8571. To make me die, and my sons, and my cattle, with thirst. That this signifies that from the lack of truth everything of spiritual life is expiring, is evident from the signification of “dying,” as being to expire, here in respect to the spiritual life; from the signification of “me, my sons, and my cattle,” as being all things of spiritual life; for by “me,” or the man of the church, is signified the good of charity and of faith; by “sons,” the interior truths of faith; and by “cattle,” the exterior truths from which is good; thus all things which are of the spiritual life. For spiritual life consists of the good of charity and of faith, and of the truth of faith internal and external. (That “man” denotes good, see n. 4287; that “sons” denote the truths of faith, n. 489, 491, 533, 2623, 2803, 2813, 3372, 3704; and that “cattle” denote the truths from which is good, n. 6016, 6045, 6049.) And from the signification of “thirst,” as being a lack of truth (of which just above, n. 8568).

1521. CHAPTER 13.

CONCERNING THE LIGHT IN WHICH THE ANGELS LIVE.

That spirits and angels possess every sense, except taste, far more exquisitely and perfectly than man ever does, has been made manifest to me in many ways. They not only see one another and converse together-the angels with the greatest happiness from mutual love-but in that world there is more to see than men could believe to be possible; the world of spirits and the heavens are full of representatives such as were seen by the prophets, and of so wonderful a nature that if a person’s sight were but opened so that for a few hours he might behold them, he would be astounded. The light in heaven is such as to incredibly surpass even the midday light of our solar world. They however have no light from this world, because they are above or within the sphere of this light; but their light is from the Lord, who to them is a Sun. Even the midday light of this world is dense darkness to the angels; and when they have an opportunity to see it, it is as if they were looking at mere darkness, as I have been given to know by experience. This shows what a difference there is between the light of heaven and the light of this world.