404. 'And a third part of the sea became blood' signifies that all the general truths with them had been falsified. By 'a third part' all are signified (n. 400); by 'blood' is signified the falsification of the truth of the Word (n. 379); by 'the sea' is signified the Church with those who are in the external things thereof and in faith alone (n. 398, 402). The general truths with these have been falsified because they are in them alone, for they do not know the details (singularia) of that faith as do the clergy. It is because of the general truths with them that they appear as in a sea' in the spiritual world. This is because waters signify truths (n. 50), and a sea is the general receptacle thereof (n. 238).