HHS18 366-386

20/02/2023 25 min
HHS18 366-386

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366. MARRIAGES IN HEAVEN.
As heaven is from the human race, and angels therefore are of both sexes, and from creation woman is for man and man is for woman, thus the one belongs to the other, and this love is innate in both, it follows that there are marriages in heaven as well as on the earth. But marriages in heaven differ widely from marriages on the earth. Therefore what marriages in heaven are, and how they differ from marriages on the earth and wherein they are like them, shall now be told.

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367. Marriage in heaven is a conjunction of two into one mind. It must first be explained what this conjunction is. The mind consists of two parts, one called the understanding and the other the will. When these two parts act as one they are called one mind. In heaven the husband acts the part called the understanding and the wife acts the part called the will. When this conjunction, which belongs to man's interiors, descends into the lower parts pertaining to the body, it is perceived and felt as love, and this love is marriage love. This shows that marriage love has its origin in the conjunction of two into one mind. This in heaven is called cohabitation; and the two are not called two but one. So in heaven a married pair is spoken of, not as two, but as one angel.[1]
[1] It is not known at this day what marriage love is, or whence it is (see number 2727).
Marriage love is willing what another wills, thus willing mutually and reciprocally (see number 2731).
Those that are in marriage love dwell together in the inmosts of life (see number 2732).
It is such a union of two minds that from love they are one (see numbers 10168, 10169).
For the love of minds, which is spiritual love, is a union (see numbers 1594, 2057, 3939, 4018, 5807, 6195, 7081-7086, 7501, 10130).

368. Moreover, such a conjunction of husband and wife in the inmosts of their minds comes from their very creation; for man is born to be intellectual, that is, to think from the understanding, while woman is born to be affectional, that is, to think from her will; and this is evident from the inclination or natural disposition of each, also from their form; from the disposition, in that man acts from reason and woman from affection; from the form in that man has a rougher and less beautiful face, a deeper voice and a harder body; while woman has a smoother and more beautiful face, a softer voice, and a more tender body. There is a like difference between understanding and will, or between thought and affection; so, too, between truth and good and between faith and love; for truth and faith belong to the understanding, and good and love to the will. From this it is that in the Word "youth" or "man" means in the spiritual sense the understanding of truth, and "virgin" or "woman" affection for good; also that the church, on account of its affection for good and truth, is called a "woman" and a "virgin;" also that all those that are in affection for good are called "virgins" (as in Apoc. 14 verse 4).[1]
[1] In the Word "young men" signify understanding of truth, or the intelligent (see number 7668).
"Men" have the same signification (see numbers 158, 265, 749, 915, 1007, 2517, 3134, 3236, 4823, 9007).
"Woman" signifies affection for good and truth (see numbers 568, 3160, 6014, 7337, 8994); likewise the church (see numbers 252, 253, 749, 770); "wife" has the same signification (see numbers 252, 253, 409, 749, 770); with what difference (see numbers 915, 2517, 3236, 4510, 4823).
In the highest sense "husband and wife" are predicated of the Lord and of His conjunction with heaven and the church (see number 7022).
A "virgin" signifies affection for good (see numbers 3067, 3110, 3179, 3189, 6729, 6742); likewise the church (numbers 2362, 3081, 3963, 4638, 6729, 6775, 6788).

369. Everyone, whether man or woman, possesses understanding and will; but with the man the understanding predominates,

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