AC 9763 - Preparation for Heaven

AC 9763

And for the gate of the court a covering.
(Exodus 27:16)

That this signifies introduction into this heaven,
and a guard lest it should be entered
by any except those who are prepared,
is evident from the signification of a "gate,"
as being communication and introduction;
from the signification of "the court,"
as being the ultimate heaven;
and from the signification of "the covering,"
as being a guard lest it be entered;
for the gate was guarded by the covering.
That it denotes a guard lest it should be entered
by any except those who are prepared,
is because no one is introduced into heaven
unless he is prepared.
The case herein is this.
Those who come from the world into the other life,
which takes place immediately after their decease,
bring with them worldly and earthly things
which do not agree with
the spiritual and celestial things
in which the angels are;
and therefore those who are to be raised into heaven
are first prepared,
which is effected by the separation of
the worldly and earthly things
which they have brought with them;
for if they were taken up into heaven sooner,
they could not possibly remain in the societies there,
because they have a taste and love
for grosser things
than are suited to the purity in which the angels are.
But after they have been prepared,
they are taken up and introduced
by the Lord into heaven,
and are admitted into those angelic societies
with which they are in agreement
in respect to the truths and goods of faith and of love.
From all this it can be seen
what is meant by a guard
lest heaven should be entered by any
except those who are prepared.