608.当知道，存在三层天堂，它们按照爱与智的三个等级而彼此有别，随着人重生，他通过这三层天堂和天人保持联系，由于这个原因，人类心智根据三层天堂被分成三个等级或区域。但关于这三层天堂，以及它们如何按照爱与智的三个等级而各有不同，可查看《天堂与地狱》（n.29），还可查看小册子《灵魂与身体的互动》（n. 16，17）。在此仅通过一个比喻，就足以说明区分天堂的这三个等级的性质。它们就象人的头、躯体与脚，最高天堂构成头，中间天堂构成躯体，最低天堂构成脚。因为整个天堂在主眼里如同一个人。这一事实已通过我的亲自观察透露给我，因为我蒙允许看到由成千上万人构成的单个天堂社群完全就象单个人。那么为何整个天堂在主面前就不能看似这样呢？有关这活生生的经历，可查看《天堂与地狱》（n.59）。
这也使得我们该如何理解基督教界众所周知的这一事实清楚明了，即教会是基督的肢体，基督是那肢体的生命。还阐明了这一事实，即主是天堂万物的全部，因为祂是那肢体的生命。同样，主就是与那些唯独承认祂为天地之神，并信靠祂的人同在的教会。主亲自教导，祂就是天地之神（马太福音28:18），人当信靠祂（约翰福音3:15，16，36；6:40；11:25，26）。
608. 当知道, 存在三层天堂, 它们按照爱与智的三个等级而彼此有别, 随着人重生, 他通过这三层天堂和天人保持联系, 由于这个原因, 人类心智根据三层天堂被分成三个等级或区域。 但关于这三层天堂, 以及它们如何按照爱与智的三个等级而各有不同, 可查看,天国与地狱29, 还可查看小册子,灵魂与身体的互动16, 17。 在此仅通过一个比喻, 就足以说明区分天堂的这三个等级的性质。 它们就象人的头, 躯体与脚, 最高天堂构成头, 中间天堂构成躯体, 最低天堂构成脚。 因为整个天堂在主眼里如同一个人。 这一事实已通过我的亲自观察透露给我, 因为我蒙允许看到由成千上万人构成的单个天堂社群完全就象单个人。 那么为何整个天堂在主面前就不能看似这样呢? 有关这活生生的经历, 可查看天堂与地狱59。
这也使得我们该如何理解基督教界众所周知的这一事实清楚明了, 即教会是基督的肢体, 基督是那肢体的生命。 还阐明了这一事实, 即主是天堂万物的全部, 因为祂是那肢体的生命。 同样, 主就是与那些唯独承认祂为天地之神, 并信靠祂的人同在的教会。 主亲自教导, 祂就是天地之神 (马太福音28:18), 人当信靠祂 (约翰福音3:15-16, 36; 6:40; 11:25-26)。
608. It is important to know that there are three heavens and that they are divided up according to three levels of love and wisdom. As we progress in our regeneration we come into fellowship with angels from those three heavens. Because this is the case, the human mind, too, has three levels or areas just like the heavens. (For more on the three heavens and their division according to the three levels of love and wisdom, see Heaven and Hell 29 and following; see also the little work Soul-Body Interaction 16-17.)
Here the nature of the three levels into which the heavens are divided will be illustrated only by a comparison. They are like the head, the upper body, and the lower body in a person. The highest heaven constitutes the head; the middle heaven, the upper body; and the lowest heaven, the lower body. In fact, the whole of heaven in the Lord's sight is like one human being. The truth of this has been disclosed to me through firsthand experience: I was given permission to see an entire community of heaven, which consisted of tens of thousands of angels, as one human being. Why would the whole of heaven not appear that way before the Lord? For more on this living experience, see Heaven and Hell 59 and following.
[2] This also clarifies how we should understand the well-known saying in the Christian world that the church constitutes the body of Christ, and that Christ is the life within this body. It serves as well to illustrate the point that the Lord is everything to all heaven, since he is the life within that body. The Lord is also the life within the church that exists among people who acknowledge him alone as the God of heaven and earth and who believe in him. (He himself teaches, in Matthew 28:18, that he is the God of heaven and earth, and in John 3:15-16, 36; 6:40; 11:25-26, that we are to believe in him.)
608. It should be known that there are three heavens, distinguished in accordance with the three degrees of love and wisdom, and in proportion as a person is regenerated he is in touch with angels from the three heavens. This too is the reason the human mind is divided into three degrees or levels to answer to the heavens. On the three heavens and how they differ according to the three degrees of love and wisdom, see my HEAVEN AND HELL (29ff) and also the tract THE INTERACTION OF SOUL AND BODY 1 (16-17). Here I can only use a simile to illustrate the nature of the three degrees which distinguish the heavens. They are like the head, trunk and feet in the human body. The highest heaven makes up the head, the middle heaven the trunk, the lowest the feet. For the whole of heaven is in the Lord's sight like one human being. I have had the truth of this revealed to me by seeing for myself, for I have been permitted to see a community in heaven containing thousands all at one time looking like a single human being. Why then should not the whole of heaven look like this to the Lord? On this direct experience see my book HEAVEN AND HELL (59ff).
