737. 'The seven heads are seven mountains, where the woman is sitting upon them, [verse 10] and they are seven kings' signifies the Divine Goods and Divine Truths of the Word, upon which the Roman Catholic form of religion has been founded, in time destroyed and finally profaned. Since the Word is signified by 'the scarlet beast', and therefore by its 'heads' are signified the goods of love and truths of wisdom there, therefore what the Word is like as to these two with those who are understood by 'Babylon' is here described, the Divine Good of love there by the 'mountains', and the Divine Truth there by the 'kings'. That by 'mountains are signified goods of love, may be seen (n. 336, 339, 714a); and that by 'kings' are signified truths of wisdom (n. 20, 664, 704); and that by 'the head', when concerning the Lord, is signified His Divine Love of Divine Wisdom and Divine Wisdom of Divine Love (n. 47, 538, 568); and that by 'the seven' are signified all and what is complete, and that this is said of holy things (n. 10, 391, 657); and that by 'the woman' is signified the Roman Catholic form of religion (n. 723). Now therefore by 'the seven heads are seven mountains, where the woman is sitting upon them' are signified the Divine Goods and Divine Truths of the Word upon which the Roman Catholic form of religion has been founded. This is because the whole Word has been profaned and adulterated by that form of religion, of which above (n. 717, 759-721, 723, 728-730). [2] 'In time profaned' is said since in the beginning the Word was holy to them; but as they saw themselves able to dominate by means of the holy things of the Church they departed from the Word and acknowledged their own edicts, precepts and statutes as of equal, but in reality of superior, holiness. And at length they transferred all the Lord's authority to themselves, not leaving anything. It is on account of their first state, when they held the Word holy, that Lucifer (by whom is understood Babel, n. 717) was termed 'son of the dawn'; but on account of the later state that he was 'sent down into hell' (Isa. xiv). Concerning this, however, more may be seen in ANGELIC WISDOM CONCERNING DIVINE PROVIDENCE (n. 257). It may seem that by the 'seven mountains where the woman is sitting' Rome is understood, because it is built upon seven mountains, being indeed renowned on account of them. Although it may be Rome that is understood, since the throne and tribunal of that form of religion is there, nevertheless by 'the seven mountains' here are signified the profaned Divine Goods of the Word and of the Church therefrom, for the number seven adds nothing else but what is holy, here what has been profaned, as the same number does elsewhere, as where are mentioned:-
The seven spirits before the throne of God Rev. i 4.
The seven candlesticks, in the midst of which was the Son of Man Rev. 13; iii.
The seven stars Rev, ii 1; iii 1.
The seven lamps of fire before the throne Rev. iv 5.
The seven seals with which the book was sealed Rev. v 1.
The seven horns and seven eyes of the Lamb Rev. v 6.
The seven angels with seven trumpets Rev. viii 2.
The seven thunders Rev. x 3, 4.
The seven angels having seven plagues in phials Rev. xv 1, 6, 7.
Similarly here, that the scarlet beast had 'seven heads', and that the seven heads were 'seven mountains' and also were 'seven kings'.
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