1. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2. And the beast that I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet as [the feet] of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion; and the dragon gave him his vigour, and his throne, and great authority. 3. And I saw one of his heads as if wounded to death, and the stroke of his death was healed; and the whole land went in admiration after the beast. 4. And they adored the dragon who gave authority to the beast, and they adored the beast, saving, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to fight with him? 5. And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and there was given unto him authority to act for forty-two months. 6. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His Name, and His tabernacle, and those dwelling in heaven. 7. And it was given unto him to wage war with the saints, and to overcome them, and authority was given him over every tribe and tongue and nation. 8. And all dwelling upon the land shall adore him, whose names have not been written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10. If anyone leads a captivity, he shall go into captivity; if anyone slays with the sword, he must be slain with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. 11. And I saw another beast coming up out of the land, and he had two horns like a lamb, and he was speaking as a dragon. 12. And he exercises all the authority of the former beast in his presence, and causes the land and those dwelling therein to adore the former beast, the stroke of whose death was healed. 13. And he does great signs, so that he also makes fire come down out of heaven into the land in the presence of men. 14. And he leads astray those dwelling upon the land, on account of the signs that were given him to enact in the presence of the beast, telling those dwelling upon the land to make an image to the beast, which has the stroke of the sword and did live. 15. And it was given him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast may both speak and enact, that everyone who does not adore the image of the beast may be slain. 16. And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, that he give them a mark upon their right hand and upon their foreheads. 17. And that no one can buy or sell, if he does not have the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18. Here is wisdom. Let one having intelligence compute the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.

THE SPIRITUAL SENSE

THE CONTENT OF THE WHOLE CHAPTER

In this chapter there is a continuation Concerning the dragon, and the doctrine and faith that are understood by it are described; what it is like with the laity, and afterwards what it is like with the clergy.

By 'the beast coming up out of the sea' is described that doctrine and faith with the laity (from vers. 1 to 10);

and by 'the beast out of the land' that [doctrine and faith] with the clergy (vers. 11-17);

then concerning the falsification of the truth of the Word by the latter (vers. 18).

