AC 7186 - Evil Is Removed by Degrees

AC 7186 [1, 3]

That "Jehovah said unto Moses,"
means instruction about the law Divine,
is because at the end of the preceding chapter
it was believed from the law Divine,
that it would come to pass
that those who are of the spiritual church
would be immediately liberated from infestations;
when yet it is according to order
that the evil who infest
should be removed by degrees,
and that they who are of the spiritual church
should be liberated by degrees;
for such is the Divine order;
and therefore such is the law Divine;
for all law Divine is of order,
insomuch that whether we say the law Divine,
or the law of Divine order, it is the same.

Those who believe that a person
can be immediately introduced into heaven,
and that this is solely of the Lord's mercy,
are very much mistaken.
If this were possible,
all whatsoever who are in hell
would be raised into heaven,
for the Lord's mercy extends to all.
But it is according to order
that everyone carries with him his life
which he had lived in the world,
and his state in the other life is according to this,
and that the mercy of the Lord flows in with all,
but is diversely received,
and by those who are in evil, is rejected;
and as in the world
they have permeated themselves with evil,
they also retain it in the other life,
nor is amendment possible in the other life,
for the tree lies where it has fallen.
From all this it is evident
that it is according to order
that those who have lived in good,
and with whom there are also gross and impure things
which pertain to the love of the world and the love of self,
cannot be associated with those who are in the heavens
until these things have been removed.
From all this it is evident
that liberation from infestations
is effected successively by degrees.