§33 three heavens 19
b. There are three heavens, a central one, an intermediate one, and an outmost one, or a third, a
second, and a fi rst: 684 , 8594 [ 9594 ], 10270. The different kinds of good also follow in the same
triple sequence: 4938 , 4939 , 9992 , 10005 , 10017. The good of the central or third heaven is called
heavenly, the good of the intermediate or second is called spiritual, and the good of the outmost
or fi rst is called spiritual-natural: 4279 , 4286 , 4938 , 4639 , 9992 , 10005 , 10017 , 10068.
called heavenly angels. The divine nature that fl ows from the Lord and is
accepted in the second or intermediate heaven is called spiritual, and the
angels there are consequently called spiritual angels. The divine nature,
though, that fl ows from the Lord and is accepted in the outmost or fi rst
heaven is called natural. However, since the “natural” of that heaven is not
like the “natural” of our world, but has something spiritual and heavenly
within it, that heaven is called “spiritual-natural” or “heavenly-natural,”
and the angels there are called “spiritual-natural” or “heavenly-natural.”b
The angels called spiritual-natural are the ones who accept an infl ow
from the intermediate or second heaven, which is the spiritual heaven,
while the angels called heavenly-natural are the ones who accept an
infl ow from the central or third heaven, which is the heavenly heaven.
Spiritual-natural and heavenly-natural angels are different from each
other, but they constitute one heaven because they are all on the same
level.
There is an outside and an inside to each heaven. The angels who are 32
in the inner region are there called “inner angels,” while the ones in the
outer region are called “outer angels.” The outside and the inside in the
heavens (or in each particular heaven) are like our own volitional side and
its cognitive aspect. Everything volitional has its cognitive side—neither
occurs without the other. The volitional is like a fl ame and the cognitive
like the light that it sheds.
It needs to be quite clear that it is the inner nature of angels that 33
determines which heaven they are in. The more the deeper levels have
been opened, the more inward the heaven they are in. There are three
inner levels of every angel and spirit, and of every person here as well.
The people whose third level has been opened are in the central heaven,
while the people whose second or fi rst only has been opened are in the
intermediate or the outmost heaven.
The deeper levels are opened by our acceptance of divine good and
divine true gifts. People who are actually affected by divine true gifts and
let them directly into their lives—into their intentions and therefore into
act—are in the central or third heaven, located there according to their