Spiritual Meaning of REVELATION 13:12
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AR 596. Verse 12. And he exerciseth all the authority of the first beast before him, signifies that they have confirmed the dogmas which are signified by "the dragon," and are received by the laity, and that through it they prevail. That this is signified, may be seen from the explanation above concerning the authority given by the dragon to the beast coming up out of the sea (n. 575, 579); and because this beast, which is the false prophet, exercised that authority before the dragon, nothing else is signified than that they caused them to prevail by confirmations.

AR 597. And He causeth the earth and them that dwell therein to adore the first beast the stroke of whose death was healed, signifies that thus by confirmations they have established this, that it is to be acknowledged as a holy thing of the church, that because no one can do a good work from himself and fulfil the law, the only means of salvation is faith in the justice and merit of Christ, who suffered for man, and thereby took away the condemnation of the law. It is unnecessary to explain this any further, because it follows from the explanations given in (n. 566, 577-582). By "the earth and them that dwell therein," are signified the churches of the Reformed; "to adore" signifies to acknowledge as a holy thing of the church; here this is meant by "the beast coming up out of the sea, after the stroke of his death was healed;" and this has been explained already.

Author:  E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design:  I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.

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