673. Verse 13. And in that hour, signifies during that state. This is evident from the signification of "hour," as being state, so here that state when "the two witnesses went up into heaven, and their enemies beheld them." "Hour" signifies state, because in the Word times and all expressions pertaining to time, like "hours," "days," "weeks," "months," "years," "ages," as also "morning," "noon," "evening," "night," likewise "spring," "summer," "autumn," and "winter," signify states of life. (That times have this signification has been illustrated and shown in the work on Heaven and Hell 162-169, where Time in Heaven is treated of; also above, n. 571, 610, 664; and that "hour" signifies any duration of state, greater or less, thus time and state, see above, n. 194; and that the number adjoined defines what is the quality of the state, n. 488.)

1274. The marvels existing in the next life include the following:

1. Communities of spirits and of angels, as regards position, appear distinct and separate from one another, even though places and distances in the next life are nothing other than varieties of state.

2. Position and distances are relative to the human body, so that people on the right thus seem to be stationed on the right whichever way the body turns. The same applies to those on the left, or in any other direction.

3. No spirits and angels are so far away that they cannot be seen; yet no more come into view than the Lord allows to do so.

4. When the Lord allows it, spirits whom others are thinking about - for example, people who had been known to them in some way during their lifetime - are present in an instant. They come close enough to be heard or touched, or stand a little way off, notwithstanding the fact that they may have been several thousands of miles away, even up among the stars. The reason is that spatial distance is meaningless in the next life.

5. With angels no idea of time exists; it is the same in the world of spirits, but more completely so in heaven. What then must the situation be with the Lord, to whom every single human being is inescapably most fully present and beneath His view and Providence?

These things seem unbelievable but are nevertheless true.