1877. At first, people who are souls or spirits in the world of spirits (especially the bad ones) hold on to what they had during their physical life: earthly, bodily, and worldly concerns, and along with them, any principles they had adopted. Such people include those who are unwilling to hear anything about the Word's inner sense but only about the literal meaning. They even believe that the twelve apostles will sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Again, they believe that the only people who can go to heaven are those who are poor, unhappy, and persecuted. 1 The truth is that both the rich and the powerful go there, if they have lived a life of charity and faith in the Lord.
Since people like this demand heaven as their just reward, they run around making fun of the message of the Word's inner meaning wherever they go, because it opposes their delusions and cravings. I saw them do so. What they want is to earn heaven and to be promoted above everybody else, but they resemble diseases and poisons that enter the bloodstream, spread through the veins and arteries, and pollute the whole supply of blood.
Footnotes:
1. On the judgment of the twelve tribes by the apostles, see Matthew 19:28 and Luke 22:30. The reference to the poor, unhappy, and persecuted is an allusion to the Beatitudes: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted... . Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3, 4, 10; New Revised Standard Version). [RS]
