Heaven and Hell - Swedenborg Foundation

HEAVEN AND HELL 197
delights and pleasures in the degree of their reception of
wisdom from the Lord. These things have been said to make
clear why it is that angels have so great wisdom. 184
267. Angels are capable of receiving such wisdom because
their interiors are open; and wisdom, like every other
perfection, increases toward the interiors, thus to the extent
that interiors are opened. 185
In every angel there are three
degrees of life, corresponding to the three heavens (see n.
29–40)—those in whom the first degree has been opened are
in the first or outmost heaven; those in whom the second
degree has been opened are in the second or middle heaven;
while those in whom the third degree has been opened are in
the third or inmost heaven. The wisdom of angels in the
heavens is in accordance with these degrees. Therefore the
wisdom of the angels of the inmost heaven immeasurably
surpasses the wisdom of angels of the middle heaven, and the
wisdom of these immeasurably surpasses the wisdom of angels
of the outmost heaven (see above, n. 209, 210; and what
degrees are, n. 38). There are such differences because the
things which are in the higher degree are particulars, and those
in the lower degree are generals, and generals are containers of
particulars. Particulars compared with generals are as thousands
184. The wisdom of angels, that it is incomprehensible and ineffable (n.
2795, 2796, 2802, 3314, 3404, 3405, 9094, 9176).
185. So far as man is raised up from outward toward inward things he
comes into light, that is, into intelligence (n. 6183, 6313). There is an actual
elevation (n. 7816, 10330).
Elevation from outward to inward things is like elevation out of a mist
into light (n. 4598). As outer things in man are farther removed from the
Divine they are relatively obscure (n. 6451). Likewise relatively confused (n.
996, 3855).
Inner things are more perfect because they are nearer to the Divine (n.
5146, 5147).
In what is internal there are thousands and thousands of things that
appear in what is external as one general thing (n. 5707). Consequently as
thought and perception are more interior they are clearer (n. 5920).