1. THE FAITH OF THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW CHURCH

A statement of faith, set out in both universal and particular terms, is placed at the beginning to serve as a preface to the book which follows, to be like a doorway leading into a church, and a summary presenting in a short compass what follows at more length. It is called the faith of the new heaven and the new church, because heaven, where the angels are, and the church among men form a single unit, just as the internal and external sides of the personality make up a single individual. This is why a member of the church who possesses the good of love which arises from the truths of faith, and possesses the truths of faith which arise from the good of love, is, so far as the interiors of his mind are concerned, an angel of heaven. Therefore too after dying he comes into heaven, and there enjoys happiness depending upon how far the good and truth are linked. It should be known that in the new heaven, which is at the present time being established by the Lord, this statement of faith serves as its preface, doorway and summary.

799. I spoke with many followers of those three leaders and also with many heretics. I was allowed to draw the conclusion that any of them who had led a life of charity, and more so those who had loved truth because it is true, allow themselves to be taught in the spiritual world, and accept the teachings of the new church. Those, however, who have convinced themselves of false religious beliefs, and those too who have led a wicked life, do not allow themselves to be taught, and these withdraw little by little from the new heaven, and associate with the people like themselves who are in hell. There they become more and more convinced in their firm opposition to the worship of the Lord, to such a point that they cannot bear to hear the name of Jesus. It is the reverse of this in heaven, where all with one accord acknowledge the Lord as the God of heaven.

267. XIII. The Word also serves to enlighten those who are outside the church and do not possess the Word.

There can be no link with heaven unless somewhere on earth there is a church, which possesses the Word, and so the Lord is known because the Lord is the God of heaven and earth, and without Him salvation is impossible. A link with the Lord is established by means of the Word, and so is association with angels: see 234-239 ¹ . It is enough if there is a church which possesses the Word, even though it is composed of relatively few people. The Lord is still present by its means throughout the world, for the Word effects a link between heaven and the human race.

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