4891. CONTINUATION CONCERNING THE FIRST AND SECOND RESURRECTION* ABOUT WHICH WE READ IN THE APOCALYPSE. Very many seemed to descend out of heaven, and to repair to that devil, as was just above said. These are they who are of the second resurrection [?death*], who cannot stay in heaven for the reason which was assigned in that place, because they desire offices, not from the love of doing good to others, but on account of the honor - partly that they may seem more eminent than others, partly that they may acquire wealth. They were elevated into heaven by the way by which others are elevated. That elevation has been often observed, both on the left and right side, and before the face, and also at the back, both visibly and invisibly, but always perceptibly. They are elevated for the reason that they may constitute an equilibrium against those in the hells who wish to destroy those who come into the other life; for when they are there [i. e. in heaven] they can then be held in some good. But still they cannot be retained in it; wherefore, they are let down in order that they may wander about, and divest themselves of those loves as far as possible. * A consideration of AR 851, 853, strongly suggests that Swedenborg here intended the "first resurrection and second death." Possibly, also, a sight of his, MS. of the present passage might confirm this idea. -ED.