169. I was brought into a state where my physical senses were rendered insensible, that is, into the state almost of people who are dying, but with my interior life, together with my ability to think, remaining intact. This was done so that I might perceive and retain in the memory what happens to people who have died and are being awakened, with enough breathing to support life, and after that with a soundless breathing. ¹

Footnotes:

180. That there are degrees of love and wisdom is still more plainly apparent from the love and wisdom of angels in comparison to the love and wisdom of people. People know that the wisdom of angels is in comparison indescribable. We will see in subsequent discussions that it is also incomprehensible to people when they are caught up in a natural love. The reason it appears indescribable and incomprehensible is that is in a higher degree.