453. [verse 18] 'As a result of these three things a third part of the men was slain, by reason of the fire and the smoke* and the sulphur, issuing out of their mouths' signifies that it is as a result of these things that the men of the Church perish. That 'a third part of the men was slain' signifies that the men of the Church shall perish as a result of the three things that have just now been treated of above (n. 452); for by 'to be slain' is signified to be slain spiritually, which is to perish as to the soul; and by 'a third part' are signified all who are in those untruths, as frequently above. What is signified by 'fire', 'smoke' and 'sulphur', and what by 'to issue out of their mouths' may be seen just above (n. 452). It is as a result of those untruths that it is not known in the whole of Christendom that the 'fire' here treated of is the love of self and the world, and that that fire is the Devil; also that the 'smoke' from that fire is the pride of self-intelligence, and that that pride is Satan; as also that the 'sulphur' kindled by that fire by means of that pride is the lusts of evil and untruth, and that these lusts are the mob of the Devil and Satan, of whom hell [is constituted]; and when those things are not known it cannot be known what sin is, for every sin draws its delight and pleasantness from them. * In the Original here the order of 'fire' and 'smoke' is reversed.