THE CONTENTS OF EACH OF THE VERSES

1. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea signifies the laity in the Churches of the Reformed who are in the doctrine and faith of the dragon concerning God and salvation. Having seven heads signifies the insanity resulting from sheer untruths. And ten horns signifies great power. And upon his horns ten diadems signifies the power of falsifying many truths of the Word. And upon his heads the name of blasphemy signifies the denial of the Lord's Divine Human, and the doctrine of the Church not derived from the Word but hatched out of self-intelligence. 2. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard signifies a heresy destructive of the Church, because derived from truths of the Word falsified. And his feet as [the feet] of a bear signifies full of fallacies derived from the sense of the letter of the Word read but not understood. And his mouths as the mouth of a lion signifies reasonings derived from untruths as if from truths. And the dragon gave him his vigour, and his throne, and great authority signifies that this heresy is prevalent and reigning through reception by the laity. 3. And I saw one of his heads as if wounded to deaths signifies that the doctrine of faith alone is not in agreement with the Word, where works are so often commanded. And the stroke of his death was healed signifies the healing thereof on account of this. And the whole land went in admiration after the beast signifies that then that doctrine and faith was received with joy. 4. And they adored the dragon who gave authority to the beast signifies the acknowledgment that it is such as has been given by the leaders and teachers, who have caused its prevalence through reception by the community at large. And they adored the beast signifies the acknowledgment by the community at large that it is a holy truth (veritas) [that no one can do a good work by himself, nor fulfil the law]. Saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to fight with him? signifies the superiority of that doctrine, because it cannot be contradicted by anyone. 5. And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies signifies that it is teaching evils and untruths. And there was given unto him authority to act for forty-two months signifies the opportunity for teaching and doing the evils and untruths of that doctrine up to the end of that Church, until the beginning of the New. 6. [And he opened his mouths in blasphemy against God, and His Name signifies their sayings, which are scandals against the Lord's Divine Itself and Divine Human, and at the same the against everything of the Church derived from the Word, by means of which the Lord is worshipped.] And His tabernacle and those dwelling in heaven signifies scandals against the Lord's celestial Church and against heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to wage war with the saints and to overcome them signifies that they have fought against the Divine truths of the Word and overthrown them. And authority was given him over every tribe and tongue and nation signifies consequent dominion over all things of the Church both those of its doctrine and those of its life. 8. And all dwelling upon the land shall adore him, whose names have not been written in the book of life of the Lamb signifies that all have acknowledged that heretical [doctrine] as a holy thing of the Church, except those who have believed in the Lord. Slain from the foundation of the world signifies the Lord's Divine Human not acknowledged from the setting up of the Church. 9. If anyone has an ear, let him hear signifies that those who wish to be wise pay attention to these things. 10. If anyone leads a captivity he shall go into captivity signifies that he who by means of this heretical [doctrine] leads others away from believing well and living well is led away by his own evils and untruths into hell. If anyone slays with the sword, he must be slain with the sword signifies that he who by means of untruths has destroyed the soul of another is destroyed by untruths and perishes. [Here is the patience and faith of the saints signifies that the man of the Lord's New Church by means of temptations from those [untruths and evils] is examined as to the quality of his life and faith.] And I saw another beast coming up out of the land signifies the clergy who are in the doctrine and faith of the dragon concerning God and salvation. And he had two horns like a Lamb, and he was speaking as a dragon signifies that they speak, teach and write out of the Word as if it were the Lord's Divine Truth, but still it is truths falsified. 12. And he exercises all the authority of the former beast in his presence signifies that they have confirmed the dogmas and by this are influential. And causes the land and those dwelling in it to adore the former beast, the stroke of whose deaths was healed signifies that as a result of the confirmations it has been established that what has been received by the community at large should be acknowledged as a holy thing of the Church. 13. And he does great signs signifies testifications that the things that they teach are true, although they are untrue. So that he also makes fire come down out of heaven into the land in the presence of men signifies attestations that their untruths are true. 14. And he leads astray those dwelling upon the land on account of the signs that were given him to enact in the presence of the beast signifies that by testifications and attestations they lead the men of the Church into errors. Telling those dwelling upon the land to make an image to the beast, which has the stroke of the sword and did live signifies that they induce the men of the Church to receive as a doctrine, that faith is the one and only means of salvation, for the reasons stated. 15. And it was given him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast may both speak signifies that it was permitted them to confirm that doctrine by means of the Word, whereby it is taught as if made alive. And enact that everyone who does not adore the image of the beast may be slain signifies that they pronounce damnation upon those who do not acknowledge the doctrine of their faith as a holy doctrine of the Church. 16. And he causes all the small and the great and the rich and the poor and the free and the bond signifies all in that Church of whatever condition, learning, and intelligence they are. That he give them a mark upon their right hand and upon their foreheads signifies that no one is acknowledged as a Reformed Christian unless he receives that doctrine in faith and love. 17. And that no one can buy or sell if he does not have the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name signifies that no one is allowed to teach out of the Word unless he acknowledges that [doctrine], and swears to a faith and love of it, or to something that agrees with it. 18. Here is wisdom signifies that it is the part of a wise man, in consequence of the things that have been stated and expounded in this chapter, to see and understand what the doctrine and faith with the clergy is like concerning God and salvation. Let one having intelligence compute the number of the beast signifies that he who is in enlightenment from the Lord is able to recognise what the confirmation of that doctrine and faith out of the Word is like with them. For it is the number of a man signifies the quality of the Word and consequently of the Church. His number is six hundred and sixty-six signifies this quality, that every truth of the Word has been falsified by them.

THE EXPOSITION

[verse 1] 'And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea' signifies the laity in the Churches of the Reformed who are in the doctrine and faith of the dragon concerning God and salvation. What the faith of the dragon is, and what it is like, may be seen (n. 537). In this chapter there is a continuation concerning the same faith; and by this ' beast', which was seen to come up out of the sea', is understood that faith with the laity, but by 'the beast out of the land', mentioned in verse 11, is understood that faith with the clergy. That there is a continuation here concerning 'the dragons' is plain from these things in this chapter:-

That the dragon gave the beast coming up out of the sea his vigour, and throne, and great authority (verse 2). And that they adored the dragon who gave authority to the beast (verse 4).

And of the beast out of the land, that he spoke like the dragon (verse 11).

And that he exercised all the authority of the former beast in the presence of the dragon (verse 12).

The reason why the laity are understood by 'the beast out of the sea' and the clergy by 'the beast out of the land' is because by 'the sea' is signified the external of the Church and by 'the land' its internal (n. 398, and elsewhere), and the laity are in the external things of the doctrine of the Church, while the clergy are in the internal things thereof. Therefore also 'the beast out of the land' in the things following is called 'the false prophet'. They are [the clergy and the laity who are in the Churches of the Reformed, because it treats of the Reformed as far as chapter xvi inclusive, and of the Roman Catholics in chapters xvii and xviii, and afterwards of the last judgment, and then and not till then of the New Church. [2] They were seen as 'beasts' because a dragon is a beast, and because 'a beast' in the Word signifies a man as to his affections, harmless and useful beasts signifying him as to good affections, and hurtful and useless beasts as to evil affections. On this account the men of the Church in general are termed 'sheep', and an assembly of them 'a flock', and one teaching is called a shepherd (pastor). This also is why the Word as to its power, affection, understanding and wisdom is described above by the 'four animals', which were 'a lion, a calf, an eagle and a man' (chap. iv), and that the understanding of the Word is described by 'horses' (chap. vi). This is because a man's affections in the spiritual world appear from afar off as beasts, as has often been said before, and beasts regarded in themselves are nothing but the forms of natural affections, whereas men are not only forms of natural, but also at the same time of spiritual, affections. [3] That men as to affections are understood by 'beasts' can be established from the following passages:-

