646. Verse 16. And He that sat on the cloud sent His sickle, and the earth was reaped, signifies the end of the church, because there was no longer any Divine truth therein. This is signified, because by "Him that sat on the cloud" is signified the Lord as to the Word (n. 642). By "sending the sickle and reaping" is signified to make an end and execute judgment (n. 643). By "harvest" is signified the state of the church, here its last state (n. 643, 645); and by "the earth" is signified the church (n. 285). From these connected into one sense, it appears, that by "Him who sat on the cloud sending His sickle, and the earth being reaped" is signified the end of the church, because there is no longer any Divine truth therein.
