394. 7. This atmosphere is also an atmosphere of innocence and peace from the Lord. Innocence and peace are the two innermost elements of heaven. We call them innermost, because they emanate directly from the Lord. For the Lord is the essence of innocence and the essence of peace. Because of His innocence the Lord is called a Lamb, ¹ and because of His peace He says, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you" (John 14:27). His peace is also meant as well by the peace with which the twelve disciples were to greet whatever city or household they entered, and if it were worthy, to let the peace come upon it, and if not worthy, to let the peace return (Matthew 10:11-13). For the same reason the Lord is also called the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6-7).

Innocence and peace are the innermost elements of heaven for the further reason that innocence is the very essence of every good, and peace is the serenity of every delight that is connected with good. (See the book, Heaven and Hell, on "The State of Innocence of Angels in Heaven," nos. 276-283, and "The State of Peace in Heaven," nos. 284-290.)

Fußnoten:

276. The State of Innocence of Angels in Heaven

Not many people in our world know what innocence is or what its quality is, and people involved in evil do not know at all. It is, of course, visible to our eyes - something about the face and the voice and the gestures, especially of infants - but still we do not know what it is, much less that it is where heaven lies concealed within us. To make it known, I should like to proceed in order and talk first about the innocence of infancy, and then about the innocence of wisdom, and finally about the state of heaven in respect to innocence.