HH 55 - Reception and Diversity

HH 55

As everyone receives the heaven
that is outside of him
in accordance with the quality of the heaven
that is within him,
so in like manner does everyone receive the Lord,
since it is the Divine of the Lord
that makes heaven.
And for this reason when the Lord becomes
clearly present in any society
His appearance there is in accord with
the quality of the good in which the society is,
thus not the same in one society as in another.
This diversity is not in the Lord;
it is in the angels who behold Him
from their own good,
and thus in accordance with their good.
And they are affected by His appearance
in accordance with the quality of their love,
those who love Him inmostly
being inmostly affected,
and those who love Him less
being less affected;
while the evil who are outside of heaven
are tortured by His presence.
When the Lord is seen in any society
He is seen as an angel,
but is distinguished from others
by the Divine that shines through.