231. It is the Divine Truth going forth from the Lord that has all power in the heavens, for the Lord in heaven is Divine Truth united to Divine Good (see 126-140). To the extent that angels are receptions of this truth they are powers. ¹ Moreover, each one is his own truth and his own good because each one is such as his understanding and will are. The understanding is formed of truth because everything of it is from truths, and the will is formed of good because everything of it is from goods; for whatever any one understands he calls truth, and whatever he wills he calls good. From this it is that every one is his own truth and his own good. ² Therefore so far as an angel is truth from the Divine and good from the Divine he is a power, because to that extent the Lord is in him. And as no one is in good and truth quite the same as another, since in heaven, as in the world, there is endless variety (20), therefore one angel is not in the same power as another is. Those who constitute the arms in the Grand Man, or heaven, have the greatest power because such are more in truths than others, and into their truths, good flows from the entire heaven. Moreover, the power of the whole man passes into the arms, and by means of these the whole body exercises its powers. It is for this reason that in the Word "arms" and "hands" signify power. ³ Sometimes on this account a naked arm is seen in heaven so powerful as to be able to break in pieces every thing in its way, even though it were a great rock on the earth. Once it was moved towards me, and I perceived that it was able to crush my bones to powder.

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