658. For in them the wrath of God is complete. This symbolizes the destruction of the church and its end then.

Its being complete symbolizes the destruction of the church and its end then, as explained below. The wrath of God symbolizes the evil in people, which, because it is in opposition to God, is called the wrath of God. Not that God is angry at people, but that people's evil causes them to be angry at God. Moreover, because, when a person is punished or tormented on account of his evil - as happens in hell after death - it seems to him that it is God's doing, therefore in the Word we find anger and wrath, even evil, attributed to God. But that is the case only in the literal sense, because that sense has been written in terms of appearances and correspondences; but not so in the spiritual sense, for that sense contains no appearance or correspondent imagery, but truth in its own light. For more on the wrath of God, see nos. 525, 635 above.

This verse says that in the seven last plagues the wrath of God is complete, and we say that this symbolizes the destruction of the church and its end then. We need to explain why. The reason is that every church declines in the process of time as it turns away from the goodness of love and from truths of faith, until nothing is left of them, which is occasioned by gradually increasing evil and falsity. And then, when there is no longer any goodness of love and faith, there remains only evil and falsity, and when this is the case, the church is at an end. In this final state a person knows no better than to think that evil is good and that falsity is truth; for the delight he finds in them causes him to love evil and falsity and therefore to defend them.

This is the final state symbolized by an end, consummation or completion called a destruction in the following passages:

...I have heard from... Jehovah... a consummation and destruction upon the whole earth. (Isaiah 28:22)

A consummation is decreed, overflowing with righteousness. For the Lord, Jehovih of hosts, is making an end and destruction throughout the land. (Isaiah 10:22-23)

The whole land shall be devoured by the fire of (Jehovah's) zeal, for He will make speedy end of all those who dwell in the land. (Zephaniah 1:18)

(At length) on the bird of abominations shall be desolation, even until the consummation and destruction shall it drop upon the devastation. (Daniel 9:27)

The whole land shall be a wasteland, yet I will not make an end. (Jeremiah 4:27)

(Jehovah said,) "I will go down... and see whether they have come to an end according to the outcry... that has come to Me." (Genesis 18:21)

The last said in regard to Sodom.

...the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete. (Genesis 15:16)

The church's end is also meant by the end of the age spoken of by the Lord in the following passages:

(The disciples asked Jesus,) "What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3)

...at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares... to burn them. Gather the wheat into my barn. ...so it will be at the end of the age. (Matthew 13:30, 40)

...at the end of the age... the angels will come forth and separate the wicked from among the just... (Matthew 13:49)

(Jesus said to His disciples,) "Lo, I am with you... even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)

Even to the end of the age means to the end of the church, when there will be a new church with which the Lord will then be present.

674. 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power. This symbolizes the inmost of heaven filled with spiritual and celestial Divine truth from the Lord.

The temple symbolizes the inmost of heaven, as shown in no. 669 above. Smoke symbolizes the Divine in outmost expressions, as will be seen below. Glory symbolizes spiritual Divine truth (nos. 249, 629), and power symbolizes celestial Divine truth (no. 373). Consequently the temple's being filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power symbolizes the inmost of heaven filled with spiritual and celestial Divine truth.

Smoke symbolizes Divine truth in its outmost expressions because the fire giving off the smoke symbolizes love - the fire of the altar of burnt offering symbolizing celestial love (nos. 395, 494), and the fire of the altar of incense symbolizing spiritual love (nos. 277, 392, 394).

That smoke has this symbolic meaning can be seen from the following passages:

Jehovah will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion... a cloud by day and smoke... by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering. (Isaiah 4:5)

The posts of the thresholds were shaken by the voice of (the seraphim) that cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6:4)

The smoke of the incense with the prayers of the saints ascended before God from the angel's hand. (Revelation 8:4)

...smoking flax He will not extinguish; in truth He will bring forth judgment. (Isaiah 42:3)

In an opposite sense smoke symbolizes the falsities of lusts, as may be seen in no. 422 above; and the falsities arising from a conceit in one's own intelligence, in no. 452. Moreover, in many places smoke has the same symbolic meaning as a cloud.

[674 repeated.] And no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were ended. This symbolically means, to such a degree there that no higher truth could be endured, and this until that church was destroyed and its end became apparent.

That no one was able to enter the temple means symbolically that the inmost of heaven was filled with spiritual and celestial Divine truth to such a degree that no higher truth could be endured. The temple symbolizes, here as before, the inmost of heaven. Till the seven plagues of the seven angels were ended means, symbolically, this until the destruction of the church and its end (no. 658). And the seven plagues of the seven angels symbolize the evils and falsities that destroy the church and bring about its end (no. 657).