652. 14:20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city. This symbolically means that the examination was made in accordance with Divine truths in the Word, to discover the character of the works that flowed from their church's doctrine regarding faith.

The trampling of the winepress means symbolically that the examination was made to discover the character of the works. To trample a winepress means, symbolically, to examine, and the clusters of grapes that were trampled symbolize works, as in no. 649 above, here the works that flowed from their church's doctrine regarding faith, namely evil works. The city here means the great city mentioned in chapter 11:8, above, "the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt." That it means the doctrine of faith divorced from charity - the doctrine of the church of the Protestant Reformed - may be seen in nos. 501, 502 above. And because every examination of a church's doctrine is made in accordance with the Divine truth in the Word, and because this is not found in the doctrine of the Protestant Reformed, but apart from it, this too is symbolically meant by the trampling's having taken place outside the city.

It can be seen from this that the trampling of the winepress outside the city means symbolically that the examination was made in accordance with Divine truths in the Word, to discover the character of the people's works that flowed from their church's doctrine regarding faith.

In the following passages, to trample or tread a winepress means, symbolically, not only to examine for evil works, but also to hold them up to view and to remove them and cast them into hell:

I speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Why is your apparel red, and your garments like those of one who treads in the winepress? I have trodden the winepress alone... (Isaiah 63:1-3)

The Lord has trodden underfoot all my mighty men...; the Lord has trampled the winepress of the... daughter of Judah. (Lamentations 1:15)

(He who sat on the white horse) shepherds (the nations) with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fury and wrath of... God. (Revelation 19:15)

327. Saying, "How long, O Lord, who are holy and true, will You not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" This symbolically means, over the fact that the Last Judgment was so long delayed, and that those who did violence to the Word and to the Lord's Divinity were not being removed.

"How long, O Lord, will You not judge" means, symbolically, "Why is the Last Judgment delayed?" And "how long will You not avenge our blood" means symbolically, "Why in accordance with justice are those not condemned who have done violence to them because of their acknowledgment of the Lord's Divine humanity and their life according to the truths of His Word?" Blood symbolizes the violence done to them (no. 379).

"Those who dwell on the earth" mean evil people in the world of spirits, from whom they were being protected so as not to be harmed.