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.

929. For in them is consummated the anger of God. That this signifies, thus the end of the church, is evident from the signification of the anger of God, as denoting when there is no more any good and truth, but evil and falsity. These things, because they are opposed to the Lord and heaven, are called the anger of God. This is why the last time of the church, and the Last Judgment at that time, are called the day of God's anger, wrath, and vengeance (as may be seen above, n. 413); and that wrath is attributed to the Lord, which, notwithstanding, pertains to the evil; for in all evil there is anger against the Lord, and consequently against the good and truth, which are from the Lord.

The reason why anger is said to be consummated is, that consummation also signifies the end of the church, or when there is no longer any good and truth, but evil and falsity, as may be seen above (n. 397); and the reason why the Last Judgment does not come before a consummation has been made (n. 624, 911).

Every church, in the beginning, is in good and thence in truths, or in charity and thence in faith; but afterwards it is in faith and thence in charity, and lastly in faith separated from charity. When it is in charity and thence in faith, the church is spiritual; when it is in faith and thence in charity, the church is rational; but when it is in faith separated from charity, it is then natural. And a church merely natural is no church; for the merely natural man regards himself and the world, and not the Lord and heaven, the latter being on his lips only, but the former in his heart. And when the church is such, then it is consummated.