65. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, signifies the New Church in the heavens, which is the New Heaven. The church is in the heavens equally as on the earth; for the Word is in the heavens equally as it is on the earth, and there are doctrines from it, and preachings from it; on which subject see The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem concerning the Sacred Scripture (n. 70-75, and n. 104-113). That church is the New Heaven, concerning which something is said in the preface. The reason why the church in the heavens, or the New Heaven, is meant by "the seven stars," is, 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 there appears an expanse full of stars, as in the natural world, and this appearance is from the angelic societies in heaven. Each society there shines like a star before those who are below; hence they there know in what situation the angelic societies are. That "seven" does not signify seven, but all who are of the church there according to the reception of each, may be seen above (n. 10, 14, 41); therefore, by "the angels of the seven churches," is meant the entire church in the heavens, consequently the New Heaven in the aggregate.