natural light [lumen].  I have been raised up interiorly into that light by degrees; and as I was raised up my understanding became so enlightened as to enable me to perceive what I did not perceive before, and finally such things as I could not even comprehend by thought from natural light.  Sometimes I felt indignant that I could not comprehend these things when they were so clearly and plainly perceived in the light of heaven.{2} Because there is a light that belongs to the understanding, the same things are said of it as of the eye, as that it sees and is in light when it perceives, and is in obscurity and shade when it does not perceive, and so on.

{Footnote 1} Man is rational because his understanding is illumined by the light of heaven (n. 1524, 3138, 3167, 4408, 6608, 8707, 9128, 9399, 10569).  The understanding is enlightened because it is a recipient of truth (n. 6222, 6608, 10659).  The understanding is enlightened to the extent that man receives truth in good from the lord (n. 3619).  The understanding is such as are the truths from good by which it is formed (n. 10064).  The understanding has light from heaven, as the sight has light from the world (n. 1524, 5114, 6608, 9128).  The light of heaven from the Lord is always present with man, but it flows in only in the degree that man is in truth from good (n. 4060, 4214).

{Footnote 2} When man is raised up from the sensual he comes into a milder light, and at length into heavenly light (n. 6313, 6315, 9407).  When man is raised up into intelligence there is an actual elevation into the light of heaven (n. 3190).  How great a light was perceived when I was withdrawn from worldly ideas (n. 1526, 6608).

131.  As the light of heaven is Divine truth, that light is also Divine wisdom and intelligence; therefore to be raised up into the light of heaven means the same as to be raised up into intelligence and wisdom and enlightened.  For this reason the angels have light in just the same degree as they have intelligence and wisdom.  Because the light of heaven is Divine wisdom, in that light the character of everyone is recognized.  The interiors of everyone lie open to view in his face just as they are, with not the least thing hidden.  And interior angels love to have all things that pertain to them lying open, since they will nothing but good.  It is otherwise with those beneath heaven, who do not will what is good, and for that reason fear greatly to be seen in the light of heaven.  And wonderful to tell, while those in hell appear to one another as men, in the light of heaven they appear as monsters, with a horrid face and body, the exact form of their own evil.{1} In respect to his spirit man appears, when seen by angels, in a like way; if good as a man, beautiful in accord with his good; if evil as a monster, ugly in accord with his evil.  From this it is clear that in the light of heaven all things are made manifest, and for the reason that the light of heaven is Divine truth.