171. There is no way to describe briefly how things look to angels in the heavens. To a considerable extent, they look like the things we see on earth, but they are more perfect in form and also more abundant.

We may conclude that there are things like this in the heavens because of what the prophets saw - for example what Ezekiel saw of the new temple and the new earth as described in chapters 40-48 [of his book], what Daniel describes in his chapters 7-12, what John saw as described from the first through the last chapter of Revelation, along with other visions presented in both the historical and the prophetic books of the Word. They saw things like this when heaven was opened to them, and heaven is said to be opened when our inner sight, the sight of our spirit, is opened. For the things that exist in heaven cannot be seen with our physical eyes, but only with the eyes of our spirit; and when it pleases the Lord, these are opened. At such times we are led out of the natural light that our physical senses are in and raised into the spiritual light in which we dwell because of our spirit. This is the light in which I have seen the things that exist in the heavens.

Idols of stone signify worship from falsities of doctrine. Idols of wood signify worship from evils of doctrine. Idols of silver signify worship from what is false in life and doctrine. Idols of gold signify worship from evil, both in doctrine and life. 'To eat of things offered to idols,' signifies the appropriation of evil and adulteration of all good.

In Leviticus 26:1, this signifies the falsities of certain religions. (Apocalypse Explained 827[3])

In Judges 17:5, although Teraphim were idols, here they represent Divine truths. (Arcana Coelestia 4111)

(Odkazy: Arcana Coelestia 10503)