396. 'And voices and thunderings and lightnings and an earthquake were produced' signifies that after communication was opened with them there were heard reasonings about faith alone and confirmations in favour of it, and that the state of the Church with them was perceived to be tottering to destruction. That 'lightnings, thunderings and voices' signify enlightenments, perceptions and instructions by means of an influx out of heaven may be seen above (n. 236). Here, however, with those who were in faith alone, with whom there was no enlightenment, perception and instruction by influx out of heaven, by 'voices, thunderings and lightnings' are signified reasonings about faith alone, and arguments and confirmations in favour of it. By 'earthquakes' are signified changes of the state of the Church (n. 331), here that the state of the Church with them was perceived to be tottering to destruction; for earthquakes occur in the world of spirits whenever the state of the Church in the societies is perverted and inverted. The reason why the censer was cast upon the ground by the angel before the seven angels began to sound with the trumpets, was in order that by means of the influx communication might be opened between those who were in the spiritual heaven and those below who were in faith alone. As a result of this communication there arose reasonings and confirmations in favour of it, and these also were heard and perceived. Therefore it is said that after the communication was opened they were heard and perceived.