Conjugial Love

The Fifth Company, which was the first group of clever original: "ingenious" spirits from the southern region In the author's spiritual geography, the south represents a state of light or wisdom; however, these spirits focus on worldly wisdom., next delivered their opinion: "Heavenly joys and eternal happiness," they said, "consist solely in great power and high status, and in an abundance of wealth, combined with more than princely magnificence and splendor. It is obvious to us that the joys of heaven and their continuous enjoyment—which is eternal happiness—consist of these things, based on the examples of those who enjoyed them in the former world. It is also clear from the fact that the blessed in heaven are to reign with the Lord and become kings and princes; for they are the children of him who is King of kings and Lord of lords, and they are to sit on thrones and be served by angels. Furthermore, the magnificence of heaven is clearly revealed to us by the description given of the New Jerusalem A symbolic city described in the biblical Book of Revelation., which represents the glory of heaven. It is described as having gates each made of a single pearl, streets of pure gold, and a wall with foundations of precious stones. Consequently, everyone who is received into heaven will have a palace of their own, glittering with gold and other costly materials, and will enjoy high rank and dominion, each according to their personal character and status. Since we find by experience that the joys and happiness arising from such things are natural and, in a sense, innate in us, and since the promises of God cannot fail, we conclude that the most happy state of heavenly life can come from no other source than this."

After this, the Sixth Company, which was the second group from the southern region, spoke with a loud voice as follows: "The joy of heaven and its eternal happiness consist solely in the perpetual glorification of God, in a never-ending festival of praise and thanksgiving, and in the blessedness of divine worship enhanced with singing and melody. By these means, the heart is kept in a constant state of elevation toward God, under a full conviction that he accepts such prayers and praises because of his divine generosity in giving happiness." Some of the company added further that this glorification would be accompanied by magnificent displays of light, with the most fragrant incense and with formal processions. These would be led by the chief priest with a grand trumpet, followed by high-ranking clergy and officials of various orders, by men carrying palm branches, and by women with golden images in their hands.

4. The Seventh Company, which was invisible to the rest because of its superior light, came from the east of heaven. It consisted of angels from the same society as the angel who had sounded the trumpet. When they heard in their region of heaven that not a single person throughout the Christian world was acquainted with the true nature of heavenly joy and eternal happiness, they said to one another, "Surely this cannot be true; it is impossible that such thick darkness and intellectual blindness original: "stupidity" should exist among those who live in the world."