Editing Swedenborgianism (section)

=== Judgment ===
New Church adherents do not believe in [[purgatory]]; punishment occurs only in hell. Immediately after death, one enters the spirit world (in this case, meaning an intermediary state between heaven and hell) and awaits judgment of whether they will enter heaven or hell.<ref>TCR, n. 784.</ref> Since the evil try to appear good and the good retain false ideas, one remains in this intermediate state until they are examined.<ref>HH, n. 423–426.</ref> Those who are profoundly good and know truth go immediately to heaven, and those who are profoundly evil flee from heaven's perceived blinding light and burning heat, and go to hell.

Otherwise, one gradually withdraws from exterior appearances and fallacies into one's interior intentions and affections <ref>HH, n. 491, 496, 499.</ref> "Thus hidden things are laid open and secret things are uncovered, according to the Lord's words: 'There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, and hid that shall not be known: whatsoever ye have said in the darkness, shall be heard in the light, and what ye have spoken in the ear in closets, shall be preached on the housetops' (Luke 12:2–3). And in another place: 'I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment' (Matthew 12:36)."<ref>HH, n. 507.</ref>

These intentions and affections determine whether one, in a state of absolute freedom from external controls, will be attracted by heavenly light or hellish delight. Ultimately, judgement is an unimpeded choice between heaven and hell; the good, by nature of their goodness, will choose heaven, and the evil, by nature of their evil, will choose hell.