2141. The Lord's perception was this, that the human race was immersed in evil and falsity, Sodom being self-love and the consequent desire to exercise control from evil, Gomorrah to do so from falsity, verses 16, 20. This could not be concealed from the Lord in that state because He is the means and He is the source of all salvation, verses 17-19; that is to say, they would be visited when their wickedness had reached its peak, verses 20, 21. While that perception existed with Him, verse 22, He interceded on their behalf - first on behalf of those with whom truths were both present and filled with goods, who are meant by 'the fifty', verses 23-26; then on behalf of those with whom less good was present but was nevertheless joined to truths, who are meant by 'the forty-five', verses 27, 28; after that on behalf of those who were undergoing temptations, who are meant by 'the forty', verse 29; and also on behalf of those who have been involved in some conflicts with evils, who are meant by 'the thirty', verse 30; following these on behalf of those with whom states existed of affection for good, which were from some other source, who are meant by 'the twenty', verse 31; and finally on behalf of those with whom states of affection for truth existed, who are meant by 'the ten', verse 32. And each time the reply came back that they were to be saved, verses 26, 28-32. When all this was completed the Lord returned to His previous state of perception, verse 33. These are the arcana in this chapter in the internal sense, which are not evident from the letter.