587. And it was given authority over every tribe, tongue, and nation. This symbolizes their consequent dominion over everything connected with the church, over everything pertaining to its doctrine and over everything pertaining to its life.

Authority symbolizes dominion, as in no. 575 above. A tribe symbolizes the church in respect to its truths and goods, and in an opposite sense, its falsities and evils (nos. 27, 349). A tongue symbolizes its doctrine (nos. 282, 483). And a nation symbolizes a life in accordance with that doctrine (no. 483).