1024. (Verse 20) And every island fled. That this signifies that there was no longer any truth of faith, is evident from the signification of an island, as denoting the church as to the truths of the natural man, which are called scientific truths, also, the knowledges of good and truth (concerning which see n. 406); in this case the church as to the truths of faith; for the truths that are called truths of faith are the truths of the natural man; and that these are no more is signified by every island fled.

The reason why an island denotes the church as to the truths of faith is, that an island is land encompassed by the sea. And by land is signified the church; and by sea the scientific and knowledge in general, which pertains to the natural man.

By islands, in the Word, are also signified the churches with the Gentiles, with whom there are only appearances of truth, these being truths more remote from genuine truths. The reason of this signification was, that the islands of the sea were far removed from the land of Canaan, which was the terra firma; by which the church which was in genuine truths was signified.

Concerning the Precepts of the Decalogue in general:-

[2] The precepts of the Decalogue are called the ten words or Ten Precepts, because by ten are signified all; consequently, by the Ten Words are signified all the things of the Word, and therefore all the things of the church, in a summary.

The reason why they are all the things of the Word and all the things of the church in summary is, that in each precept there are three interior senses, each sense for its own heaven, for there are three heavens. The first sense is the spiritual-moral sense, this is for the first or ultimate heaven; the second sense is the celestial-spiritual sense, which is for the second or middle heaven; and the third sense is the Divine-celestial, which is for the third or inmost heaven. There are also as many internal senses in everything contained in the Word; for the Word is from the Lord, who is in its supreme things. It was sent down, in order, through the three heavens even to the earth, and thence was accommodated to each heaven; consequently, also the Word is in each heaven, and almost with every angel, in its own sense; it is read by them daily, and there are also preachings from it, just as on the earth.

[3] For the Word is Divine truth itself, thus Divine wisdom proceeding from the Lord as a Sun and appearing in the heavens as light. The Divine truth is the Divine that is called the Holy Spirit; for it not only proceeds from the Lord, but also enlightens man, and teaches him, as is said concerning the Holy Spirit.

Because the Word, in its descent from the Lord, has been accommodated to the three heavens, and the three heavens are conjoined, like inmost things with ultimates by media, thus also the three senses of the Word, it is therefore evident, that the Word was given, in order that the three heavens may be conjoined one with another; and also that there may be a conjunction of the heavens with the human race, for whom the literal sense is given, this being purely natural, and therefore the basis of the other three senses. That the Ten Precepts of the Decalogue are all the things of the Word in a summary can be seen only from those precepts in their three senses, such as above described.