AC 9594 - The Three Degrees

AC 9594 [1-2]

It is known that there are three heavens:
the inmost, the middle, and the ultimate;
or the third, the second, and the first.
All these heavens were represented by the tabernacle:
by the ark,
where the Testimony was,
the inmost or third heaven;
by the Habitation,
where were the table for the breads of faces
and the lampstand,
the middle or second heaven;
and by the court,
the ultimate or first heaven.
That there are three heavens
is because there are three degrees of life in a person
(for the person who becomes an angel after death
constitutes heaven;
from no other source are the angels,
from no other is heaven).
The inmost degree of the person's life
is for the inmost heaven;
the middle degree of his life
is for the middle heaven;
and the ultimate degree is for the ultimate heaven.
A person being such, or so formed,
and heaven being from the human race,
there are therefore three heavens.

These three degrees of life in a person
are opened successively;
the first degree by a life
in accordance with what is equitable and just;
the second degree by a life
in accordance with the truths of faith from the Word,
and in accordance with the consequent
goods of charity toward the neighbor;
and the third degree by a life
in accordance with the good of mutual love
and the good of love to the Lord.
These are the means whereby
these three degrees of life in a person
are successively opened
thus the three heavens in him.
But be it known
that in proportion as a person recedes
from the good of life, and accedes to the evil of life,
these degrees are closed,
that is, the heavens are closed in him;
for just as the good of life opens them,
so the evil of life closes them.