683. ¹ 16:4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl onto the rivers and springs of water. This symbolizes influx into the understanding of the Word in these people.

The third angel's pouring out his bowl symbolizes, as in the case of the first two, an influx from the Lord springing from truths and goods - here an influx into the understanding of the Word in these people. For rivers symbolize an abundance of truths, of service to a person's rational self, thus his intellect, for doctrine and life (no. 409). And a spring of water symbolizes the Lord in relation to the Word, thus the Lord's Word, and therefore springs of water symbolize Divine truths gained from it (nos. 384, 409).

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