** A Great Red Dragon **

And another sign was seen in heaven;
and behold, a great red dragon,
having seven heads,
and ten horns,
and upon his heads seven diadems.

And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven,
and cast them to the earth;
and the dragon stood before the woman
who was about to bring forth,
that after she had brought forth,
he might devour her offspring.

(Revelation 12:3-4)

AR 531

"And another sign was seen in heaven,"
signifies revelation from the Lord
concerning those who are against
the New Church and its doctrine.
"And behold a great red dragon,"
signifies those in the Church of the Reformed
who make God three and the Lord two,
and who separate charity from faith,
and make faith saving,
and not charity at the same time.
"Having seven heads,"
signifies insanity
from the truths of the Word falsified and profaned.
"And ten horns,"
signifies much power.
"And upon his heads seven diadems,"
signifies all the truths of the Word
falsified and profaned.

"And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven,
and cast them to the earth,"
signifies that
by falsifications of the truths of the Word
they have alienated all spiritual knowledges
of good and truth from the church,
and by applications to falsities
have entirely destroyed them.
"And the dragon stood before the Woman
who was about to bring forth,
that after she had brought forth,
he might devour her offspring,"
signifies that they who are meant by "the dragon"
will endeavor to extinguish
the doctrine of the New Church
at its first appearance.