3056. About the time of evening. That this signifies a state of more obscurity at that time, is evident from the signification of “time,” as being state (see n. 2625, 2788, 2837); and from the signification of “evening” as being what is obscure; for “evening” in the Word signifies the state which precedes the last state of a church that is coming to its close, which last state is called “night;” and it also signifies the first state of a church just rising, which state is called “morning” (see n. 2323); in either sense it denotes what is obscure, which is signified by “evening,” but it here denotes the obscurity that precedes the morning.

2322. That “Sodom” signifies the evil, especially those within the church, is evident from the signification of “Sodom,” as being the evil of the love of self (see n. 2220, 2246); consequently as being those who are in that evil. They who apprehend the Word according to the sense of the letter alone, may suppose that by “Sodom” is meant a foulness that is contrary to the order of nature; but in the internal sense by “Sodom” is signified the evil of the love of self. Out of this evil all evils of every kind well forth; and all evils that thus spring from it are called in the Word “adulteries,” and are described by the same, as will be evident from passages of the Word that will be adduced at the end of this chapter.