425. To the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, signifies preventing as yet the influx from becoming intense. This is evident from what was said above, where the separation of the good from the evil by a moderate or gentle influx was treated of (respecting which influx see above, n. 413, 418, 419), namely, that by a moderate and gentle influx the good are separated from the evil, and by an intense and powerful influx the evil are cast down; and as what now follows treats first of the separation of the good from the evil, and this separation is effected by a moderate influx, these words signify preventing the influx as yet from becoming intense; for "the four angels upon the four corners of the earth holding back the four winds of the earth" signify the Divine proceeding from the Lord, and its influx into the whole spiritual world (See above, n. 417, 418); and "the earth and the sea" signify everywhere, even to its ultimates (n. 420).