The Swedenborg Library Vol 2/Chapter 6
VI.
INNUMERABLE SOCIETIES IN HEAVEN.
HE angels of each heaven do not all dwell together in one place, but are distinguished into larger and smaller societies according to the differences of the good of love and faith in which they are. They who are in similar good form one society. Goods in the heavens are of infinite variety, and every angel is such in character as is his own good.
The angelic societies in the heavens are also distant from each other according to the general and specific differences of their goods. For distances in the spiritual world are from no other origin than from a difference in the states of the interiors; consequently, in the heavens, from a difference in the states of love. Those are far apart who differ much, and those are near who differ little. Similarity brings them together.
All in each society are arranged among themselves according to the same law. The more perfect ones, that is, those who excel in good, consequently in love, wisdom and intelligence, are in the middle. Those who excel less are round about them, at a distance varying with the degrees of their perfection. This arrangement may be compared to light decreasing from the centre toward the circumference. Those in the middle are also in the greatest light, and those near the circumference in less and less.
THE LAW OF ANGELIC ASSOCIATION.
Those of like character are brought together as it were spontaneously; for with their like they are as with their own [relations] and at home; but with others, as with strangers and abroad. When they are with their like they are also in their freedom, and thence in every delight of life.
Hence it is evident that good consociates all in the heavens, and all are distinguished according to its quality. Nevertheless it is the Lord, the Source of all good, who thus joins the angels in consociation, and not the angels themselves. He leads them, conjoins them, arranges them and keeps them in freedom so far as they are in good. Thus He preserves every one in the life of his love, faith, intelligence and wisdom, and thence in happiness.
All who are in similar good also know each other—although they had never met before—just as men in the world know their kindred, relations and friends. The reason is, that in the other life there are no kindreds, relationships and friendships but such as are spiritual, that is, of love and faith. I have several times been permitted to see this, when I have been in the spirit, withdrawn as it were from the body, and thus in company with angels. On such occasions I have seen some who seemed as if I had known them from infancy. But others seemed wholly unknown to me. They who seemed as if known from infancy, were those who were in a state similar to the state of my spirit; but they who were unknown, were in a dissimilar state.
THE CHARACTER REVEALED IN THE FACE.
All who belong to the same angelic society resemble each other in general but not in particular. How likenesses in general can coexist with variations in particular, may in some measure be comprehended from examples of a like nature in the world. It is well known that every race of people have some common resemblance in the face and eyes, whereby they are known and distinguished from other races. And the distinction between families is still more marked. But it is more perfect in the heavens, because there all the interior affections appear and shine forth from the face,—for the face in heaven is the external and representative form of those affections. No one in heaven is permitted to have a face that is not in correspondence with his affections.
It has also been shown me how the general resemblance is particularly varied in the individuals of one society. There appeared to me a face like that of an angel, which was varied according to the affections of good and truth as they exist with those who are in one society. These variations continued a long time; and I observed that the same face in general remained as the plane [or groundwork], and that the rest were only derivations and propagations from that. By this face were also shown me in like manner the affections of the whole society, according to which the faces of those belonging to it are varied; for, as was said above, the faces of angels are the forms of their interiors, that is, of affections which are of love and faith.
Hence it is that an angel who excels in wisdom instantly discerns the character of another from his face. No one in heaven can conceal his interiors by his countenance, and it is absolutely impossible for him to dissemble and deceive through craft and hypocrisy.
All the societies of heaven communicate with each other; not by open intercourse, for few go out of their own society into another, since this is like going out of themselves, or out of their own life, and passing into another which is not so agreeable. But they all communicate by an extension of the sphere which proceeds from the life of every one.
The sphere of one's life is the sphere of his affections which are of love and faith. This sphere extends itself far and wide into the surrounding societies, and in proportion as the affections are more interior and perfect. The angels are intelligent and wise according to the measure of that extension. They who are in the inmost heaven, and in the centre of it, have extension into the whole heaven. Hence there is in heaven a communication of all with each, and of each with all.
It was said above that there are larger and smaller societies in the heavens. The larger consist of myriads of angels, the smaller of some thousands, and the least of some hundreds. There are some also who live apart, as it were in separate houses and families. These, although they live so dispersed; are still arranged in like manner as those who live in societies; that is, the wiser of them are in the midst, and the more simple in the boundaries. These are more immediately under the divine auspices of the Lord, and are the best of the angels. (H. H., n. 41-50.)
