883. 'The dove returned to him at evening time' means that these started to show themselves a little; and 'evening time' is similar to pre-morning twilight. This in like manner becomes clear from that has been stated already at verse 8, and also from the fact that here it is called 'evening time'. Concerning 'evening', see what has been stated in Genesis 1, where six times the statement is made 'there was evening and there was morning'. 'Evening' is a word that has to do with regeneration and indeed with that state when a person is still in near-darkness, or when there is still only a tiny quantity of light showing itself to him. Morning itself is described in verse 13 below by 'he removed the roof from the ark and saw out'. Because 'evening' meant the pre-morning twilight, mention of the evening is made so many times in the Jewish Church. This also is why sabbaths and festivals began from evening onwards, and why Aaron was commanded to light the sacred lamp 'in the evening', Exodus 27:21.

924. From a thousand six hundred furlongs. That this signifies evils in their whole extent is evident from the signification of furlongs, as denoting productions in a series. For furlongs, like miles, and ways in general, signify progressions in a series according to thoughts from affection. And from the signification of a thousand six hundred, as denoting goods in their whole extent, and in the opposite sense, as in this case, evils in their whole compass. For the number one thousand six hundred signifies the same as sixteen; and the number sixteen, the same as four and two. And all these numbers are said of goods, and in the opposite sense of evils. For the greater numbers arising from multiplication have a signification similar to the lesser and simple from which they arise by multiplication; as twelve thousand the same as twelve; and twelve the same as three and four multiplied into themselves; see above (n. 430, 851). That three, in the Word, is said of truths; and two, also four, of goods; thus in the opposite sense, three of falsities, and two and four of evils, may also be seen above (n. 532). It is, therefore, evident that by from a thousand six hundred furlongs are signified productions of evils in a continual series, thus evils in their whole compass.

That by those two devastators of the church, meant by Babylon, and by the beast of the dragon, are now being produced and have been produced, evils in a continual series, and by their means evils in their whole compass, may be shown from many examples. But the devastation of the church by the beast of the dragon has been shown in the explanations of chapters xii. and xiii.; and the devastation by Babylon will be shown below in the explanations of chapters xvii. and xviii.