554. Because the accuser of our brothers has been cast out, accusing them before our God day and night' signifies that those who have taken a position against the doctrine of the New Church have been removed by means of the last judgment. The dragon's having been cast out signifies that those who are understood by 'the dragon' have been removed, that they have been removed by a casting down out of heaven into the world of spirits and then into hell, and that this is their last judgment. This has been said before. By 'brothers' those are understood who are in the doctrine of the New Jerusalem and in a life in accordance with it. By 'to accuse' is signified to take a position against the doctrine, to prove that it is untrue, and to censure it, and because they are doing this continually, as if before God, the dragon is termed 'the accuser of the brothers accusing them before God day and night'. This also the Devil does when he is tempting, for he drags forth various things out of a man, which he calls untrue and condemns.