It is impossible to enumerate the employments in the heavens, still
less to describe them in detail, but something may be said about them
in a general way; for they are numberless, and vary in accordance
with the functions of the societies. Each society has its peculiar
function, for as societies are distinct in accordance with goods (see
above, n. 41), so they are distinct in accordance with uses, because
with all in the heavens goods are goods in act, which are uses.
Everyone there performs a use, for the Lord's kingdom is a kingdom of
uses.{1}
{Footnote 1} The Lord's kingdom is a kingdom of uses (n. 454,
696, 1103, 3645, 4054, 7038). Performing uses is serving the
Lord (n. 7038). In the other life all must perform uses (n.
1103); even the wicked and infernal, but in what manner (n.
696). All are such as are the uses they perform (n. 4054,
6815); illustrated (n. 7038). Angelic blessedness consists in
the goods of charity, that is, in performing uses (n. 454).
388. In the heavens as on the earth there are many forms of service,
for there are ecclesiastical affairs, there are civil affairs, and
there are domestic affairs. That there are ecclesiastical affairs is
evident from what has been said and shown above, where Divine worship
is treated of (n. 221-227); civil affairs, where governments in
heaven are treated of (n. 213-220); and domestic affairs, where the
dwellings and homes of angels are treated of (n. 183-190); and
marriages in heaven (n. 366-368); all of which show that in every
heavenly society there are many employments and services.
389. All things in the heavens are organized in accordance with
Divine order, which is everywhere guarded by the services performed
by angels, those things that pertain to the general good or use by
the wiser angels, those that pertain to particular uses by the less
wise, and so on. They are subordinated just as uses are subordinated
in the Divine order; and for this reason a dignity is connected with
every function according to the dignity of the use. Nevertheless, an
angel does not claim dignity to himself, but ascribes all dignity to
the use; and as the use is the good that he accomplishes, and all
good is from the Lord, so he ascribes all dignity to the Lord.
Therefore he that thinks of honor for himself and subsequently for
the use, and not for the use and subsequently for himself, can
perform no function in heaven, because this is looking away backwards
from the Lord, and putting self in the first place and use in the
second. When use is spoken of the Lord also is meant, because, as has
just been said, use is good, and good is from the Lord.
390. From this it may be inferred what subordinations in the heavens
are, namely, that as any one loves, esteems, and honors the use he
also loves, esteems, and honors the person with whom the use is
connected; also that the person is loved, esteemed and honored in the
measure in which he ascribes the use to the Lord and not to himself;
for to that extent he is wise, and the uses he performs he performs
from good. Spiritual love, esteem, and honor are nothing else than
the love, esteem, and honor of the use in the person, together with
the honor to the person because of the use, and not honor to the use
because of the person. This is the way, moreover, in which men are
regarded when they are regarded from spiritual truth, for one man is
then seen to be like another, whether he be in great or in little
dignity, the only perceptible difference being a difference in
wisdom; and wisdom is loving use, that is, loving the good of a
fellow citizen, of society, of one's country, and of the church. It
is this that constitutes love to the Lord, because every good that is
a good of use is from the Lord; and it constitutes also love towards
the neighbor, because the neighbor means the good that is to be loved
in a fellow citizen, in society, in one's country, and in the church,
and that is to be done in their behalf.{1}
{Footnote 1} Loving the neighbor is not loving the person, but
loving that which is in him and which constitutes him (n. 5025,
10336). Those who love the person, and not that which is in
him, and which constitutes him, love equally an evil man and a
good man (n. 3820); and do good alike to the evil and to the
good; and yet to do good to the evil is to do evil to the good
and that is not loving the neighbor (n. 3820, 6703, 8120). The
judge who punishes the evil that they may be reformed, and may
not contaminate or injure the good, loves his neighbor (n.
3820, 8120, 8121). Every individual and every community also
one's country and the church, and in the most general sense the
kingdom of the Lord, are the neighbor, and to do good to these
from a love of good in accord with the quality of their state,
is loving the neighbor; that is, the neighbor is their good,
which is to be consulted (n. 6818-6824, 8123).