[2] This too makes it plain how we must understand the fact well known in the Christian world, that the church makes up the Body of Christ, and that Christ is the life of that body. It will also serve as an illustration of the fact that the Lord is the all in all of heaven, since He is the life in that body. Likewise the Lord is the church for those who acknowledge Him alone as the God of heaven and earth and believe in Him. He Himself teaches that He is the God of heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18); and that He is to be believed in (John 3:15-16, 36; 6:40; 11:25-26).
Footnotes:
1. At present published under the English title THE INTERCOURSE [or INTERACTION] OF THE SOUL AND THE BODY.
608. It must be known that there are three heavens, and these distinct from each other according to the three degrees of love and wisdom, and that man is in communion with the angels of those three heavens in the measure of his regeneration; and this being so, that the human mind is divided into three degrees or regions in accord with the heavens. But on these three heavens and their division in accordance with the three degrees of love and wisdom, see the work on Heaven and Hell (n. 29 seq.); and also the pamphlet on . Here it will be sufficient merely to illustrate, by a simile, the nature of the three degrees in accordance with which the heavens are divided. They are like the head, body, and feet in man; the highest heaven constituting the head, the middle the body, and the lowest the feet; for the whole heaven is before the Lord like one man. The truth of this has been disclosed to me by actual observation, for it has been granted me to see wholly as one man a single society of heaven, which consisted of thousands. Why then should not the whole heaven so appear to the Lord? Respecting this living experience, see the work on Heaven and Hell (n. 59seq.). This makes clear what is meant by this, which is well known in the Christian world, that the church constitutes the body of Christ, and that Christ is the life of that body. And this also is thus made clear, namely, that the Lord is the all in all things of heaven, since He is the life of that body. Likewise, the Lord is the church with those who acknowledge Him alone as the God of heaven and earth, and believe in Him. That He is the God of heaven and earth, He Himself teaches in Matthew 28:18; and that men ought to believe in Him, in John 3:15-16, 36; 6:40; 11:25-26).
608. It should be known that there are three heavens, distinct from one another according to the three degrees of love and wisdom; and that a man, according to the stage of his regeneration, is in communion with angels of those three heavens; and that this is the reason why the human mind is distinguished into three degrees or regions, according to the heavens. Concerning those three heavens, and their distinction according to the three degrees of love and wisdom, more may be seen in the book, Heaven and Hell 29 and following numbers, and also in the small work, The Intercourse between the Soul and the Body 16-17. At this point the nature of the three degrees according to which the heavens are distinguished will only be illustrated by a comparison. They are like the head, the body and the feet in a man, the highest heaven forming the head, the middle the body, and the lowest the feet; for the whole heaven is in the Lord's sight as one man. That this is so, has been made known to me from my own observation; for it was granted me to see one society of heaven, which consisted of ten thousand, as one man. Why, then, should not the whole heaven so appear to the Lord? Concerning this actual experience, see Heaven and Hell 59, and following numbers.
It is, therefore, evident how this truth, acknowledged throughout the Christian world, is to be understood, that the Church constitutes the body of Christ, and that Christ is the life of that body. It may also serve to illustrate that the Lord is the All-in-all of heaven, for He is the life in that body. Similarly, the Lord is the Church with those who acknowledge Him alone to be God of heaven and earth, and believe on Him. That He is the God of heaven and earth, He Himself teaches in Matthew 28:18; and that all men ought to believe on Him, in John 3:15, 18, 36; 6:40; 11:25, 28.
608. Sciendum est, quod tres Coeli sint, et illi inter se distincti secundum tres gradus amoris et sapientiae, et quod homo secundum regenerationem sit in communione cum Angelis ex tribus illis coelis; et quia ita est, quod Mens humana distincta sit in tres gradus seu regiones secundum coelos; sed de tribus his coelis, et de distinctione illorum secundum tres gradus amoris et sapientiae, videatur in Libro de COELO ET INFERNO 29, seq. et quoque in Codicillo de COMMERCIO ANIMAE ET CORPORIS 16-17. Hic solum per aliquam similitudinem illustrandum est, quales tres gradus sunt, secundum quos Coeli illi distincti sunt; sunt sicut in homine sunt 1 caput, corpus et pedes; supremum Coelum facit Caput, medium facit Corpus, ac Ultimum facit Pedes; nam est Universum Coelum coram Domino sicut unus Homo: quod ita sit, detectum est mihi per autopsiam; datum enim est mihi videre unam Societatem Coeli, quae ex myriade constabat, sicut unum hominem simul; quid non universum Coelum coram Domino; de hac viva Experientia videatur in Libro de COELO ET INFERNO 59 seq.
[2] Inde etiam patet, quomodo intelligitur hoc notum in Christiano Orbe, quod Ecclesia faciat Corpus Christi, et quod Christus sit vita istius corporis: per id etiam illustrari potest hoc, quod Dominus sit omne in omnibus Coeli, nam est vita in illo corpore; similiter est Dominus Ecclesia apud illos qui Ipsum Solum pro Deo Coeli et Terrae agnoscunt, et in Ipsum credunt; quod Ipse sit Deus Coeli et Terrae, docet Ipse apud Matthaeum 28:18, et quod in Ipsum credendum sit, Johannes 3:15-16, 36; 2 Johannes 6:40; 11:25-26.
Footnotes: