2286. merely material mental imagery-which is not at all compatible with their character. Such things are far beneath or outside of them, so that obviously the words and names in the Word of the Lord do not mean [to them] the personal specifics with which the literal level of meaning deals, but inward things that are angelic, consequently spiritual and heavenly things, thus Divine ones. So if by Moses, Aaron, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob someone [reading] understands persons, [the names] would hardly be understood by a single angel. For when such names enter into heaven, they pass into complete oblivion with the angels, for they take on spiritual and heavenly, thus universal imagery, symbolizing higher realities. 1748, 10 June.