712. 16:19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. This symbolically means that by these events that church was utterly destroyed as regards its doctrine, and so too all the heresies that emanated from it.
A city symbolizes church doctrine, or what is the same, the church in respect to its doctrine, as may be seen in nos. 194, 501, 502 above. The cities of the nations accordingly symbolize the heretical doctrines or heresies that emanated from it, of which there are many. To be divided into three parts means, symbolically, to be utterly destroyed; for in the Word to be divided means, symbolically, to be scattered, because the parts do not then hold together, and the number three symbolizes everything or the totality (nos. 400, 505). Thus to be divided into three parts means, symbolically, to be utterly destroyed. Falling, which the cities of the nations are said to have done, also symbolically means to be destroyed.
We are told that the city was divided into three parts and that the cities of the nations fell because of the earthquake that occurred just before, in which such events take place.
The great city means the great city mentioned before in chapter 11:8, which is there called Sodom and Egypt. Regarding it, see nos. 501-504 above.
A city symbolizes doctrine, and cities therefore doctrinal teachings, because the earth or land, in particular the land of Canaan, symbolizes the church. And because the church is a church owing to its doctrine and in consequence of it, therefore cities symbolize doctrinal teachings. People were also taught in cities, because that is where the synagogues were and in Jerusalem the Temple. Jerusalem consequently symbolizes the church in respect to its doctrine in a universal sense.
