497. And cast it upon the earth.- That this signifies influx into the lower parts where those were who had to be separated and removed, is evident from the signification of casting down the censer filled with the fire of the altar, as denoting the influx of Divine Love out of the heavens, concerning which we shall speak presently; and from the signification of the earth, as denoting the lower parts, where those were who had to be separated and removed from each other. For in the spiritual world there are lands (terroe), hills, and mountains; and the lands, hills, and mountains there are inhabited. On the hills and mountains the angels dwell, and are the heavens, and upon the lands (terroe), which are below the hills and mountains, dwelt those who were to be separated from each other; wherefore the earths here signify the lower parts. That the external appearance of such things in the spiritual world is similar to what it is on our earth, is shewn in many places in the work concerning Heaven and Hell, and also in the small work concerning the Last Judgment, and, occasionally, in the explanations above. From what has been said, it is clear that the angel casting the censer filled with fire of the altar upon the earth, signifies the influx of the Divine Love out of the heavens into the lower parts, where they were who were to be separated and removed. For below upon the lands (terroe) there, societies existed in which the good and the evil were, and these were to be separated one from another before the Last Judgment could take place. For from the time of the Lord, up till the period of the Last Judgment, all those who could live all external moral life, and by means of it imitate spiritual life in appearance, were tolerated. That these were tolerated until the Last Judgment, and the reason why, may be seen in the Last Judgment (n. 59, 69, 70); and that the former heaven, which was destroyed, was formed of them (n. 65-72). In the same societies, or in the former heaven, the simple good also were present, some with those who were there, and some elsewhere, but conjoined with them by a pious and holy external, and yet the good had to be separated from the evil before the judgment, in order that the former might be taken into heaven and the evil cast in hell; and as this separation was effected by the influx of Divine Good and Truth out of the heavens into the lower parts where all those were, therefore it is plain that the censer filled with fire from the altar and cast [upon the earth], signifies that influx into the lower parts. Concerning the operation of that influx with the good, and also with the evil, see above (n. 413, 418, 419, 426, 489, 493).