2323、“晚上”是指察罚的时间，这从“晚上”的含义清楚可知。在圣言中，教会的状态被比作一年四季和一日四时：一年四季是指夏、秋、冬、春；一日四时是指午、晚、夜、晨，因为两者之间的确存在这种相似性。被称为“晚上”的教会状态是指当仁不复存在，结果信也开始消失，因而教会不复存在时的一种状态。这就是“夜”随之而来的“晚上”（参看22节）。当仁发光，信也相应地发光，因而教会兴起时，也有一个“晚上”；这个“晚上”是早晨之前的曙光（参看883节）。因此，“晚上”表示这两种状态，因为主规定，当一个教会不复存在时，一个新教会就兴起，并且这两个过程是同时进行的，因为如果没有一个教会存在于世界上的某个地方，人类就不能持续存在，因为它没有与天堂的结合，如前所示（468，637，931，2054节）。
本章论述了教会的这两种状态，即：“罗得”所代表的一个新教会的兴起，以及“所多玛和蛾摩拉”所表示的旧教会的毁灭；这从概览可以看出来。这就是为何此处说那两个天使“晚上”到了所多玛；这也是为何经上提到晚上发生的事（19:1-3），夜里发生的事（19:4-14），早晨或曙光升起时发生的事（19:15-22），以及太阳升起后发生的事（19:23-26）。
“晚上”因表示教会的这些状态，故也表示审判之前的察罚，因为当审判，也就是对有信者的拯救和对不信者的定罪，逼近时，察罚（察罚是对他们品质的检查，也就是察看是否还有任何仁和信）就会发生。这种察罚出现在“晚上”，这也是为何察罚（visit，经上或译为眷顾）本身被称为“晚上”，如西番雅书：
海洋地带的居民、基利提族有祸了！迦南，非利士人之地啊，耶和华的话与你反对，我必毁灭你，以致无人居住。犹大家剩下的人必在亚实基伦的家里牧放，晚上必躺卧，因为耶和华他们的神必眷顾他们，使他们被掳的人归回。（西番雅书2:5，7）
Potts(1905-1910) 2323
2323. That "evening" signifies the time of visitation, is evident from the signification of "evening." The states of the church are compared in the Word both to the seasons of the year and the times of the day; to the seasons of the year because to its summer, autumn, winter, and spring; to the times of the day because to its noon, evening, night, and morning; for the two things are similarly circumstanced. The state of the church which is called "evening," is when there is no longer any charity, consequently when there begins to be no faith, thus when the church is ceasing to be; this is the "evening" that is followed by the "night" (see n. 22). There is also an "evening" when charity shines forth, consequently when faith does so, and thus when a new church is rising up; this "evening" is the twilight before the morning (see n. 883). Thus "evening" has both significations, for it is provided by the Lord that when a church is ceasing to be, a new one is rising up, and this at the same time; for without a church somewhere on the globe the human race cannot subsist, because it would have no conjunction with heaven (as shown above in n. 468, 637, 931, 2054). [2] In the present chapter both states of the church are treated of, namely, the rising up of a new church, which is represented by "Lot," and the destruction of the old, which is signified by "Sodom and Gomorrah;" as can be seen from the Contents. This is why it is here said that the two angels came to Sodom "in the evening;" and why there is told what was done in the evening (verses 1-3), what in the night (verses 4-14), what in the morning or rising dawn (verses 15-22), and what after the sun had gone forth (verses 23-26). [3] As the "evening" signifies these states of the church, it also signifies the visitation which precedes Judgment; for when a Judgment is close at hand, that is, the salvation of the faithful and the condemnation of the unfaithful, then visitation precedes, or an exploration of what quality they are, that is, whether there is any charity and faith. This visitation takes place in the "evening;" and therefore the visitation itself is called "evening," as in Zephaniah:
Woe to the inhabitants of the region of the sea, the nation of the Cherethites. The word of Jehovah is against you, O Canaan, the land of the Philistines; and I will cause to destroy thee, till there shall be no inhabitant. The remnant of the house of Judah shall feed in the houses of Ashkelon, in the evening shall they lie down; for Jehovah their God will visit them, and will bring back their captivity (Zeph. 2:5, 7).
