408. 'And there fell out of heaven a great star burning as if it were a torch' signifies the appearance of their self-intelligence derived from pride arising from infernal love. By 'there fell out of heaven a great star' is signified the appearance of self-intelligence derived from pride arising from infernal love. This is because it was seen to 'burn as a torch' and because its name was 'Wormwood', as it follows on; and by 'star' and also by 'torch' is signified intelligence, here self-intelligence, because it was seen to burn, and all self-intelligence burns on account of pride, and its pride arises from the infernal love that is signified by 'a mountain burning with fire' (n. 403). By 'wormwood' is signified the infernal untruth out of which that intelligence comes into existence and is kindled. That a 'star' signifies intelligence may be seen (n. 151, 954); so too a 'torch' (lampas) or 'lamp' (lucerna) (n. 796).