549. [verse 8] 'And they did not prevail, and their place was no longer found in heaven' signifies that they had been convicted of being in untruths and evils but still persisted in them, and that therefore they were forcibly separated from conjunction with heaven and cast down. In order that these things may be understood something shall first be said concerning the state of those who come into the other life after death. There all are first instructed by angels, and led from one society to another and examined [as to] whether they are willing to receive the truths of heaven and to live in accordance with them. Nevertheless, all who have confirmed the untruths pertaining to them in the world do not receive. They are therefore sent into societies where those who are in similar untruths are, and those societies do not have any conjunction with heaven, but with hell. After a limited tune in the world of spirits they therefore sink down into hell and are sent away to their own places, each according to his own evil and consequent untruth. This is what is understood by their having beets convicted of being in untruths and evils and still persisting in them, and that therefore they are forcibly separated from conjunction with heaven and cast down. What their lot there is may be seen above (n. 153, 531).