Thou makest* a rain of kindnesses to drop, Thou shalt confirm Thy labouring inheritance, the beast of Thine assembly shall dwell therein Ps. lxxiii 9, 10 [H.B. 10, 11].

Every wild beast of the forest is Mine, the beasts on a thousand mountains, I know every bird of the mountains, the beasts of My fields are Mine Ps. l 10.

Asshur is a cedar in Lebanon, he has become of high stature, in his branches all the birds of the heavens have made their nests, and under his branches all the beasts of the held have brought forth, and in his shade all the great nations have dwelt Ezek. xxxi 3-6, 10, 13; Dan. iv 10-16 [H.B. 7-13].

I will make a covenant with them in that day with the beast of the field and within the bird of the heavens, and I will betroth thee unto Me to eternity Hosea ii 18, 19.

Rejoice and be glad, be not afraid O beasts of My fields, for the habitations of the wilderness have become full of vegetation Joel ii 21-23.

In that day there shall be a great tumult, Judah shall fight against Jerusalem, and there shall be a plague of horse, mule, camel, and every beast; therefore shall every one that is left go up to Jerusalem Zech. xiv 13-16.

They shall regard him as a bird of ill omen (abominabuntur eum avis), and every beast of the land shall condemn him Isa. xviii 6.

Thou, son of man, say to the bird of every wing, and to every beast of the field, Gather yourselves to My sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel; thus will I give My glory among the nations Ezek. xxxix 17-21.

Jehovah gathers the outcasts of Israel. All you beasts of My fields, come Isa. lvi 8, 9.

Jehovah will destroy Asshur, every wild beast of the nation shall rest in the midst thereof; both the cormorant and the bittern in its pomegranates Zeph. ii 13, 14.

The sheep are scattered without a shepherd, and are food for every wild beast of the field Ezek. xxxiv 5, 8.

I will cast thee forth upon the faces of the field, and will make every bird of the heavens abide upon thee, and out of thee I will satisfy every wild beast of the land Ezek. xxxii 4; also v 17; xxix 5; xxxiii 27; xxxiv 5, 8; xxxix 4; Jer. xv 3; xvi 4; xix 7.

An enemy reproaches Jehovah; O give not the soul of the turtle-dove to the beast Ps. lxxiv 18, 19.

I saw in a vision four beasts coming up out of the sea, the first was like a lion and had eagle's wings, the second like a bear, the third like a leopard, and the fourth was terrible Dan. vii 2-7.

The spirit driving Jesus made Him go into the wilderness, and He was with beasts, and angels were ministering unto Him Mark i 12, 13

[4] not that He was with beasts, but with the devils who are understood by 'beasts' here; besides in other places where 'beasts and 'wild beasts' are named, as Isa. xxxv 9; xliii 20; Jer. xii 4, 8-10; Ezek. viii 10; xxxiv 23, 25, 28; xxxviii 18-20; Hosea iv 2, 3; xiii 8; Joel i 16, 18, 20; Hab. ii 17; Dan. ii 37, 38; Ps. viii 6-8 [H.B. 7-9]; Ps. lxxx 13 [H.B. 14]; Ps. civ 10, 11, 14, 20, 25; Ps. cxlviii 7, 10; Exod. xxiii 28-30; Lev. xxvi 6; Deut. vii 22; xxxii 24. In these places by 'beasts' men are signified as to the affections. [5] By 'man and beast' together is signified man as to spiritual affection and natural affection in the following places: Jer. vii 20; xxi 6; xxvii 5; xxxi 27; xxxii 43; xxxiii 10-12; xxxvi 29; l 3; Ezek. xiv 13, 17, 19; xxv 13; xxxii 13; xxxvi 11; Zeph. i 2, 3; Zech. ii 3, 4 [H.B. 7, 8]; viii 9, 10; Jonah iii 7, 8; Ps. xxxvi 6 [H.B. 7]; Num. xviii 15. By all the beasts that were sacrificed good affections were signified; likewise by the beasts which were eaten; but the contrary by the beasts that were not eaten (Lev. xx 25, 26). * Reading facis (thou makest), as in Hebrew, instead of faciam (I will make). AC 246, AE 388, 650, have facis; but Coronis 3 has faciam.