clothing, being naked, but covered with a thick tunic or skin, so that they do
not suffer from the cold.” (Spiritual Experiences 1522-23)
In respect to Mercury, its nearness to the sun is a matter of concern and
yet we are told that “they enjoy a middle temperature, neither too hot nor too
cold.” We are not told specifically how this might be arranged but some general
things are noted.
Swedenborg records: “ It was granted me to tell them, that it is provided of
the Lord in regard to them that they should not be exposed to too much heat
by reason of their greater nearness to the sun, inasmuch as heat does not arise
from the sun’s nearness, but from the altitude and density of the atmosphere,
as appears from the cold on high mountains even in hot climates; also that
heat is varied according to the direct or oblique incidence of the sun’s rays, as is
plain from the seasons of winter and summer in every region.” (Earths In The
Universe 45; Arcana Coelestia 7177)
Are there things about the atmospheres around Mercury that we do not
know about, perhaps elements in the atmospheres that we do not know exist
and so we can not test for them? Also, I seem to remember hearing about some
scientific data indicating there is a significant wobble in Mercury’s axis. Could
this be part of the provision of some habitable regions on Mercury?
In regard to satellites around Jupiter a comparison is made with our moon:
“ . . . which, like [our] moon, are surrounded by a different kind of atmosphere
“ from that which envelopes the planet. (Spiritual Experiences 1670) And in
regard to our moon we are specifically told of a relative lack of air around the
surface. (Arcana Coelestia 9235; Earths In The Universe 111)
I have speculated that the inhabitants of our moon (and perhaps of some
other planets and their satellites) may be relatively few and may live in great,
hothouse type caverns below the surface of the planet.
When our people were on the moon years ago, the craft that was to bring
them back to earth was busy photographing the surface as it went round and
round. Here and there photographs showed spots on the surface of the moon
that reflected the sunlight sort of like glass surfaces might do. Might they be
naturally formed covers over some the subsurface caverns?
What might be the meaning of those long-continuing echoes that were
recorded by instruments left on the moon when the landing craft was sent
crashing back to surface after our people boarded the craft that returned them
to earth? I do not know, but maybe?
As for Mars, another possibility may present itself. There is a teaching
in Spiritual Experiences that might be read to suggest that the inhabitants of
Mars might cease to exist on their planet due to their deteriorating spiritual
condition and how their use in the Grand Man/Human would be taken up by
people from some other planet. “Only it is insinuated, that if the inhabitants
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