70. * from events in Heaven, where portents of the last judgment are constantly appearing, so that the greatest part do not know what judgment they will bear. From their present life in Heaven, it cannot be deduced that they will be among those who will enter the Kingdom of God the Messiah, except for some, such as Abraham, and Isaac, and certain others. For they who are evil still believe they will be lords over all of heaven, and want to be hailed as lords, just as the Jews living today do in their hearts. Even the devil and his gang are left in this opinion, for many reasons to be discussed elsewhere.
[See WE 3156-58 to this point, explaining Gen. 50:20.] 3158.* ....To this it should be added that while, indeed, some are reformed more quickly, and even at the moment of death, yet these are such persons as have been prepared earlier in an unusual way, of which they themselves are unaware. It is another matter if it happens by way of the sheer mercy of God the Messiah, in which case they must undergo hellish torments, as I was told regarding Judas the betrayer, * In the original, paragraphs II 1477-85 (Acton 3156-63) are emphasized by the symbol "NB." Written 32 times in the margin.
This page is part of 
© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church