During visions and symbolic displays in the world of spirits nothing is more common than that persons are taken to symbolize things. For instance, many whose character I knew have been taken when things were to be symbolized, so that I would thereby understand what they were. And they really fitted into the displays so well that I at first thought they were present. So just those persons are taken who are known to someone to be of that character. There is also nothing more common than this in the prophets; likewise, the case of Elias and Moses appearing to the three disciples [Matt. 17:1-3, Mark 9:2-4, Luke 9:28-30]. Then in other instances, places are taken. The subjects to be symbolized vary, so do the persons [who symbolize them]. 1748, 22 March.