711. And there was a great earthquake, such as had not occurred since people were on the earth, so great was the earthquake. This symbolizes seeming shocks, convulsions, upsets and drawings down from heaven of every element of the church.

Earthquakes symbolize changes in a church's state, as may be seen in no. 331 above. But because some earthquakes are milder and some more severe, and the one here is very severe, since we are told that such a quake had not occurred since the appearance of people, it is apparent that the earthquake here symbolizes shocks, convulsions, upsets and drawings down from heaven of every element of the church.

We are told, too, in regard to the dragon, which is called a serpent, the devil and satan, ¹ that its tail drew down from heaven a third of the stars and threw them to the earth (Revelation 12:4). Something similar is said in regard to the male goat in Daniel 8:10-12. The Lord also says regarding the end of the present church:

...then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, nor ever shall be. (Matthew 24:21)

The end of the church is described in the prophets as well by shocks, overturnings and castings down of the earth, and many other occurrences attendant on earthquakes.

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