Good and Evil (12)

December 9

Sophie found herself standing with Gabriel in a very forlorn and barren landscape. The plain was quite flat and covered with dirty sand and scattered outcroppings of dark rock. Here and there stood deformed and near-leafless trees. Sitting in such trees were black vultures with blood-red eyes and sharp talons searching for living carrion.

Not far from where the two of them stood, Sophie saw emperor scorpions scurrying about tearing and devouring the rotting flesh left upon what looked like a human skeleton stripped of its organs by the vultures.

The sky was a dark brown and no sun was visible, though the lighting was adequate to see.

“Gabriel, is that the skeleton of a human being,” asked Sophie feeling that she wanted to vomit?

“I would not say it is the skeleton of a human being, Sophie. It is the skeleton of a demon, once a human being, attempting to escape from hell and so was killed by the guarding vultures. A tough way to lose ones kesdjan body,” replied Gabriel.

“Gabriel, I am afraid of this place. Can we leave, please,” pleaded Sophie? “I do believe that hell can be perceived as hideous, distorted, humanoid creatures. Remember the hasnamus, we visited. It only makes sense that hell and its societies would assume the form of distorted, hideous, humanoid creatures. I am sure this is why so many paintings and statues of demons have horns, cloven feet, and tails. Such accouterments reflecting the more hedonic and animal side of the passions they prefer. I don’t think, we need to go see them, right,” chimed in Sophie.

“I understand, however, there is an educational benefit in gaining knowledge of the appearance of demons so you will recognize them in the future. You need to be familiar with the normal appearances of various demon classes and how to recognize them when they assume a more pleasing form. Otherwise, you will be vulnerable to their deceitful ways,” Gabriel replied.

“Sophie, I will give you time to prepare for this exercise in hideousness. It is not as bad as it sounds. The smell is worse than their appearance, in my opinion. Let us go to the tea garden and chat a little before we proceed,” coaxed Gabriel.
Soon, both were sitting in the tea garden waiting for a pot of Earl Grey tea to finish brewing.

Swedenborg was sitting with them. He spoke to Sophie, “I understand Gabriel is going to take you for a visit to hell. It is a little bit scary in the beginning, but they are not permitted to harm you in hell.”

Sophie looked sternly at Gabriel, “Weren’t you going to tell me this? Or did you want to scare the hell out of me?”

Gabriel replied, “Sorry, I am so use to demons that spending a day with them is no difference than being near a sulphur pool. They can be interesting at times. I do hope your Highness will forgive me?”

Sophie replied, “OK, Gabriel. But do not do this to me again!”

Swedenborg interrupted, “Please, children. Stop bickering and listen up. Now, I remember why I never got married.’

Both Sophie and Gabriel immediately looked at Swedenborg.

Swedenborg began, “Sophie, all the angels in heaven and all the demons in hell did not exist before advanced human beings came into existence. Therefore, it appears that both heaven and hell are created by mankind itself so to reflect the quality of the kesdjan images possessed by future inhabitants. This means that the afterlife portion of the Astral Complex is solely the product of the mind of mankind over many thousands of years. Moreover, it is kept free of extraneous creatures and influences.

“This does not mean that the human dream and astral world are solely populated by angels, demons, and humans. It does appear that other kinds of creatures do exist, but only with incarnated humans. This area really does need more study.

“Of course, the creation story in Genesis is only a symbolic explanation of the psychospiritual nature of mankind. It was not meant to explain how the universe had come into material existence. In fact, much of the Old and New Testaments are actually about the psychological development of mankind from the animal state to the spiritual state. So the bible generally has a historical level, a psychological level, and a spiritual level.

“Subsequently, the proper level for a true understanding of scripture is upon the spiritual. When the Hebrew or Christian testaments refer to man being created in the image of the Elohim, they are referring to the Divine Qualia of the faith of understanding and the love belonging to the will. Genesis and Bereshis are referring to the spiritual form of man and not specifically to the physical.

“This is why the Lord appeared in the form of a man to the prophets and why Daniel wrote he saw the ‘son of man’ in the clouds of heaven. Jesus referred to himself as the ‘son of man.’ This is why angels possess normal human form, as the psychospiritual form of man is his or her kesdjan body. Why the heavens possess human form, why the universe itself, spiritually, is seen in human form.

“Hellish creatures possessed human form prior to transition and assumed more grotesques forms in hell. Moreover, the hideousness of form beginning proportional to the stoniness of the heart as to self-love and greed. You will verify what I am telling you soon, my dear.

“Don’t worry, Sophie, once you get use to the smell and the difficulty of getting a word of truth from these self-damned souls, it is just unpleasant. They are not that scary in hell. So, I shall get on with my business. Cheers, Gabriel,” and Swedenborg was gone.

TO BE CONTINUED