§41 countless communities 23
Lastly, let me disclose a particular secret about the angels of the three 39
heavens that people have not been aware of until now because they have
not understood levels. It is this, that within every angel—and within
every one of us here—there is a central or highest level, or a central and
highest something, where the Lord’s divine life flows in first and most
intimately. It is from this center that the Lord arranges the other, rela-
tively internal aspects within us that follow in sequence according to the
levels of the overall design. This central or highest level can be called the
Lord’s gateway to the angels or to us, his essential dwelling within us.
It is this central or highest level that makes us human and distin-
guishes us from the lower animals, since they do not have it. This is why
we, unlike animals, can be raised up by the Lord toward himself, as far as
all the deeper levels of our mind and character are concerned. This is
why we can believe in him, be moved by love for him, and therefore see
him. It is why we can receive intelligence and wisdom, and talk ratio-
nally. It is also why we live forever.
However, what is arranged and provided by the Lord at this center
does not fl ow into the open perception of any angel, because it is higher
than angelic thought, and surpasses angelic wisdom.
These, then, are some of the general facts about the three heavens. 40
In the following pages, we will need to say more about each heaven in
particular.
The Heavens Are Made Up
of Countless Communities
41
T
HE angels of any given heaven are not all together in one place, but
are separated into larger and smaller communities depending ondifferences in the good effects of the love and faith they are engaged in.
Angels engaged in similar activities form a single community. There is an