17. Verse 2 And the earth was a void and an emptiness, and there was thick darkness over the face ¹ of the deep; and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face ¹ of the waters. The person who has yet to be regenerated is called 'a void and an empty earth', and also 'ground', in which no good or truth at all has been sown - 'void' where there is no good, and 'empty' where there is no truth. Consequently there is 'thick darkness', or stupidity and lack of knowledge about anything that has to do with faith in the Lord and so anything that has to do with spiritual and celestial life. This kind of person is described by the Lord through Jeremiah,

My people are foolish, they know Me not; they are stupid children, having no understanding; they are wise to do evil, and know not how to do good. I looked to the earth, and, behold, a void and an emptiness; and towards the heavens, and they had no light. Jeremiah 4:22-23, 25.

Footnotes:

928. Seven angels having the seven last plagues. That this signifies evils and falsities in their whole extent which have entirely devastated the church, as to all its goods and truths, made evident by Divine truth from the Lord, is clear from the signification of angels, as denoting Divine truths from the Lord (concerning which see above, n. 130, 302); from the signification of seven, as denoting all things completely (see n. 20, 24, 257, 300); and from the signification of plagues, as denoting the evils and falsities that have devastated the church (concerning which see above, n. 584). And because seven denote all things completely, therefore by the seven plagues are signified evils and falsities in their whole extent, which entirely devastate the church. All evils in the complex pertaining to those who devastate are signified by the number one thousand six hundred (chapter 14:20, concerning which see n. 924); and all falsities in the complex pertaining to those who devastate are signified by the number six hundred and sixty-six (chapter 13:18, concerning which see n. 847); and from the signification of last, as denoting as to all goods and truths; for then is the last and what is consummated. From these things it is evident, that by the seven angels having the seven last plagues, are signified evils and falsities in their whole extent, that have entirely devastated the church, as to all its goods and truths, made evident by Divine truth from the Lord.

[2] How the evils and falsities that have entirely devastated the church were made evident by the Lord is described in the following parts of this chapter from verses 5 to 8. That the church is devastated as to all goods and truths, is evident from this, that the Christian Church, from its beginning, was divided into two, one of which is described in the Apocalypse by the dragon and the two beasts; but the other, by the whore sitting upon the scarlet beast, and by Babylon. That which is described by the dragon and his two beasts, is the church with the Reformed; and that which is described by the whore and by Babylon, is the church with the Papists. The church with the Reformed has been devastated by faith alone; and the church with the Papists, by dominion over the souls of men, and over heaven. The devastation of this latter church as to all goods and the truths therefrom is treated of in chapters 17 and 18; and the devastation of the church with the Reformed is described in chapters 12 and 13; and further in chapter 16, by the seven angels having vials full of the wrath of God.

[3] That both churches have been devastated as to all goods and truths by evils and falsities is perfectly clear from this, that hardly any one at this day knows that God is one, and that He is the Lord; also what love to the Lord and charity towards the neighbour are, and hence what are good works. Nor, indeed, is it known what faith is in its essence; and that what they call faith is not faith; nor, also, what is the nature of conscience, free will, regeneration, spiritual temptation, Baptism, the Holy Supper, Heaven and Hell, the Word, and several other things. And because these things are not known, goods and truths are hidden; and, in proportion as worldly and corporeal things are loved, in the same proportion they are lightly esteemed, indeed, are rejected; and then instead of goods, evils enter, and instead of truths, falsities enter. Thus the church is devastated.