64 The divine omnipresence can be illustrated by the amazing way angels
and spirits become present to each other in the spiritual world. Because
there is no [physical] space in that world—there is only apparent space—
an angel or a spirit can be visibly present with another in a moment, pro-
vided she or he comes into the same state of love and thought [as that
other], since love and thought create the appearance of space.
All who are in the spiritual world have this way of becoming present.
This became clear to me from the fact that I was able to see people from
Africa and India nearby in that world, although we were many thousands
of miles apart on earth. In fact, I was able to become visibly present with
people on planets in this solar system and even with people on planets in
other solar systems beyond this one.
Through this method of being present not in a place but in the
appearance of a place, I have spoken with apostles, and with deceased
popes, emperors, and monarchs; with Luther, Calvin, and Melanchthon,
the founders of the modern-day church; and with others from distant
regions. If angels and spirits have such a method of being present, surely
an infinite divine presence exists throughout the universe.
The reason angels and spirits have this method of being present is
that every feeling of love and every resulting thought in the intellect is in
space independently of space and in time independently of time. Any
one of us can think about a sibling, a relative, or a friend who is in the
Indies, and then focus on those people as if they were present with us.
We can also feel love for them on the basis of our memories. These phe-
nomena, which are known to us, illustrate the divine omnipresence to
some extent.
The divine omnipresence can also be illustrated by human thoughts.
When we call to mind things we saw at this or that place while traveling,
it is as if we are present in those places again.
Indeed, our physical eyesight emulates this presence. It is unaware of
an object’s distance except through things in between that provide a
means of measuring. In fact, the sun itself would seem to be near to or
even in our eye if things between us and the sun did not indicate that it is
very far distant. People who have written on optics have recorded this
phenomenon in their books.
The reason why our minds as well as our bodies have vision that can
be present in this way is that our spirit sees through our spiritual eyes.
Animals do not have a similar mental presence, however, since they have
no spiritual sight.
singke
(singke)
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