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, called spring, summer, autumn, and winter; the four periods of the day, morning, noon, evening, and night; and the four ages of man, infancy, youth, manhood, and old age; and all other things that either exist from time or have a succession in accordance with time.  In thinking of these a man thinks from time, but an angel from state; and in consequence what there is in them from time with man is with the angels turned into an idea of state.  Spring and morning are turned into an idea of the state of love and wisdom such as they are in angels in their first state; summer and noon are turned into an idea of love and wisdom such as they are in the second state; autumn and evening such as they are in the third state; night and winter into an idea of such a state as exists in hell.  This is why these periods have a like significance in the Word (see above, n. 155).  This makes clear how natural things in the thought of man become spiritual with the angels who are with man.