Editing Angels in Christianity (section)

=== The New Church (Swedenborgianism) ===
The [[The New Church (Swedenborgian)|New Church]] denominations that arose from the writings of theologian [[Emanuel Swedenborg]] have distinct ideas about angels and the spiritual world in which they dwell. Adherents believe that all angels are in human form with a spiritual body, and are not just minds without form.<ref>Swedenborg, Emanuel. ''Heaven and Hell'', 1758. Rotch Edition (revised). New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1907, in ''The Divine Revelation of the New Jerusalem'' (2012), n. 74.</ref> There are different orders of angels according to the three heavens,<ref>''Arcana Coelestia'', n. 459.</ref> and each angel dwells in one of innumerable societies of angels. Such a society of angels can appear as one angel as a whole.<ref>''Heaven and Hell'', n. 51–53.</ref>

All angels originate from the human race, and there is not one angel in heaven who first did not live in a material body.<ref>''Heaven and Hell'', n. 311</ref> Moreover, all children who die not only enter heaven but eventually become angels.<ref>''Heaven and Hell'', n. 416</ref> The life of angels is that of usefulness, and their functions are so many that they cannot be enumerated. However each angel will enter a service according to the use that they had performed in their earthly life.<ref>''Heaven and Hell'', n. 387–393.</ref> Names of angels, such as Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, signify a particular angelic function rather than an individual being.<ref>Swedenborg, Emanuel. ''Heavenly Arcana'' (or ''Arcana Coelestia''), 1749–58 (AC). Rotch Edition (revised). New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1907, in ''The Divine Revelation of the New Jerusalem'' (2012), n. 8192.3.</ref>

While living in one's body an individual has conjunction with heaven through the angels,<ref>''Heaven and Hell'', n. 291–298.</ref> and with each person, there are at least two evil spirits and two angels.<ref>''Arcana Coelestia'', n. 50, 697, 968.</ref> Temptation or pains of conscience originates from a conflict between evil spirits and angels.<ref>''Arcana Coelestia'', n. 227.</ref> Due to man's sinful nature it is dangerous to have open direct communication with angels<ref>''Arcana Coelestia'', n. 784.2.</ref> and they can only be seen when one's spiritual sight has been opened.<ref>''Heaven and Hell'', n. 76.</ref> Thus from moment to moment angels attempt to lead each person to what is good tacitly using the person's own thoughts.<ref>''Arcana Coelestia'', n. 5992.3.</ref>