680. Verse 3. And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea, signifies an influx of truth and good from the Lord with those in the church of the Reformed who are in its externals, and are in that faith, and are called the laity. By "pouring out his vial" is signified the influx of truth and good from the Lord, as above (n. 676, 677); by "the sea" is signified the external of the church, thus those who are in its externals, when "the earth" signifies the internal of the church, thus those who are in its internals (n. 398, 403, 404, 420, 470, 677); these are they who are called the laity, and are in that faith.