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.

3565. 'And he blessed him' means resulting conjunction. This is clear from the meaning of 'being blessed' as conjunction, dealt with in 3504, 3514, 3530. In this state however the conjunction was none other than that described in 3563. Inmost, but not intermediate, conjunction existed with truth represented by Jacob, so that it was a conjunction through the end in view, which is inmost good and which could be actualized in this way and no other way. When such an end exists a conjunction of inmost things with outermost ones is effected first. Intermediate conjunction comes gradually. This the end brings about, for all progress lies with the end. Indeed the Lord acts through ends, and by means of them gradually re-arranges intermediate things into proper order. This is the origin of the conjunction meant by the reference to Isaac blessing Jacob.