1051. 'The waters will no more be a flood to destroy all flesh' means that it will not be possible any more for the understanding part of his mind to soak up the kind of persuasion that would cause him to perish as the final descendants of the Most Ancient Church did. This becomes clear from what has been stated and shown quite often already about the waters of the flood, and also about those people prior to the Flood who perished, namely that with them not only had the will part perished and become hellish but also the understanding part, with the result that they could not be regenerated, that is, a new and different will could not be formed in the understanding part of their minds.

73. "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write." (2:1) This symbolically means, to people and concerning people who regard doctrinal truths primarily, and not goods of life.

In no. 66 above we showed that the seven churches do not mean seven churches, but the church in its entirety, which in itself is one, but varied in accordance with people's reception. We said as well that these variations may be compared to the various members and organs in an intact body, which nevertheless form a single unit; indeed that they may be compared to the various jewels in a royal crown; and that that is why the seven churches describe the entire New Church in its varieties in what now follows.

That the church of Ephesus means people in the church who regard doctrinal truths primarily, and not goods of life, is apparent from the particulars written to it, understood in their spiritual sense.

The letter was written to the angel of that church, because the angel means the angelic society corresponding to a church consisting of such people, as indicated in no. 65 above.