416. Verse 1. And after these things I saw, signifies a new perception as to the state of heaven before the Last Judgment. This is evident from what follows in this chapter, which treats of the separation of the good from the evil; for before the Last Judgment occurs the good are separated from the evil by the Lord, and are led away; and because this is involved in the things that were seen, so all this is here signified by "after these things I saw."

In Genesis 3:16, this signifies conflict with resulting anxiety. (Arcana Coelestia 261)

In Genesis 42:38, this signifies with no hope of restoration of the church. (Arcana Coelestia 5551) Sorrow signifies the anxieties and combats attending the bringing forth of truths. (Arcana Coelestia 263)

In Exodus 3:7, this signifies immersion in falsities. (Arcana Coelestia 6853)

In Revelation 18:7, this signifies here the fear of evils from hell. (Apocalypse Revealed 884)

(Reference: Arcana Coelestia 5887, 5888)