The Lord had shown the people of the Most Ancient Church (Adam) the spiritual gifts of their celestial state, their state of love to the Lord. He had shown them the loving affections (beasts of the field), the inspired thoughts (fowl of the air) and the life that filled their spiritual existence (living creatures). And the people recognized the nature of those things, and where they came from (they gave them names).

But it was not enough. The people wanted to lead themselves and feel life as their own. They did not want to be in the highest celestial state anymore.

(References: Arcana Coelestia 142, 143, 144, 145)

673. And in that hour.- That this signifies during that state, is evident from the signification of hour, as denoting state, in this case, therefore, that state when the two witnesses ascended into heaven, and their enemies saw them. Hour signifies state, because, in the Word, times, and all expressions referring to time, as hours, days, weeks, months, years, ages, and also morning, noon, evening, and night, as well as spring, summer, autumn, and winter, signify states of life. That such things are signified by times, is illustrated and shown in Heaven and Hell 162-169), where time in heaven is treated of, as also above in this work (n. 571, 610, 664); and that hour signifies some duration of state, greater and less, thus time and state, may be seen above (n. 194), and that the number employed determines the state as to its quality (n. 488).