2850. 'And like the sand which is on the seashore' means a whole multitude of correspondent facts. This is clear from the meaning of 'the sea' as facts in general or a gathering together of them, dealt with in 28, 2120, and from the meaning of 'the sand' as facts individually and separately. Facts are compared to 'the sand' because in the internal sense the particles of stone from which the sand is formed mean facts, 643, 1298. Both comparisons are made here - that they will be multiplied 'as the stars of the heavens' and 'as the sand on the seashore 'because 'stars', or cognitions, are related to the rational, whereas 'the sand of the seashore', or facts, are related to the natural. When the things that belong to the rational man, namely the goods and truths present in cognitions, so exist in accordance with the things that belong to the natural man, that is to say, with facts, that they make one or mutually support each other, they in that case correspond. The Lord brings man's rational concepts and his natural images into this state of correspondence when He regenerates him, that is, makes him spiritual. It is for this reason that both the stars of the heavens and the sand on the seashore are mentioned here. Otherwise one phrase would have been sufficient.

2121. The Last Judgement is now imminent, but this is not so clear on earth and within the Church as it is in the next life, to which place all souls go and flock together. At the present time the world of spirits is full of evil genii and evil spirits drawn for the most part from the Christian world. Among them nothing but forms of hatred, revenge, cruelty, disgusting behaviour, and also scheming devices prevail. This is the situation not only in the world of spirits where souls recently arrived from the world first gather, but also in the interior sphere of that world where those people are who, as regards their intentions and ends in view, have been interiorly evil. This interior sphere is at the present time so full to capacity that I have wondered that so vast a number could ever exist. For all are not cast down into the hells instantly, since the laws of order ensure that every such person shall return to the life that was his during his lifetime, and from that point be taken down step by step into hell. The Lord casts no one down into hell, but everyone does so to himself. Consequently those worlds of spirits are completely full to overflowing - with the vast number of such souls gathering and remaining there for a time. Because of them souls coming from the world are horribly oppressed. And in addition the spirits who are present with a person - for everyone is governed by the Lord by means of spirits and angels - are stirred more than ever before to afflict him with wicked suggestions, doing so to such an extent that the angels present with him can scarcely ward them off, but are compelled to flow into that person from further away. From this situation as it exists in the next life it is quite clear that the final period is imminent.