8707. 'And make known to them the way in which they must go' means the light of intelligence and the life led as a result of it. This is clear from the meaning of 'the way' as that which has reference to the understanding of truth, dealt with in 627, 2333, in this instance on a more internal level since it has reference to the understanding of truth which a member of the spiritual Church possesses as a result of the direct influx of truth from the Lord, an influx which does not bring a person any actual discernment of truth, only the light that enables him to use his understanding (the situation with this light is as it is with the light which the sight of the eye depends on. In order that the eye may see objects light is necessary, providing illumination all around; in this light the eye sees and discerns objects, and is struck by their beauty and delightfulness because of their accord with true order. The situation is similar with the sight of the inner eye which is the understanding, in order that this may see, light is again necessary, providing illumination all around, in which objects that are matters of intelligence and wisdom may manifest themselves. The source of this light is Divine Truth which goes forth directly from the Lord, see 8644 (end); and objects in that light appear beautiful and delightful to the extent that they accord with the good anyone possesses); and from the meaning of 'in which (light) they must go' as the life led as a result. For the meaning of 'going' in the internal sense as life, see 3335, 4882, 5493, 5605, 8417, 8420.

4416. The character of spirits in the next life is apparent from the light in which they dwell, for, as has been stated, the light by which they see corresponds to the light by which they perceive. People who have been acquainted with truths and have also substantiated them, and yet have led a life of evil, are seen to dwell in light which is white as snow, yet cold like the light of winter. But when such people approach those who dwell in the light of heaven their own light becomes thoroughly darkened and turns into pitch darkness. And when they withdraw from the light of heaven an inferior yellow light like that from sulphur takes its place, in which they themselves look like ghosts and their truths like ethereal shapes. For their truths have accompanied a false faith, the nature of this faith being such that they believed truths, but only because they thereby earned position, gain, and reputation. It made no difference to them what the truth may have been; all that mattered was the acceptance of it.

[2] Those however who are under the influence of evil and consequently of falsities are seen dwelling in an inferior light like that of a charcoal fire. This becomes a thoroughly murky light when it comes near the light of heaven. But the light by which those people see varies according to the falsity and evil which govern them. From this one could also see why people who lead a life of evil cannot possibly have faith in Divine truths that springs from sincerity of heart, for they are dwelling in that smoke-filled light which, when heavenly light falls upon it, becomes dark to them, as a result of which they see neither with their eyes nor with their mind. At the same time they suffer intense pains and some sink into a kind of unconsciousness. Consequently the evil cannot possibly accept truth, only the good can.

[3] Someone who is leading a life of evil is incapable of believing that he dwells in an inferior light like that because he is not able to see the light in which his spirit dwells, only the light in which the sight of his eye and consequently his natural mind dwells. But if he could see the light of his spirit and could find out what it would then become if the light of truth and good from heaven were to flow into it, he would know full well how far away he was from receiving the things of light, that is, matters of faith, and how much farther away he was from assimilating the things of charity, and so how distant he was from heaven.