Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 960

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

960. There are certain spirits given to deceit who while they lived in the world practised their deceptions in secret, some of whom in order to deceive have pretended by cunning devices to be angels. In the next life they learn in addition how to retreat into a less corporeal nature and to remove themselves out of everyone else's sight. They imagine that by doing this they are safe from all punishment. But they, like the others, not only undergo the punishments of mutilation in accordance with the nature and wickedness of their deception, but also they are all lumped together. And when this happens, the more they desire to disband themselves or cut loose from one another the more tightly they are bound together. A more drastic torment accompanies this punishment because it answers to their more concealed deceptions.


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church