856. Verse 7. And when the thousand years are finished, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, signifies that after they who had before been concealed and guarded in the lower earth, were taken up by the Lord into heaven, and the New Christian Heaven increased by them, all who had confirmed themselves in the falsities of faith were let loose. "When the thousand years are finished," signifies after they were taken up by the Lord into heaven who had hitherto been concealed and guarded in the lower earth. The reason why "when the thousand years are finished" has this signification, is because the salvation of those who worshiped the Lord, and who lived according to His commandments, is alone treated of in verses 4-6, which precede, and this interval of time is meant by "a thousand years." It is not said, indeed, that they were taken up from the lower earth, but yet it is evident from chapter 6:9-11, where they were seen "under the altar," and "under the altar" means in the lower earth; wherefore also they are here called "priests of God and of Christ" (verse 6, see above n. 854). Neither is it here said that the New Christian Heaven was increased by them, though this appears evidently from chapter 14, which treats of the New Christian Heaven, as may be seen from the explanations there given (especially in n. 612, 613, 626, 631, 647, 659, 661). The reason why by "Satan was loosed out of his prison," is signified that they who had confirmed themselves in faith alone, as to doctrine, were to be let loose, is because "the dragon" is here called "Satan" and not at the same time "Devil," as above (verse 2); and by "the dragon" as "the Devil" are meant those who were in evils of life, and by "the dragon" as "Satan" are meant those who were in the falsities of faith (see above n. 841); but the quality of the one and of the other will be seen in the next article.