1849. That 'the nation also which they are going to serve' means the evil who oppress is clear from the meaning of 'nation' and of 'serving'. In the genuine sense 'a nation' means goods, or what amounts to the same, those who are good, for when goods are thus spoken of abstractedly they still have reference to the subject, which is a man, spirit, or angel. In the contrary sense however 'nation' means evils, or what amounts to the same, those who are evil, dealt with in 1159, 1258-1260. 'Serving' however, or slavery, means oppression, as in the previous verse.

232. The situation today is far worse than it was in the past, since people are now able to confirm their incredulity of the senses by means of facts that were unknown to the ancients. The thick darkness that results is so great that it defies description. If man knew how great that thick darkness really was he would be dumbfounded.