65. 'The seven stars are the Angels of the seven Churches' signifies the new Church in the heavens, which is the New Heaven. There is a Church in the heavens just as there is a Church on earth (in terris), for in the heavens just as on earth there is the Word, and there are doctrines out of that Word, and there are preachings out of it, on which subject [something] may be seen in [THE DOCTRINE OF] THE NEW JERUSALEM CONCERNING THE SACRED SCRIPTURE (n. 70-75, and 104-113). That Church is the New Heaven, about which something has been said in the Preface. The Church in the heavens, or the New Heaven, is understood by 'the seven stars', because it is said that 'the seven stars are the Angels of the seven Churches', and by 'Angel' is signified a heavenly society. In the spiritual world an expanse full of stars appears as in the natural world, and it appears in consequence of the angelic societies in heaven, any one society there shining as a star in the presence of those who are below. Those there know from this in what situation angelic societies are. That 'seven' does not signify seven, but all who belong to the Church there in accordance with the reception of each one, may be seen above (n. 10, 14, 41); therefore by 'the Angels of the seven Churches' the entire Church in the heavens is understood, thus the New Heaven in its whole compass.