in which he is in good from truths, and are distant from him just in the degree in which his life is distant from good.{1} But all these employments of angels are employments of the Lord through the angels, for the angels perform them from the Lord and not from themselves.  For this reason, in the Word in its internal sense “angels” mean, not angels, but something belonging to the Lord; and for the same reason angels are called “gods” in the Word.{2}

{Footnote 1} Of the angels that are with little children and afterwards with boys, and thus in succession (n. 2303).  Man is raised from the dead by means of angels; from experiences (n. 168-189).  Angels are sent to those who are in hell to prevent their tormenting each other beyond measure (n. 967).  Of the services rendered by the angels to men on their coming into the other life (n. 2131).  There are spirits and angels with all men and man is led by the Lord by means of spirits and angels (n. 50, 697, 2796, 2887, 2888, 5846-5866, 5976-5993, 6209).  Angels have dominion over evil spirits (n. 1755).

{Footnote 2} In the Word by angels something Divine from the Lord is signified (n. 1925, 2821, 3039, 4085, 6280, 8192).  In the Word angels are called “gods,” because of their reception of Divine truth and good from the Lord (n. 4295, 4402, 8192, 8301).

392.  These employments of the angels are their general employments; but each one has his particular charge; for every general use is composed of innumerable uses which are called mediate, ministering, and subservient uses, all and each coordinated and subordinated in accordance with Divine order, and taken together constituting and perfecting the general use, which is the general good.

393.  Those are concerned with ecclesiastical affairs in heaven who in the world loved the Word and eagerly sought in it for truths, not with honor or gain as an end, but uses of life both for themselves and for others.  These in heaven are in enlightenment and in the light of wisdom in the measure of their love and desire for use; and this light of wisdom they receive from the Word in heaven, which is not a natural Word, as it is in the world, but a spiritual Word (see above, n. 259.) These minister in the preaching office; and in accordance with Divine order those are in higher positions who from enlightenment excel others in wisdom. [2] Those are concerned with civil affairs who in the world loved their country, and loved its general good more than their own, and did what is just and right from a love for what is just and right.  So far as these from the eagerness of love have investigated the laws of justice and have thereby become intelligent, they have the ability to perform such functions in heaven, and they perform these in that position or degree that accords with their intelligence, their intelligence being in equal degree with their love of use for the general good. [3] Furthermore, there are in heaven more functions