27. MARRIAGES IN HEAVEN
That there are marriages in heaven cannot enter into the faith of those who believe that after death man is a soul or spirit, and cherish an idea of the soul and spirit as of a tenuous ether or breath; and who believe that man will not live as a man until after the day of the Last Judgment; in general, who know nothing about the spiritual world wherein are angels and spirits, and, consequently, wherein are the heavens and the hells. Because that world has been hitherto unknown, and because it has been entirely unknown that the angels of heaven are men in perfect human form--and infernal spirits also, but in imperfect form--therefore, nothing could be revealed concerning marriages there; for men would have said, How can a soul be conjoined with a soul, or a breath with a breath, as one married partner with the other on earth? besides much else which, the moment it was said, would take away faith concerning marriages there and dissipate it. But now, because many things have been revealed concerning that world, and because its nature has been described, which was done in the work HEAVEN AND HELL and also in THE APOCALYPSE REVEALED, marriages there can be set forth before the reason also, and this by the following propositions:
I. That man lives as a man after death.
II. That the male is then a male, and the female a female.
III. That his own love remains with every one after death.
IV. That especially does love of the sex remain, and with those who come into heaven, being those who become spiritual on earth, conjugial love.
V. These statements fully confirmed by ocular experience.
VI. That consequently there are marriages in the heavens.
VII. That spiritual nuptials are meant by the Lord's words, that after the resurrection they are not given in marriage.
Now follows the explanation of these propositions in their order.
