402. [verse 8] 'And the second angel sounded' signifies an examination and making manifest [to show] what the state of the Church is with those who are exteriorly in that faith. That 'to sound with a trumpet' signifies to examine and make manifest the state of the Church and consequently of life with those for whom religion is faith alone may be seen above (n. 397). These things are said of those who are exteriorly in that faith because it treats here of those who are in the 'sea', and previously of those who are upon the 'land'; and by those who are upon the land are understood those who are in the internal things of the Church, who are the 'clergy', and by those who are in the sea are understood those who are in the external things of the Church, who are the 'laity', [as] may be seen above (n. 398). That they appear in the spiritual world as in a sea [may be seen] (n. 238, 290).