415. And I looked, and I heard an angel flying in the midst of heaven. (8:13) This symbolizes instruction and prediction from the Lord.

In the highest sense an angel means the Lord, and so also something from the Lord (no. 344). And to fly in the midst of heaven and speak means, symbolically, to perceive and understand, and when said of the Lord, to foresee and provide (no. 245). But here it means to instruct and predict.

690. 16:8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl onto the sun. This symbolizes influx into the people's love.

To pour out the bowl symbolizes here, as before, an influx springing from goods and truths, here an influx into the people's love; for the sun symbolizes the Lord's Divine love, and in an opposite sense a love of self (nos. 53, 383, 414). Here it is a love of self, because we are told next that people were scorched with fire, and scorched with great heat, which symbolizes the lusts of that love.