396. And there were voices, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. This symbolically means that after a communication with them was opened, the angels heard reasonings about faith alone and arguments in support of it, and they perceived the state of the church among those below as heading for destruction.

Lightnings, thunderings and voices symbolize states of enlightenment, perception, and instruction following an influx from heaven, as can be seen in no. 236 above. Here, however - in reference to people caught up in faith alone, who had no enlightenment, perception or instruction by virtue of an influx from heaven - the voices, thunderings and lightnings symbolize reasonings about faith alone, and arguments and proofs in support of it.

Earthquakes symbolize changes in the state of the church (no. 331), here that the state of the church among those below was perceived as heading for destruction. For earthquakes occur in the world of spirits when the state of the church in its societies is corrupted and turned upside down.

The angel threw the censer to the earth before the seven angels began to sound with their trumpets, in order that the influx might open a communication between the angels in the spiritual heaven and the spirits below who were caught up in faith alone. It was owing to that communication that reasonings about that faith arose, and proofs in support of it, and these were also audible and perceptible. That is why we say that after the communication was opened, the angels heard and perceived them.