596. [verse 12] 'And he exercises all the authority of the former beast in his presence' signifies that they have confirmed the dogmas that are signified by 'the dragon' and have been received by the laity, and that by this they [the clergy] are influential. That these things are signified can be seen from the things expounded above concerning the authority given by the dragons to the beast coming up from the sea (n. 575, 579); and because this beast, which is the false prophet, exercises that authority in the presence of the dragon, nothing else is signified than that they caused these dogmas to be influential by means of confirmations.