953. Verses 7, 8. And one of the four animals gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the anger of God, who liveth unto ages of ages. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power; and none could enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were consummated.

"And one of the four animals gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the anger of God, who liveth unto ages of ages," signifies, manifestation from the Lord by Divine truth, or the Word, of all the falsities of evil that have destroyed the spiritual life of the men of the church.

"And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power," signifies, Divine truth, or the Word in the natural sense in light and power from the Divine truth in the spiritual sense: "and none could enter into the temple," signifies, its being in obscurity before the understanding: "till the seven plagues of the seven angels were consummated," signifies, before evils and falsities are rejected, and those who are in them cast into hell.

Gates" in ancient times had a significance that does not hold in the modern world. Cities then were enclosed by walls for protection; gates in the walls let people in and out to do their business, but were also the weak points in the cities' defenses. In the Bible, cities on one level represent the minds of individual people. On a broader level, they represent beliefs shared by a community. The gates, then, represent openings where the Lord can feed us an understanding of truth and a desire for good. They also represent points where the hells can invade and sway us with false ideas and evil desires. We are kept in balance during our lifetimes, with influences from both the Lord and from hell. Ideally, we will over our lifetimes continue to invite the Lord farther and farther in and drive the hells back until ultimately the Lord can occupy our minds completely. And that point our belief in Him and His power and love will hold the gates and deny evil any entrance. As individuals, we at that point become angels. As communities, we at that point become part of the Lord's church. And at that point the gates become an entry point, introductory truths that allow people to enter churches and start bringing the Lord into their lives.