be in such darkness as they really are. Neither do evil men, whose understandings are darkened by falsities originating in evil loves. They even imagine themselves in clearer light than others. And so do the devils think they see far better than the angels. But their light is the light of fatuity—the dim (yet mercifully accommodated) light of perverted natures—which, compared with the light that shines in heaven, is as the light from ignited coals compared with the splendor of the noon-day sun.
From what has been said, and from the correspondence of light and darkness, we may see why the Divine Saviour—the embodiment and living manifestation of the Truth—calls himself "the light of the world"; and why He says to those who had not previously known the truth, but had nevertheless kept themselves in a state to receive it, "They that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined." We may see also why it is said that "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all"; and of the wicked, that "they walk in darkness," and will finally be "cast into the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth."
All who do not, while here on earth, resist and overcome their evil loves, find themselves in that "outer darkness" when they enter the other world; for through the indulgence of their evil lusts they shut out the light of God and the things of his wisdom from their minds. They are, therefore, excluded from the kingdom of
