498. This first state after death lasts a few days for some people, months for some, and a year for some, but rarely more than a year for anyone. The difference for particular individuals depends on the harmony or discord between their inner and outer natures. These inner and outer natures must act as one and correspond for everyone. No one is allowed to think and intend one way and speak and act another way in the spiritual world. Everyone must be an image of his or her affection or love, which means we must be outwardly what we are inwardly. This is why the outer concerns of a spirit are first stripped off and brought into order: so that they may serve as a plane responsive to the inner ones.

3531. 'And his mother said to him' means perception from the Divine Truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'saying' as perceiving, often dealt with already, and from the representation of Rebekah, to whom 'mother' refers here, as the Divine Truth of the Lord's Divine Rational, dealt with in 3012, 3013.