499. And earthquakes.- This signifies changes of the state of the church, as is evident from the signification of earthquakes, as denoting changes of the state of the church, concerning which see above (n. 400). That in the spiritual world lands are thrown into commotion, and hills and mountains shaken when the state of the church is changed for the worse, and evil and falsity begin to rule, may be seen in the place just cited. The reason why there are earthquakes in the spiritual world is, that, the lands there are all from a spiritual origin, and are changed when the church amongst the inhabitants changes; where the church flourishes they are beautiful, and full of paradises, flower gardens, and shrubberies, but where the church is corrupt they are void of all beauty, and full of deserts and rocks; and they are altogether changed as the church declines from good and truth into evil and falsity. This, however, takes place only in the lower parts. See also what is said upon this subject in Heaven and Hell (n. 156), and elsewhere. Because the lands in the spiritual world have such an origin, it is evident that there are earthquakes when the state of the church is changed.