...and the ensuing punishments. This is obvious, because when the lights are darkened above (through sin), the person who caused this suffers a corresponding interruption in the flow of goodness, and this is how the governmental levels of the Other Side gain sway over him. For the Other Side has the opportunity to attack through this flaw (in the lights caused by the sin), and as long as some trace of that flaw remains above, the Other Side deals out evil to the perpertrator commensurate to his deeds. The flaw steadily disappears in accordance with the punishment suffered by the sinner.