391. As all the societies in the heavens are distinct in accordance
with their goods (as said above, n. 41, seq.) so they are distinct in
accordance with their uses, goods being goods in act, that is, goods
of charity which are uses. Some societies are employed in taking care
of little children; others in teaching and training them as they grow
up; others in teaching and training in like manner the boys and girls
that have acquired a good disposition from their education in the
world, and in consequence have come into heaven. There are other
societies that teach the simple good from the Christian world, and
lead them into the way to heaven; there are others that in like
manner teach and lead the various heathen nations. There are some
societies that defend from infestations by evil spirits the newly
arrived spirits that have just come from the world; there are some
that attend upon the spirits that are in the lower earth; also some
that attend upon spirits that are in the hells, and restrain them
from tormenting each other beyond prescribed limits; and there are
some that attend upon those who are being raised from the dead. In
general, angels from each society are sent to men to watch over them
and to lead them away from evil affections and consequent thoughts,
and to inspire them with good affections so far as they will receive
them in freedom; and by means of these they also direct the deeds or
works of men by removing as far as possible evil intentions. When
angels are with men they dwell as it were in their affections; and
they are near to man just in the degree in which he is in good from
truths, and are distant from him just in the degree in which his life
is distant from good.{1} But all these employments of angels are
employments of the Lord through the angels, for the angels perform
them from the Lord and not from themselves. For this reason, in the
Word in its internal sense "angels" mean, not angels, but something
belonging to the Lord; and for the same reason angels are called
"gods" in the Word.{2}
{Footnote 1} Of the angels that are with little children and
afterwards with boys, and thus in succession (n. 2303). Man is
raised from the dead by means of angels; from experiences (n.
168-189). Angels are sent to those who are in hell to prevent
their tormenting each other beyond measure (n. 967). Of the
services rendered by the angels to men on their coming into the
other life (n. 2131). There are spirits and angels with all men
and man is led by the Lord by means of spirits and angels (n.
50, 697, 2796, 2887, 2888, 5846-5866, 5976-5993, 6209). Angels
have dominion over evil spirits (n. 1755).
{Footnote 2} In the Word by angels something Divine from the
Lord is signified (n. 1925, 2821, 3039, 4085, 6280, 8192). In
the Word angels are called "gods," because of their reception
of Divine truth and good from the Lord (n. 4295, 4402, 8192,
8301).
392. These employments of the angels are their general employments;
but each one has his particular charge; for every general use is
composed of innumerable uses which are called mediate, ministering,
and subservient uses, all and each coordinated and subordinated in
accordance with Divine order, and taken together constituting and
perfecting the general use, which is the general good.
393. Those are concerned with ecclesiastical affairs in heaven who in
the world loved the Word and eagerly sought in it for truths, not
with honor or gain as an end, but uses of life both for themselves
and for others. These in heaven are in enlightenment and in the light
of wisdom in the measure of their love and desire for use; and this
light of wisdom they receive from the Word in heaven, which is not a
natural Word, as it is in the world, but a spiritual Word (see above,
n. 259.) These minister in the preaching office; and in accordance
with Divine order those are in higher positions who from
enlightenment excel others in wisdom. [2] Those are concerned with
civil affairs who in the world loved their country, and loved its
general good more than their own, and did what is just and right from
a love for what is just and right. So far as these from the eagerness
of love have investigated the laws of justice and have thereby become
intelligent, they have the ability to perform such functions in
heaven, and they perform these in that position or degree that
accords with their intelligence, their intelligence being in equal
degree with their love of use for the general good. [3] Furthermore,
there are in heaven more functions and services and occupations than
can be enumerated; while in the world there are few in comparison.
But however many there may be that are so employed, they are all in
the delight of their work and labor from a love of use, and no one
from a love of self or of gain; and as all the necessaries of life
are furnished them gratuitously they have no love of gain for the
sake of a living. They are housed gratuitously, clothed gratuitously,
and fed gratuitously. Evidently, then, those that have loved
themselves and the world more than use have no lot in heaven; for his
love or affection remains with everyone after his life in the world,
and is not extirpated to eternity (see above, n. 563).
394. In heaven everyone comes into his own occupation in accordance
with correspondence, and the correspondence is not with the
occupation but with the use of each occupation (see above, n. 112);
for there is a correspondence of all things (see n. 106). He that in
heaven comes into the employment or occupation corresponding to his
use is in much the same condition of life as when he was in the
world; since what is spiritual and what is natural make one by
correspondences; yet there is this difference, that he then comes
into an interior delight, because into spiritual life, which is an
interior life, and therefore more receptive of heavenly blessedness.