Let
them know, therefore, that every man is born for heaven, and that he
is received that receives heaven in himself in the world, and he that
does not receive it is shut out.
{Footnote 1} Those are the elect who are in a life of good and
truth (n. 3755, 3900). Election and reception into heaven are
not from mercy, as that term is understood, but are in
accordance with the life (n. 5057, 5058). There is no mercy of
the Lord apart from means, but only through means, that is, to
those that live in accordance with His precepts; such the Lord
from His mercy leads continually in the world, and afterwards
to eternity (n. 8700, 10659).
{Footnote 2} By the "poor," in the Word, those are meant who
are spiritually poor, that is, who are ignorant of truth and
yet wish to be taught (n. 9209, 9253, 10227). Such are said to
hunger and thirst, which is to desire knowledges of good and of
truth, by which there is introduction into the church and into
heaven (n. 4958, 10227).
421. XLIV. WHAT THE WORLD OF SPIRITS IS.
The world of spirits is not heaven, nor is it hell, but it is the
intermediate place or state between the two; for it is the place that
man first enters after death; and from which after a suitable time he
is either raised up into heaven or cast down into hell in accord with
his life in the world.
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