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:

755. Knowing that he hath but a short time.- That this signifies because the state is changed, is plain from the signification of time, as denoting the proceeding state of life, concerning which see above (n. 571, 610, 664, 673). He hath but a short time therefore signifies that the former state was changed. For the former state is described by the dragon and his angels being seen in heaven, while the latter state is described by their being cast unto the earth after the battle with Michael and his angels. What this state is has been shown briefly in the preceding article; but a fuller description of this state shall be given after the conclusion of this work.