{Footnote 1} In the Word “death” signifies resurrection, for
  when man dies his life still goes on (n. 3498, 3505, 4618,
  4621, 6036, 6221).

446.  There is an inmost communication of the spirit with the breathing and with the beating of the heart, the spirit’s thought communicating with the breathing, and its affection, which is of love, with the heart;{1} consequently when these two motions cease in the body there is at once a separation.  These two motions, the respiration of the lungs and the beating of heart, are the very bond on the sundering of which the spirit is left to itself; and the body being then deprived of the life of its spirit grows cold and begins to decay.  This inmost communication of the spirit of man is with the respiration and with the heart, because on these all vital motions depend, not only in general but in every particular.{2}

{Footnote 1} The heart corresponds to the will, thus to the affection which belongs to the love, while the respiration of the lungs corresponds to the understanding, thus to the thought (n. 3888).  From this the “heart” in the Word signifies the will and love (n. 7542, 9050, 10336).  The “soul” signifies understanding, faith, and truth; therefore “from the soul and from the heart” signifies what is from the understanding, faith, and truth, and what is from the will, love, and good (n. 2930, 9050).  The correspondence of the heart and lungs with the Greatest Man, or heaven (n. 3883-3895).

  {Footnote 2} The beating of the heart and the respiration of
  the lungs reign in the body throughout, and flow mutually into
  every part (n. 3887, 3889, 3890).

447.  After the separation the spirit of man continues in the body for a short time, but only until the heart’s action has wholly ceased, which happens variously in accord with the diseased condition that causes death, with some the motion of the heart continuing for some time, with others not so long.  As soon as this motion ceases the man is resuscitated; but this is done by the Lord alone.  Resuscitation means the drawing forth of the spirit from the body, and its introduction into the spiritual world; this is commonly called the resurrection.  The spirit is not separated from the body until the motion of the heart has ceased, for the reason that the heart corresponds to the affection of love, which is the very life of man, for it is from love that everyone has vital heat;{1} consequently as long as this conjunction continues correspondence continues, and thereby the life of the spirit in the body.

{Footnote 1} Love is the being [esse] of the life of man (n. 5002).  Love is spiritual heat, and therefore the very vital itself of man (n. 1589, 2146, 3338, 4906, 7081-7086, 9954, 10740).  Affection is a continuation of love (n. 3938).

448.  How this resuscitation is effected has both been told to me and shown to me in living experience.  The actual experience was granted to me that I might have a complete knowledge of the process.