1101. Verse 3. Because of the wine of the anger of her whoredom all nations have drunk, and the kings of the earth have committed whoredom with her, and the merchants of the earth have waxed rich through the power of her delicacies.

"Because of the wine of the anger of her whoredom all nations have drunk," signifies the adulteration of all things of the good of heaven and the church by dreadful falsities of evil. "And the kings of the earth have committed whoredom with her," signifies the falsification of all things belonging to the truth of heaven and of the church. "And the merchants of the earth have waxed rich through the power of her delicacies," signifies instruction in those things pertaining to heaven and the church, which derive their desirableness and delight from the love of ruling by the holy things of the church as means, and also from the love of possessing the world in the same way.