But when it pleases the Lord
there is seen in the lower heavens from that source something like a
flame, and from the thoughts and affections in the middle heaven
there is seen in the outmost heaven something luminous, and sometimes
a cloud glowing white and variegated. From that cloud, its ascent,
descent, and form, what is being said there is in some measure known.
211. From all this it can be seen what the form of heaven is, namely,
that it is the most perfect of all in the inmost heaven; in the
middle heaven it is also perfect, but in a lower degree, and in the
outmost heaven in a degree still lower; also that the form of one
heaven has its permanent existence from another by means of influx
from the Lord. But what communication by influx is cannot be
understood unless it is known what degrees of height are, and how
they differ from degrees of length and breadth. What these different
degrees are may be seen above (n 38).
212. When it comes to the particulars of the form of heaven and how
it proceeds and flows, this not even the angels can comprehend. Some
conception of it can be gained from the form of all things in the
human body, when this is scanned and investigated by an acute and
wise man; for it has been shown above, in their respective chapters,
that the entire heaven reflects a single man (see n.
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