Himmel sind himmlische und spirituelle Dinge. Folglich sind sie das Innerste, beides des Reiches des Herrn im Himmel und auf der Erde. Dies bezieht sich auch auf die Kirche und jeden einzelnen, der ein Königreich des Herrn oder eine "Kirche" ist. Folglich bezeichnen die Himmel alles, was mit Liebe und Nächstenliebe zu tun hat, und den darauf beruhenden Glauben, sowie alles, was die innere Anbetung betrifft. In gleicher Weise bezeichnen sie alles, was mit dem inneren Sinn des Wortes zu tun hat. All diese Dinge sind Himmel und werden 'Der Thron des Herrn' genannt. Die früheren Himmel, die vergangen sind", wie in Offenbarung 21:1 erwähnt, bezeichnen die Gesellschaften derer in der geistigen Welt, die nur äußerlich oder scheinbar gut waren.

(Odkazy: Die Offenbarung Erklärt 21, Die Offenbarung Erklärt 675; Himmlischen Geheimnissen 2162)

21. In Asia, signifies those who are in the light of intelligence. This can be seen by a spiritual idea only, such as angels have, concerning the regions of this earth. When Asia is named, angels perceive the south; when Europe is named, the north; and when Africa, the east; and as by the "south" is signified the clear light of intelligence, so that light is signified by "Asia." This perception has been granted also to me, as often as I have been in the spiritual idea and have thought of Asia. Such is the spiritual idea of Asia, because the church was there in ancient times, and then extended over many regions there; therefore, those who are in heaven from that country are in the light of intelligence. For this reason, when Asia is thought of, a light like that which is in the south of heaven flows in. (That in ancient times, and also in the most ancient, the church was in Asia, extending through many kingdoms there, see the quotations from the Arcana Coelestia in the little work on The New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine 247; and that the "south" signifies the light of intelligence, see in the work on Heaven and Hell 141-153, where the Four Quarters in Heaven are treated of.) By "Asia," however, the inhabitants of Asia are not here meant, but all, wheresoever they are, who are in the spiritual light of intelligence, or, what is the same, who are in truths from good; for those who are in truths from good are in the spiritual light of intelligence; and all such constitute the Lord's church.

(That the Lord's church exists also among the Gentiles, although specifically where the Lord is known and the Word is read, see in the work on Heaven and Hell 318-328; and on The New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine 244, 246.)