10189. Upon its two ribs. That this signifies conjunction with truths on the one side, and preservation by means of them, is evident from the signification of “ribs,” when by them are meant sides, as being truths; for the sides which are called “ribs” look to the south and the north, and by the “south” is signified truth in light (see n. 9462), and by the “north” truth in shade (n. 3708). But by “sides” properly so called is signified good, because they look to the east and the west, and by the “east” is signified good in clearness, and by the “west” good in obscurity (n. 3708, 9653). Therefore it is here said, “thou shalt make for it two rings of gold from beneath the border, upon the two ribs thereof thou shalt make them, upon the two sides thereof.” That the sides properly so called look to the east and the west, but that the sides which are called “ribs” look to the south and the north, is plain in Exodus 26:13, 26-27, 35. Moreover “ribs,” being supports of the breast, signify the truths that support good.

[2] In heaven however the case is this. On the right are those who are in the light of truth, thus who are in the south; but on the left are those who are in the shade of truth, thus who are in the north; before the face are those who are in the clear perception of good, thus who are in the east; but at the back are those who are in the obscure perception of good, thus who are in the west. These, who are in good, constitute the celestial kingdom of the Lord; and the former, who are in truth, constitute His spiritual kingdom. This is the appearance to the angels there in whatever direction they turn themselves, for the angels have the Lord, who is the very East, continually before the face; but the contrary is the case with those who are in hell, for these have the Lord continually at the back.

[3] For in the other life the quarters are not determined toward fixed regions, as they are in the world; but according to fixed and ruling loves.

[4] For an angel or a spirit is his own love, and where the love is, thither he turns himself; they who are in love to the Lord and in charity toward the neighbor, and from this in faith, look at the Lord before them wherever they turn their bodies and their faces. For the Lord turns them to Himself, because He enters by the way of the east into them, and constantly keeps them in a determination toward Himself. Hence their external sight, determined by the internal sight that belongs to the understanding, and this by the love that belongs to the will, looks in the direction in which the love carries it. It is similar with men in the world in respect to their interiors that belong to their spirit. Moreover, in the other life all are distinguished according to the way in which each one turns himself. (That the spaces and places in the other life are of this nature, and that from this they signify states, see n. 2625, 2837, 3356, 3387, 4321, 4882, 5605, 7381, 9440, 9667, 10146)

10146. Before Jehovah. That this signifies from the Lord is evident from the fact that “Jehovah” in the Word denotes the Lord (see the places cited in n. 9373); that “before Jehovah” denotes from the Lord, is because “before” signifies presence, and the presence of the Lord exists in proportion to the reception of the good which is of love and of the truth which is of faith from Him; hence it is that “before the Lord” denotes from the Lord. The Lord is indeed present with every man, but He is present with the good in one way, and with the evil in another; with the good He is present in every particular they think from the truths of faith, and which they will from the good of love; and He is so present that He Himself is faith, and He Himself is love with them; consequently He is as if dwelling in them, according to the words of the Lord Himself in John:

The Spirit of truth shall abide with you, and shall be in you, and ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you. He that hath My commandments and doeth them, he it is that loveth Me; and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him (John 14:17-18, 20-21, 2 14:23).

[2] But with the evil the Lord is not present in every particular, because they have no faith or charity; but He is present in general, by which presence they have the faculty of thinking and willing, and also of receiving faith and charity; but only insofar as they desist from evils. Insofar as they do not desist from evils He appears absent; and the degrees of His absence are according to the absence of the truth and good of faith and of love. Thus they who are in heaven are in the presence of the Lord, but they who are in hell are in His absence.

[3] Nevertheless the fact is that the Lord is not absent from man, but man is absent from the Lord, for the man who is in evils looks backward from Him; and then the things which are before his eyes are present with him according to their affinities with the evils in which he is; for in the other life there is no space, but only the appearance of space according to the affinities of the thoughts and affections. This closely resembles the presence of the sun of this world in respect to its light and heat; the sun is equally present at all times; but when the earth turns itself from the sun, the light perishes, and shade comes on; first the shade of evening, and then the shade of night. And when the earth does not look directly to the sun, but obliquely, as in the time of winter, the heat perishes, and cold comes on, in consequence of which all things of the earth become torpid and die. This is also called the absence of the sun, when nevertheless it is the absence of the earth from the sun-not as to space, but as to the state of light and heat. This is said for the sake of illustration.