595. 'And he had two horns like a Lamb, and he was speaking like 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 truth falsified. By 'horns' power is signified (n. 270, 443); here power in speaking, teaching and writing, thus in reasoning and arguing. That the horns were seen 'like a Lamb' signifies that they propagate these things of their own as if they were the Lord's Divine Truths, because out of the Word; for by 'the Lamb' is understood the Lord as to the Divine Human, and also as to the Word, which is Divine Truth out of Divine Good. In consequence of this there appeared upon this beast, which also is 'the false prophet' (n. 594), 'two horns like a Lamb'; but that they were Divine Truths falsified is signified by their 'speaking like a dragon'. That by those who are in the faith of the dragon concerning God and salvation all the truths of the Word have been falsified may be seen above (n. 566). [2] That these two things are signified by this beast 'having two horns like a Lamb' and 'speaking like a dragon' is quite plain from these words of the Lord in Matthew:-
If anyone says unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there, believe it not, there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall give great signs and wonders in order to lead into error, if possible, the elect. Behold I have told you in advance Matt. xxiv 23-25.
The same is signified by 'Christ' here as by 'the Lamb', namely the Lord as to the Divine Truth of the Word; and therefore that they are going to say 'Lo, here is Christ' signifies that they are going to say that this is the Divine Truth of the Word: but that it is that truth falsified is signified by these words, 'If anyone says unto you, here is Christ or there, believe it not, for there shall arise false Christs and false prophets'. That these are they of whom the Lord made the prediction is plain by reason of this, that it is said that they are going to 'give great signs and wonders' and 'lead into error, if possible, the elect', similar to what is said of this beast, which is the false prophet (vers. 13, 14 of this chapter). The things that the Lord foretold in that chapter of Matthew were concerning the last the or state of the Church, which is there understood by 'the consummation of the age'.
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