1204. And her smoke shall ascend unto ages of ages.- That this signifies that the falsity of evil which they possessed is for ever condemned to hell, is evident from the signification of smoke, as denoting the falsity of evil, concerning which see above (n. 539, 889, 1131); and from the signification of ascending into ages of ages, as denoting to be in hell for ever (in aeternum), consequently also to be condemned to hell. That ages of ages signifies eternity, may be seen (n. 289, 468).
Continuation [concerning the Life of Plants]. - The mode in which the spiritual enters by influx into plants and acts upon them, producing conatus, effort, or act, cannot be comprehended by any understanding unless the following propositions are first explained:-
1. Nothing in nature exists or subsists except from the Spiritual, and by means of it.
2. Nature in itself is dead, having been created in order that the Spiritual may be clothed by it with forms to serve for use, and thus be terminated.
3. There are two general forms, the spiritual and the natural; the spiritual being such as that which belongs to animals; and the natural, such as that which belongs to plants.
4. There are three forces inherent in everything spiritual; the active, the creative, and the formative.
5. Plants and animals also - both those which appear in heaven, and those which are in the world - exist from the spiritual, by means of these forces.
6. Both of these - animals and plants - have the same origin, and thence the same soul; the difference being only in the forms into which the influx is received.
7. This origin is in use.
Unless these propositions are first explained, the cause of these wonderful effects in the vegetable kingdom cannot be understood.
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