“There are many more possibilities how the infinite variety of divine attributes can change into its opposite nature and create the corresponding worlds in the world of darkness, just as there are infinite possibilities in the divine worlds. These spheres of fire or of icy coldness — in the spiritual sense, of course — are just two examples. There are the spheres of slime and dirt. There are the spheres of intense suffering through overcrowding, or through isolation, and many, many other varieties.

“Since one of the most important divine aspects is free will and liberty of choice, this had to turn into the opposite too! The spirit who was the first to succumb to the temptation of abusing this power, who is sometimes referred to as Lucifer or Satan or the Devil, who influenced and affected others to follow him, would naturally be the first one in this new world that came into existence. And he would have complete power over all those who followed him, and, contrary to God, he would use this power. God gives the freedom of choice, and this has deeper significance than most of you realize. With that freedom, the possibility to abuse the power given, to use it contrary to divine laws, must perforce exist. If no choice were available, there would be no freedom and no power. There can be no divine happiness, in fact no divinity at all, if it cannot be attained or maintained by free choice. By the same token, the opposite of God and His laws must of course be the prohibiting of such free choice and the domination of the stronger over the weaker ones.” (PL #21)