Heaven and Hell - Swedenborg Foundation

HEAVEN AND HELL 487
61
The Appearance, Situation,
and Number of the Hells
582. In the spiritual world, that is, in the world where spirits
and angels are, the same objects appear as in the natural world,
that is, where men are. In external appearance there is no
difference. In that world plains and mountains, hills and rocks,
and valleys between them, are seen; also waters, and many
other things that are seen on earth. And yet all these things are
from a spiritual origin, and all are therefore seen by the eyes of
spirits and angels, and not by the eyes of men, because men are
in the natural world. Spiritual beings see such things as are
from a spiritual origin, and natural beings such things as are
from a natural origin. Consequently man with his eyes can in
no way see the objects that are in the spiritual world unless he
is permitted to be in the spirit, or after death when he becomes
a spirit.
On the other hand, an angel or a spirit is unable to see
anything at all in the natural world unless he is with a man
who is permitted to speak with him. For the eyes of man are
fitted to receive the light of the natural world, and the eyes of
angels and spirits are fitted to receive the light of the spiritual
world; although the eyes of the two are exactly alike in
appearance.
That the spiritual world is such the natural man cannot
comprehend, and least of all the sensual man, who believes
nothing except what he sees with his bodily eyes and touches
with his hands, and therefore takes in by sight and touch. As