1161. Verses 15, 16. The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, and saying, Woe, woe, that great city, clothed in fine linen, and crimson, and scarlet, and adorned with gold, precious stone, and pearls; for in one hour so great riches are devastated.

"The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her," signifies all those who gained honours and riches by that religion, and thereby the good things of wealth and position, which things are auspicious and magnificent; "shall stand afar off for fear of her torment," signifies while they were in externals from the dread of infernal punishments; "weeping and mourning," signifies grief of soul and heart. "And saying, Woe, woe, that great city," signifies lamentation over doctrine, and over religion; "clothed in fine linen, and crimson, and scarlet," signifies the appearance in externals as though it were from celestial and spiritual truth and good; "and adorned with gold, and precious stone, and pearls," signifies the appearance in externals as though it were from spiritual and natural truth and good; "for in one hour so great riches are devastated," signifies the loss of everything which they had gained, and by which they expected gain.