Only those that have experienced the peace of heaven can have any
perception of the peace in which the angels are. As man is unable, as
long as he is in the body, to receive the peace of heaven, so he can
have no perception of it, because his perception is confined to what
is natural. To perceive it he must be able, in respect to thought, to
be raised up and withdrawn from the body and kept in the spirit, and
at the same time be with angels. In this way has the peace of heaven
been perceived by me; and for this reason I am able to describe it,
yet not in words as that peace is in itself, because human words are
inadequate, but only as it is in comparison with that rest of mind
that those enjoy who are content in God.
285. There are two inmost things of heaven, namely, innocence and
peace. These are said to be inmost things because they proceed
directly from the Lord. From innocence comes every good of heaven,
and from peace every delight of good. Every good has its delight; and
both good and delight spring from love, for whatever is loved is
called good, and is also perceived as delightful. From this it
follows that these two inmost things, innocence and peace, go forth
from the Lord's Divine love and move the angels from what is inmost.
That innocence is the inmost of good may be seen in the preceding
chapter, where the state of innocence of the angels of heaven is
described. That peace is the inmost of delight from the good of
innocence shall now be explained.
286. The origin of peace shall be first considered. Divine peace is
in the Lord; it springs from the union of the Divine Itself and the
Divine Human in Him. The Divine of peace in heaven is from the Lord,
springing from His conjunction with the angels of heaven, and in
particular from the conjunction of good and truth in each angel.
These are the origins of peace. From this it can be seen that peace
in the heavens is the Divine inmostly affecting with blessedness
everything good therefrom, and from this is every joy of heaven; also
that it is in its essence the Divine joy of the Lord's Divine love,
resulting from His conjunction with heaven and with everyone there.
This joy, felt by the Lord in angels and by angels from the Lord, is
peace. By derivation from this the angels have everything that is
blessed, delightful, and happy, or that which is called heavenly
joy.{1}
{Footnote 1} By peace in the highest sense the Lord is meant,
because peace is from Him, and in the internal sense heaven is
meant, because those are in a state of peace (n. 3780, 4681).
Peace in the heavens is the Divine inmostly affecting with
blessedness everything good and true there, and this peace is
incomprehensible to man (n. 92, 3780, 5662, 8455, 8665). Divine
peace is in good, but not in truth apart from good (n. 8722).
287. Because these are the origins of peace the Lord is called "the
Prince of peace," and He declares that from Him is peace and in Him
is peace; and the angels are called angels of peace, and heaven is
called a habitation of peace, as in the following passages:
Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the
government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall
be called Wonderful, Counsellor, God, Mighty, Father of
eternity, Prince of peace. Of the increase of His
government and peace there shall be no end (Isa. 9:6, 7).
Jesus said, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto
you; not as the world giveth give I unto you (John 14:27).
These things have I spoken unto you that in Me ye may have
peace (John 16:33).
Jehovah lift up His countenance upon thee and give thee
peace (Num. 6:26).
The angels of peace weep bitterly, the highways are wasted
(Isa. 33:7, 8).
The work of righteousness shall be peace; and My people
shall dwell in a habitation of peace (Isa. 32:17, 18).
[2] That it is Divine and heavenly peace that is meant in the Word by
"peace" can be seen also from other passages where it is mentioned
(As Isa. 52:7; 54:10; 59:8; Jer. 16:5; 25:37; 29:11; Hag. 2:9; Zech.
8:12; Psalm 37:37; and elsewhere.) Because "peace" means the Lord and
heaven, and also heavenly joy and the delight of good, "Peace be with
you" was an ancient form of salutation that is still in use; and it
was ratified by the Lord in His saying to the disciples whom He sent
forth:
Into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to
this house; and if a son of peace be there, your peace
shall rest upon it (Luke 10:5, 6).