340. "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" (6:17) This symbolically means that they became of such a character of themselves as a result of their separation from good and faithful people, because of the Last Judgment, which they could not otherwise endure.

The great day of the Lamb's wrath symbolizes the day of the Last Judgment. And "who is able to stand" symbolizes an inability to bear it because of the torture experienced. For when a last judgment is at hand, the Lord draws near with heaven, and of the people who are below in the world of spirits, only those are able to bear the Lord's coming who are inwardly good, and the inwardly good are people who refrain from evils as being sins and turn to the Lord.

That the day of the Lord's wrath symbolizes a last judgment is clearly apparent from the following passages:

While the wrath of the anger of Jehovah has not yet come upon you, while the day of the anger of Jehovah has not yet come upon you..., it may be that you will be hidden in the day of the anger of Jehovah. (Zephaniah 2:2-3)

Behold, the day of Jehovah comes, cruel, and one of ire and the wrath of His anger... (Isaiah 13:9, cf. 13:13)

The great day of Jehovah is near... That day is a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish..., a day of darkness and pitch darkness... (Zephaniah 1:14-15)

...Your wrath has come, and the time for judging the dead, and for rewarding Your servants..., and for destroying those who destroy the earth. (Revelation 11:18)

Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, because His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. (Psalms 2:12)

----------