"
533. The angels were exceedingly rejoiced at this information; but they
perceived that I was sorrowful, and asked the cause of my sorrow. I
said, because the above arcana, at this day revealed by the Lord,
although in excellence and worth exceeding all the knowledges heretofore
published, are yet considered on earth as of no value. The angels
wondered at this, and besought the Lord that they might be allowed to
look down into the world: they did so, and lo! mere darkness was
therein: and they were told, that those arcana should be written on a
paper, which should be let down to the earth, and they would see a
prodigy: and it was done so; and lo! the paper on which those arcana
were written, was let down from heaven, and in its progress, while it
was in the world of spirits, it shone as a bright star; but when it
descended into the natural world, the light disappeared, and it was
darkened in the degree to which it fell: and while it was let down by
the angels in companies consisting of men of learning and erudition,
both clergy and laity, there was heard a murmur from many, in which were
these expressions, "What have we here? Is it any thing or nothing? What
matters it whether we know these things or not? Are they not mere
creatures of the brain?" And it appeared as if some of them took the
paper and folded it, rolling and unrolling it with their fingers, that
they might deface the writing; and it appeared as if some tore it in
pieces, and some were desirous to trample it under their feet: but they
were prevented by the Lord from proceeding to such enormity, and charge
was given to the angels to draw it back and secure it: and as the angels
were affected with sadness, and thought with themselves how long this
was to be the case, it was said, _For a time, and times, and half a
time_, Rev.
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