416. 'Saying with a great voice, Woe, woe, woe to those dwelling upon the land by reason of the remaining voices of the trumpet of the three angels that are yet to sound' signifies the utmost lamentation over the damned state of those in the Church who, in doctrine and life, have confirmed with themselves a faith separated from charity. By 'woe' is signified lamentation over the evil with anyone, and consequently over his unhappy state; here, over the damned state of those of whom it treats in the following chapter and afterwards. And by 'Woe, woe, woe' is signified the utmost lamentation, for the triplication makes a superlative, because 'three' signify all and full (n. 505). By 'those dwelling upon the land' are understood those in the Church who are where the Word is, and where through it the Lord is known; that 'the land' signifies the Church may be seen above (n. 285). By 'the voices of the trumpet of the three angels who are yet to sound' is signified the examination and making manifest of the state of the Church and of the life with those who in doctrine and life have confirmed with themselves a faith separated from charity, over whose state the lamentation is made. 'Woe' signifies lamentation over the present or future misfortune, unhappiness, or damnation of others in these passages:-
Woe unto you, Pharisees and hypocrites Matt. xxiii 13-16, 23, 25, 27, 29.
Woe unto the man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed Luke xxii 22.
Woe unto him by whom offences come Luke xvii 1.
Woe unto those joining house to house. Woe unto those rising up in the morning at dawn to follow strong drink. Woe unto those attracting iniquity. Woe unto those saying of evil, It is good. Woe unto [those who are] wise in their own eyes. Woe unto those mighty to drink wine Isa. v 8, 11, 18, 20, 21, 22;
and in many other places.
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