568. Verse 14. Saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, signifies respecting the perverted state of the church at its very end. This is evident from the signification of "saying," as being those things that have been revealed from heaven, and that now follow; and from the signification of "the sixth angel who had the trumpet," as being respecting the perverted state of the church at its very end. (That these things are signified by "the sixth angel sounding," can be seen from what has been said above, n. 566.)

Fire, in the spiritual sense, can mean either love or hatred depending on the context, just as natural fire can be either comforting in keeping you warm, or scary in burning down your house. Our language reflects this, too -- we use concepts like a smoldering hatred or a burning love. So fire signifies a love, either a good love of the neighbor and to the Lord, or, in a bad sense, selfish love of oneself that, if unchecked by conscience, leads to hatred of anyone that opposes it.