5688. New arrivals in the other life are at first held in their outer qualities, why
Those who have just come into the other life first are held in [their] outer qualities for a time, to the point that the life they have there is almost as it is in the world; some of them scarcely know they have departed from the world. It is therefore a continuation of life. But after this their outer qualities are taken away, and then it is evident what their inner qualities are.
5688. RECENT ARRIVALS IN THE OTHER LIFE ARE KEPT AT FIRST IN EXTERNALS - WHY?
Those who first come into the other life are kept in externals, for a time, to such a degree that their life there is almost of such a kind as it was in the world. Some of them scarcely know that they have departed from the world: it is, therefore, a continuation of life. But, afterwards, externals are taken away; and then is made evident of what quality the interiors are.
5688. Quod recentes in altera vita primum teneantur in externis, cur
Qui primum in alteram vitam veniunt, tenentur in externis quoad tempus, usque adeo, ut fere similis vita illis ibi est qualis in mundo, quidam eorum vix sciunt quod ex mundo decesserint, est ideo continuatio vitae: sed postea externa illorum auferuntur, et tunc patet, qualia sunt interiora.