 9090, 10276). All things seen in the heavens are in
accordance with correspondences and are called representatives
(n. 3213-3226, 3342, 3475, 3485, 9481, 9457, 9576, 9577). All
things that correspond also represent and likewise signify what
they correspond to (n. 2896, 2987, 2989-2991, 3002, 3225).
176. To show what the things are that appear to the angels in
accordance with correspondences, I will here mention one only for the
sake of illustration. By those who are intelligent, gardens and parks
full of trees and flowers of every kind are seen. The trees are
planted in a most beautiful order, combined to form arbors with
arched approaches and encircling walks, all more beautiful than words
can describe. There the intelligent walk, and gather flowers and
weave garlands with which they adorn little children. Moreover, there
are kinds of trees and flowers there that are never seen and cannot
exist on earth. The trees bear fruit that are in accordance with the
good of love, in which the intelligent are. These things are seen by
them because a garden or park and fruit trees and flowers correspond
to intelligence and wisdom.{1} That there are such things in heaven
is known also on the earth, but only to those who are in good, and
who have not extinguished in themselves the light of heaven by means
of natural light and its fallacies; for when such think about heaven
they think and say that there are such things there as ear hath not
heard and eye hath not seen.
{Footnote 1} A "garden" or "park" signifies intelligence and
wisdom (n. 100, 108, 3220). What is meant by "the garden of
Eden" and "the garden of Jehovah" (n. 99, 100, 1588). How
magnificent the things seen in parks are in the other life (n.
1122, 1622, 2296, 4528, 4529). "Trees" signify perceptions and
knowledges, from which wisdom and intelligence are derived (n.
103, 2163, 2682, 2722, 2972, 7692). "Fruits" signify goods of
love and goods of charity (n. 3146, 7690, 9337).