929. For in them was consummated the anger of God, signifies thus the end of the church. This is evident from the signification of "the anger of God," as being when there is no longer any good or truth, but only evil and falsity; and because these are against the Lord and against heaven they are called "the anger of God;" and this, too, is why the last time of the church, and the Last Judgment at that time, are called "the day of God's anger, wrath, and vengeance" (See above, n. 413); also why anger is attributed to the Lord, when in fact it belongs to the evil; for all evil contains anger against the Lord, and consequently against good and truth, which are from the Lord. The "anger" is said to be "consummated," because "consummation" signifies the end of the church or when there is no longer any good or truth, but only evil and falsity. (See above, n. 397); also why the Last Judgment does not come until the consummation has been accomplished, n. 624, 911.) Every church in its beginning is in good and from that in truths, or in charity and from that in faith; but afterwards it is in faith and from that in charity, and finally in faith separated from charity. When it is in charity and from that in faith the church is spiritual; when it is in faith and from that in charity the church is rational; and when it is in faith separated from charity it is natural; and a merely natural church is no church, for the merely natural man has regard only for self and the world, and no regard for the Lord and heaven-the latter is on his lips only, the former in his heart-and when the church is such then it has been consummated.
