'Wilderness' signifies something with little life in it, as described in the internal sense in Luke 1:80 'Wilderness' signifies somewhere there is no good because there is no truth. 'Wilderness,' as in Jeremiah 23:10, signifies the Word when it is adulterated.

(Odkazy: Arcana Coelestia 1927)

230. Verse 15. I know thy works, signifies the life of faith alone. This is evident from the signification of "works," as being the things that are of man's interior life, for works proceed from these and are their effects (See above n. 157-185); here, therefore, they signify the life of faith alone, because this is treated of in what is written to this church. To each of the churches it is said first, "I know thy works," and in every case "works" signify the things of the church there treated of (See above, n. 98); therefore what now follows describes what the life of faith alone is or the life of faith separate from charity.