60. The next chapter in the REVELATION, the thirteenth, treats of the dragon's two beasts, one of which was seen to rise out of the sea, and the other out of the earth: the former is treated of from verses 1 to 10, and the latter from verses 11 to 18. That they are the dragon's beasts is evident from verses 2, 4, 11 of this chapter. By the first beast is signified faith separated from charity, as to the confirmations of it drawn from the natural man; and by the second is signified faith separated from charity, as to the confirmations of it drawn from the Word, which are, moreover, falsifications of the truth. But I pass over the explanation of these passages because they contain argumentations, which it would be too tedious to draw out at length. I will only explain the concluding verse:
Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred, threescore and six. Rev. xiii 18.
Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast, signifies, let those who are enlightened inquire into the nature of the confirmations of that faith drawn from the Word. For it is the number of a man, signifies that its nature is that of self- intelligence. And its number is six hundred and sixty-six, signifies that every truth of the Word is falsified.
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