552. 'Was cast out into the land, and his angels were cast out with him' signifies that [they are cast] into the world of spirits, which is intermediate between heaven and hell, and from which there is a direct conjunction with the men of the earth. By 'the land' into which the dragon is said to have been cast out is understood the world of spirits. This is because that world lies directly under the heavens, and when anyone is cast down out of heaven, he does not there and then fall into hell, but into the land of this world next below. For that world is intermediate between heaven and hell, or below the heavens and above the hells. Many things concerning that world may be seen in the work concerning HEAVEN AND HELL, published at London in the year 1758 (n. 421-535). All those who are in that world communicate directly with the men of the earths. Consequently 'the dragon and his angels' communicate directly with those who are in untruths and the resultant evils derived from the received heresy concerning faith alone. It is therefore said in the verses following:-
For this rejoice, O heavens; woe to those inhabiting the land and the sea, because the devil has come down to you having great wraths, knowing that he has very little time verse 12 of this chapter;
also that:-
He pursued the woman into the wilderness and went away to wage war with the remnant of her seed vers. 13-17.
It is to be known that each individual man as to his affections and consequent thoughts is in an association with those who are in the world of spirits, and mediately by means of them either with those who are in heaven or in hell. The life of every man depends on that conjunction.
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