228. About the state of the damned in hell

In the night between the 29th and 30th of October (old calendar), 1747, I had a dream from which I awoke again and again, for evil spirits were attacking me from everywhere to the point where I was unable to continue sleeping. After a number of awakenings, when I was finally fully awake, I was being shaken throughout my whole body, and I plainly saw a kind of column surrounding me. I was able to perceive it by sense.

As I was waiting [to find out] what would come of this - I judged that I was being defended in this way from evil spirits - I could feel that tangible column becoming successively larger. The thought crept in that this was the "brazen wall," as it is called [Jer. 1:18, 15:20], which defends believers against the attack of evil spirits. Therefore, when there continued to be this column or wall around me, which could not but consist of angels in whose midst was God the Messiah, Who is the "Brazen Wall," then I realized the reason for it, namely that I was being let down to the unhappy in hell, in order to see their condition and then report to the world, especially to the incredulous or unbelieving person, that there is a hell - and not only that there is a hell, but also what their state is like, though I really cannot describe it satisfactorily. I heard lamentations, and indeed, such as this: "Oh God, oh God, may Jesus Christ have mercy, may Jesus Christ have mercy!" That, which was the first thing to draw my attention, went on for some time.

After this, while I was in hell, and actually in the body as I am today, one of those miserable people was allowed to speak with me, which also continued for a rather long time, but I am not able to recount the conversation - only this at present, that they were complaining about those spirits at liberty, or those furies [218, 223] who are still being lodged in the third heaven, ¹ saying it is they who are tormenting them, for it is their passion to torment people, and any spirit whatever. In short, their torments are unspeakable. But I was allowed to encourage them with some hope, so that they would not wholly despair (for they were saying that they believed the torment would be eternal), telling them that God the Messiah is merciful, and we read in His Word that "those bound in the pit" are to be released [Zach. 9:11, Ps. 40:2, Is. 51:14], where "the pit" means hell. This I also heard confirmed from above so that they might have some comfort, which they then said they did feel.

Something still more wonderful - I testify to you that you may believe it, for it is true - is that God the Messiah, moved by innermost mercy, appeared to them out of Heaven, and indeed, as it was told to me, in glory. Even I was able to discern it, although not as clearly as the unhappy spirits. They made it known that they had received much consolation from this occurrence. It is now being said to me in my ear that the angels also have comforted them and will continue to comfort them. Moreover, I also want you to believe this one thing that I know to be true because I observed it: many of them were raised up from hell and torment, into heaven, where they are living today; and to one of them, who had suffered the greatest torment, it seemed that God the Messiah embraced and kissed him. Afterwards also, many freed from hell were raised into heaven. In the night between 29 and 30 October (old calendar), 1747.

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