834. Verse 20. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet, that did signs before him, with which he seduced them that receive the mark of the beast and that adore his image, signifies all those who professed faith alone, and were interiorly evil, as well the laity and common people as the clergy and the learned, who by reasonings and attestations that faith alone is the only means of salvation, have induced others to receive that faith, and to live according to it. By "the beast" here is meant "the beast out of the sea," spoken of (Rev. 13:1-10); and by "the false prophet" is meant "the beast out of the earth," spoken of in the same chapter (verses 11-18). That by "the beast out of the sea" are meant the laity and the common people who are in the religious persuasion concerning faith alone, and that by "the beast out of the earth" are meant the clergy and the learned who are in that religious persuasion, may be seen from the explanations of that chapter. That "the false prophet" here is "the beast out of the earth," which is treated of in that chapter (verses 11-18) is plainly manifest; because it is here said of "the false prophet," that it is "he that did signs before the other beast, with which he seduced them that receive the mark of the beast, and that adore his image:" for similar things are said of the beast out of the earth (chap. 13); namely, that:
He did great signs before the beast out of the sea, and seduced them that dwell upon the earth, that they should adore his image, and receive his mark upon the right hand and upon the forehead (Rev. 13:12-17):
from which it is manifest, that the clergy and the learned are here signified by "the false prophet," who have confirmed themselves in the religious persuasion concerning faith alone, and have seduced the laity and the common people. They are called the false prophet, because by "a prophet" those are signified who teach and preach falsities by perverting the truths of the Word (n. 8, 701). That by "the signs" of that beast are signified reasonings and attestations that faith alone is the only means of salvation, may be seen above (n. 598, 599, 704). By "receiving the mark of the beast and adoring his image" is signified to acknowledge and receive that faith (n. 634, 637, 679).