red, and
space in its own chapter.

163. Angels do not know what time is, although with them there is a
successive progression of all things, as there is in the world, and
this so completely that there is no difference whatever; and the
reason is that in heaven instead of years and days there are changes
of state; and where there are years and days there are times, but
where there are changes of state there are states.

164. In the world there are times because the sun of the world
seemingly advances in succession from one degree to another,
producing times that are called seasons of the year; and besides, it
revolves about the earth, producing times that are called times of
day; both of these by fixed alternations. With the sun of heaven it
is different. This does not mark years and days by successive
progressions and revolutions, but in its appearance it marks changes
of state; and this, as has been shown in the preceding chapter, is
not done by fixed alternations. Consequently no idea of time is
possible to angels; but in its place they have an idea of state (see
above n. 154).

165. As angels have no idea derived from time, such as men in the
world have, so neither do they have any idea about time and what
pertains to it. They do not even know what is meant by the terms of
time, such as year, month, week, day, hour, to-day, to-morrow,
yesterday. When angels hear these terms used by man (for angels are
always associated with man by the Lord) in place of them they
perceive state and what pertains to states. Thus the natural thought
of man is turned into spiritual thought with angels. This is why
times in the Word signify states, and the terms of time, as
enumerated above, signify corresponding spiritual things.{1}

{Footnote 1} Times in the Word signify states (n. 2788, 2837,
3254, 3356, 4814, 4901, 4916, 7218, 8070, 10133, 10605). Angels
think apart from the idea of time and space (n. 3404); the
reasons why (n. 1274, 1382, 3356, 4882, 4901, 6110, 7218,
7381). What a "year" signifies in the Word (n. 487, 488, 493,
893, 2906, 7828, 10209). What a "month" (n. 3814). What a
"week" (n. 2044, 3845). What a "day" (n. 23, 487, 488, 6110,
7680, 8426, 9213, 10132, 10605). What "today" (n. 2838, 3998,
4304, 6165, 6984, 9939). What "to-morrow" (n. 3998, 10497).
What "yesterday" (n. 6983, 7114, 7140).

166. The like is true of all things that exist from time, as the four
seasons of the year, ca