562. And they had a king over them, the angel of the abyss. That this signifies, that they received influx from the hell, where are those who are in the falsities of evil, and purely sensual, is evident from the signification of a king, as denoting truth from good, and in the opposite sense, as in this case, falsity from evil: see above (n. 31); and from the signification of the angel of the abyss, as denoting the hell where the falsities of evil are; for by the angel is not meant a single angel, but the hell in which all such are. That an angel in the Word means entire angelic societies which are in a similar good, may be seen above (n. 90, 302, 307); hence also by an angel in the opposite sense are signified infernal societies that are in similar evil. That the hells where those are who are in the falsities of evil, and who are utterly sensual, are here meant, is because the angel is called the angel of the abyss, the abyss denoting the hell where such are: see above (n. 538); and because this is said of the locusts, which signify men who have become utterly sensual through infernal falsities: see above (n. 543). The reason why having over them a king signifies that [hell] and the receiving of influx therefrom, is, that all evils, and the falsities thence, are from hell, and because all who are in evils and thence in falsities, are ruled and led of the hells, wherefore hell is to them like a king who rules over them, and to whom they yield obedience. Because this is the result of influx at a time when they live in the world, and the efflux thence is what leads, therefore by having a king over them is signified to receive influx.