676. And there were killed in the earthquake names of men seven thousand.- That this signifies that in that change of state all the truths of good and thus all things of heaven and the church, perished with them, is evident, from the signification of being killed, as denoting to be spiritually killed, which is to perish by evils and falsities (see above, n. 315, 547, 572, 589); from the signification of earthquake, as denoting a change of the state of the interiors with those who are of the church (see above, n. 674); from the signification of names of men, as denoting the truths of good, and the consequent understanding of truth, concerning which we shall speak presently; and from the signification of seven thousand as denoting all things of heaven and of the church. For seven signifies all things, and is used of the holy things of heaven and of the church (the signification of this number may be seen above, n. 257); and its signification is retained when it is multiplied by 10, or 100, or 1000, for these numbers signify all things. From these things it is evident that there were killed in the earthquake names of men seven thousand, signifies that in that change of state all the truths of good perished, and thus all things of heaven and of the church.

[2] That by names of men are signified truths of good, and the consequent understanding of truth, is evident from the signification of name, as denoting the quality of a thing and of state with man; and from the signification of man, as denoting intelligence, thus also the understanding of truth. Name signifies the quality of a thing and of state with man, because there are no names of persons in the spiritual world as in the natural world; but in the spiritual world all are named according to the quality of their life, thus, with a difference within the societies and out of them. Within the societies the quality of the state of each one's life is constant, for each one there dwells in a certain quarter, and at a distance from the midst, according to the quality of his affection and intelligence, therefore his name is according to this quality; when therefore the name of any one in a society is heard, his quality is also recognised. It is from this fact, that name, in the spiritual sense, signifies the quality of a thing and of the state of life. But outside the societies, this naming according to the quality of the state of the life of any one is not constant; for before a man-spirit enters into any society, he passes through many states, in order that he may put off those things that are not in agreement with his ruling love, and put on such as agree with it. Still every one is named according to the state in which he is, and also according to the idea and perception of the quality of his state.

That names, in the spiritual world, are expressed spiritually, may be seen above (n. 102[2]); that name, in the Word, signifies the quality of the state of the life (n. 148); and therefore the name of Jehovah, and the name of the Lord, signify all things by which He is worshipped, thus all things of love and of faith (n. 102, 135); and man, in the Word, signifies the spiritual affection for truth, and the consequent understanding of truth (n. 280, 546). From these things the signification of the names of men is evident.

[3] The reason why the truths of good, and consequently understanding derived from these perished by the remarkable change of state signified by a great earthquake, was stated in the preceding article, namely, that at the end of the church, when a last judgment is at hand, those who are spiritually good are taken away from those who are only naturally good, and when this is the case, then from the latter are also taken away all truths of good, consequently also all understanding of truth. For with the natural, in whom there is nothing spiritual, truths and goods reside in externals, and falsities and evils in internals; when therefore the good with whom they had communication as to externals are taken away, externals are also taken away, and internals are disclosed, which, as stated, are filled with mere falsities of evil. It is for this reason that these words signify that with those who remained all truths of good, and with these all understanding of truth, perished.

506. And the third part of the trees was burnt up.- This signifies that the perceptions and knowledges of truth and good perished through desires springing from evil loves, as is plain from the signification of a third part, when used in reference to truths, for it denotes all, concerning which we shall treat in what follows; and from the signification of trees, as denoting the interior things of man, which are those of his mind (see above, n. 109), and thence the perceptions concerning truths and goods, and the cognitions of them (see above, n. 420); and from the signification of being burned, as denoting to perish by lusts springing from evil loves, as stated just above (n. 504), where it was shown that those lusts are signified by fire, wherefore to be burned denotes to perish by means of them.

[2] The third part signifies all, and therefore the third part of the trees the all of perception concerning truths and goods, and thence all the knowledges thereof, because three signifies what is full, the whole, and all, and these are said of truths; similarly, therefore, the third part, for third signifies the same as three. Numbers also multiplied into one another, and divided by one another, have a signification similar to the integers from which they are derived, as may be seen above (n.430:1). That the third part signifies all and is said of truths, may also be seen above (n. 384). The signification of third part in the following passages is similar:

"And the third part of the sea became blood (Verse 8)

"And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, died" (Verse 9);

"A burning star fell upon the third part of the rivers" (Verse 10)

"And the third part of the waters became wormwood" (Verse 11);

"And the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars" (12; also chap. 9:15, 18; 12:4).

[3] Here, it is described how all perception of truth and good, and thence the cognition of them, would first perish by means of the loves of self and of the world, and the lusts and pleasures arising therefrom. The reason why the perception and cognition of spiritual truth and good perish through those loves and the lusts thence arising, is, that those loves are corporeal and merely natural loves, into which also man is born, and which, unless subdued and ruled by spiritual loves, which are out of heaven from the Lord, extinguish all perception and thence cognition concerning the truths and goods of heaven and of the church; for those loves, considered in themselves, are altogether opposite to spiritual loves. It is therefore evident, that when the church lapses, it first passes from an internal spiritual into a natural state, and this consists in the love of self and of the world above all things; consequently it then comes into thick darkness in regard to all things of heaven and of the church, although it may be in light as to the things of the world.

[4] When perception concerning spiritual truths and goods perishes, the cognition of them also perishes, for although man knows them, and speaks of them, either from the Word or from doctrine, still he does not know them, when he has no perception of them. The perception of a thing makes the cognition of it. Cognition without perception is not alive, but dead, and is also a cognition of the meaning of the words only, and not of the thing itself. Such are the cognitions of truth and good from the Word and the doctrine of the church with those in whom the love of self and the love of the world hold the chief place, although they have been taught to speak and preach artificially and ingeniously about them. They are only shells, which appear before the vulgar to have kernels within, although they are empty.