74. 17 The reference in Matthew 24:21 to “a great affliction such as has never existed since the world began and will never exist again” means an attack by falsities and the resulting end — the devastation — of all truth in the Christian denominations of today.
Survey of Teachings of the New Church #86
86. The goats mentioned in Zechariah have the same meaning:
My wrath blazes against the shepherds, and I will execute judgment upon the goats. (Zechariah 10:3)
Likewise, the goats mentioned in Ezekiel:
Behold, I am judging between one flock animal and another, between rams and goats. Is it too little for you to have eaten up the good pasture? Will you also trample what remains of the food with your feet? You attack all the weak sheep with your horns until you have scattered them. Therefore I will save my flock, so that it will no longer be prey. (Ezekiel 34:17, 18, 21, and following)
