Heaven and Hell - Swedenborg Foundation

HEAVEN AND HELL 125
by the terms of time, such as year, month, week, day, hour,
today, tomorrow, yesterday. When angels hear these terms
used by man (for angels are always associated with man by the
Lord) in place of them they perceive state and what pertains to
states. Thus the natural thought of man is turned into spiritual
thought with angels. This is why times in the Word signify
states, and the terms of time, as enumerated above, signify
corresponding spiritual things. 124
166. The like is true of all things that exist from time, as the
four seasons of the year, called spring, summer, autumn, and
winter; the four periods of the day, morning, noon, evening,
and night; and the four ages of man, infancy, youth, manhood,
and old age; and all other things that either exist from time or
have a succession in accordance with time. In thinking of these
a man thinks from time, but an angel from state; and in
consequence what there is in them from time with man is with
the angels turned into an idea of state. Spring and morning are
turned into an idea of the state of love and wisdom such as
they are in angels in their first state; summer and noon are
turned into an idea of love and wisdom such as they are in the
second state; autumn and evening such as they are in the third
state; night and winter into an idea of such a state as exists in
hell. This is why these periods have a like significance in the
Word (see above, n. 155). This makes clear how natural things
in the thought of man become spiritual with the angels who
are with man.
124. Times in the Word signify states (n. 2788, 2837, 3254, 3356,
4814, 4901, 4916, 7218, 8070, 10133, 10605).
Angels think apart from the idea of time and space (n. 3404); the
reasons why (n. 1274, 1382, 3356, 4882, 4901, 6110, 7218, 7381).
What a “year” signifies in the Word (n. 487, 488, 493, 893, 2906,
7828, 10209). What a “month” (n. 3814). What a “week” (n. 2044, 3845).
What a “day” (n. 23, 487, 488, 6110, 7680, 8426, 9213, 10132, 10605).
What “today” (n. 2838, 3998, 4304, 6165, 6984, 9939). What “tomorrow”
(n. 3998, 10497). What “yesterday” (n. 6983, 7114, 7140).