1023. Verses 20, 21. And every island fled, and the mountains were not found. And a great hail, as of the weight of a talent, cometh down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of hail, for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

20. "And every island fled," signifies that there was no longer any truth of faith (n. 1024); "and the mountains were not found," signifies that there was no longer any good of love (n. 1025).

21. "And a great hail, as of the weight of a talent, cometh down from heaven upon men," signifies falsities in the greatest degree infernal destroying all the understanding of truth with the men of the church (n. 1026); "and men blasphemed God because of the plague of hail," signifies the consequent falsification of the Word (n. 1027); "for the plague thereof was exceeding great," signifies the total destruction of genuine truth (n. 1028).