Elliott(1983-1999) 2323
2323. That 'evening' means the time when visitation takes place is clear from the meaning of 'evening'. In the Word states of the Church are compared both to seasons of the year and to times of day- the seasons of the year being summer, autumn, winter, and spring; the times of day, midday, evening, night, and morning. Such a similarity does indeed exist between the two. The state of the Church which is, called 'evening' is a state when charity starts to be no more and as a consequence faith to be no more _ thus a state when the Church is ceasing to exist. This evening is that which is followed by night, see 22. But another state of the Church - when charity is shining and as a consequence faith, and so when a new Church is arising - is called 'evening'. By this is meant the twilight prior to the morning, see 883. Thus the word 'evening' means both these states. For when a Church is ceasing to exist the Lord provides for a new one to arise. These two processes take place simultaneously, for without a Church somewhere in the world the human race cannot remain in existence because it would have no conjunction with heaven, as shown in 468, 637, 931, 2054.
[2] In the present chapter both states of the Church are dealt with, that is to say, both the rise of a new Church represented by 'Lot' and the destruction of the old meant by 'Sodom and Gomorrah', as may be seen from the paragraphs above headed Contents. This is why it is said here that two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and why what happened in the evening is recorded, in verses 1-3, what happened during the night, in verses 4-14, what happened in the morning or at dawn, in verses 15-22, and what happened after sunrise, in verses 23-26.
[3] Since 'the evening' means these states of the Church it also means the visitation that takes place prior to judgement; for when judgement, that is, when the salvation of those who have faith and the condemnation of those who have no faith, is imminent, visitation takes place - such visitation being an examination of their character, that is, to see whether any charity or faith is there. This visitation occurs 'in the evening', which also is why visitation itself is called 'the evening', as in Zephaniah,
Woe to the inhabitants of the region of the sea, to the nation of the Cherethites! The word of Jehovah is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines; and I will cause destruction in you until no inhabitant is left. The remnant of the house of Judah will pasture in the houses of Ashkelon, they will lie down in the evening, for Jehovah their God will visit them, and bring again their captivity. Zeph 2: 5, 7.
Latin(1748-1756) 2323
2323. Quod `vespera' sit tempus visitationis, constat a significatione `vesperae': status Ecclesiae in Verbo comparantur et temporibus anni et temporibus diei; temporibus anni, nempe ejus aestati, autumno, hiemi et veri; temporibus diei, nempe ejus meridie vesperae, nocti et mane; similiter enim se habent. Status Ecclesiae qui `vespera' dicitur, est cum nulla amplius charitas, proinde cum nulla fides, incipit esse, ita cum Ecclesia desinit esse; haec vespera est quam sequitur nox, videatur n. 22; et est quoque cum charitas elucet, proinde cum fides, ita cum Ecclesia nova exoriatur; haec vespera est diluculum ante mane, videatur n. 883; ita `vespera' significat utrumque. Providetur enim a Domino, cum Ecclesia desinit esse, quod nova exoriatur, et hoc eodem tempore, nam absque Ecclesia alicubi in orbe, non subsistere potest genus humanum, quia nulla foret ejus conjunctio cum caelo, ut n. 468, 637, 931, 2054 ostensum est. [2] In hoc capite agitur de utroque statu Ecclesiae, nempe de ortu novae Ecclesiae, quae repraesentatur per `Lotum,' ac de interitu veteris, quae significatur per `Sodomam et Amoram,' ut constare potest a contentis [n. 2312-6]; inde est quod hic dicatur quod duo angeli venerint (o)Sodomam in vespera; et quod memoretur quid factum in vespera, vers. 1-3, quid in nocte vers. 4-14, quid mane seu surgente aurora vers. 15-22, et quid postquam sol egressus vers. 23-26. [3] Quia `vespera' illos status Ecclesiae significat, etiam significat visitationem quae praecedit judicium, nam cum imminet judicium, hoc est, salvatio fidelium et damnatio infidelium, tunc praecedit visitatio seu exploratio quales sunt, hoc est, num aliqua charitas et fides; haec visitatio fit `in vespera,' quare etiam ipsa visitatio vocatur vespera, ut apud Zephaniam, Vae habitatoribus tractus maris, genti Kerethim, verbum Jehovae contra vos, Canaan, terra Philistaeorum, et perdere faciam te, usque ut nullus habitator; reliquiae domus Jehudae pascent in domibus Ashkelonis, in vespera cubabunt, quia visitabit eos Jehovah Deus eorum, et reducet captivitatem eorum, ii 5, 7.