This represents the next step in the judgment of the Ancient Church - and, by extension, the process we all go through as we are shedding an evil and trying to become better. In the previous verse the Lord entered in to, purified and protected the remnant of that church that still had the desire to be good. Here we see the beginning of the counterattack from those confirmed in evil desires and false ideas.

The "men of the city" represent those confirmed in false beliefs; the "men of Sodom" represent those confirmed in evil desires; "old and young and from every quarter" means all of them together. The "house" represents the inmost desire for good in the remnant being protected by the Lord, and the fact that they "surrounded" it shows their opposition and hatred of that desire for good.

We suffer similar conflicts within ourselves in times of temptation, as our own evil desires and false beliefs mass together to oppose the desire we have to be good.

(Odkazy: Arcana Coelestia 2345)

2156. My Lord. That this signifies the Trine in a One, namely, the Divine Itself, the Divine Human, and the Holy proceeding, which Trine is in a One, is evident from its being here said “Lord,” in the singular number. So too in verses 27, 31, “Behold I pray I have taken upon me to speak unto my Lord,” and in verses 30, 32, “Let not I pray my Lord be angry.” The three men are also called “Jehovah,” in verse 13, “Jehovah said unto Abraham;” in verse 14, “Shall anything be wonderful for Jehovah?” in verse 22, “Abraham was yet standing before Jehovah;” and in verse 33, “And Jehovah went when He left off speaking to Abraham.” Hence it is evident that the three men (that is, the Divine Itself, the Divine Human, and the Holy proceeding), are the same as the Lord, and the Lord the same as Jehovah. In the Christian Faith, called the Creed, the same is acknowledged, where it is said in plain words, “There are not three Uncreate, nor three Infinite, nor three Eternal, nor three Almighty, nor three Lords, but One.” There are none who separate this Trine which is in a One except those who say that they acknowledge one Supreme Existence [Ens], the Creator of the Universe; which is forgiven those who are outside of the church. But they who are within the church, and say this, although they say it and sometimes think it, do not in fact acknowledge any God; still less do they acknowledge the Lord.