Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 10813

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10813. The spirits belonging to that planet also said among other things that those newcomers - who, as stated, were monastic spirits - had a very eager desire that they should live together in society and not separately, in individual units. For spirits and angels reside in places and dwell together just as they did in the world, since everyone's life as it was in this world follows him into the next. Those who dwelt congregated together when in the world dwell congregated together in the next life, and those who dwelt separated into households and families dwell separated in the same way. When these spirits lived on their planet they dwelt separately, one household separate from another, one family from another, and so one clan from another. Consequently they had no idea of what dwelling together in society might be. When therefore they were told that the newcomers wanted them to do so, to the end that they might rule or have dominion over them, and that there was no other way in which the newcomers could make them subject to themselves and turn them into slaves, they replied that they were totally unaware of what it was to rule or have dominion. The very thought of rule or dominion makes them run away, as I came to realize from the fact that when I showed the city I dwelt in to one of them, who was accompanying us on the way back, he ran far away at the very sight of it and was not seen again. It should be recognized that, when the Lord pleases, spirits and angels can see things in the world through the eyes of a person there. But the Lord does not permit this to happen with anyone other than a person whom He allows to talk to spirits and angels and mix with them. Through my eyes He has allowed them to see things existing in the world, and as plainly as I see them, and also to hear the people talking to me.


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