1062. The seven heads are seven mountains, upon which the woman sitteth. That this signifies the goods of the Word adulterated and profaned by those who are in dominion from that religious persuasion, is evident from the signification of the seven heads of the beast, as denoting the holy things of the Word profaned (concerning which see n. 1040); and from the signification of seven mountains, as denoting the goods of the Word adulterated and profaned. That by mountains are signified the goods of love, and, in the opposite sense, the evils of the love, may be seen (n. 405, 510, 850,1025). And that seven is said of what is holy, and, in the opposite sense, of what is profane (n. 1040). Hence by the seven mountains are signified the goods of love, which also are the goods of the Word, adulterated and profaned. And from the signification of, upon which the woman sitteth, as denoting where there is dominion from that religious persuasion. That by the woman is signified the religious persuasion of those who are of Babylon may be seen above (n. 1038). And that to sit signifies to rule may be seen above (n. 1033, 1038), where it is explained concerning the woman that she sitteth upon many waters, and upon the scarlet beast. The reason why it is dominion from that religious persuasion that is meant is, that those who are in dominion over the holy things of the church, and exercise that dominion, are the persons meant by this woman, who is called a whore, and the mother of the whoredoms and abominations of the earth; and not those who worship according to that religious persuasion, and are not in dominion. For these, while they live according to the statutes of the Pope, and acknowledge him for the Lord's vicar, and comply with the holy things of worship according to their institution, are not unlike well-disposed pagans, who know simply that the truths which their ministers and monks teach them are good and holy. And this is the more readily admitted, because they do not read the Word; some, because it is taken away from them, and some, because having been persuaded, they depend upon the teaching of the monks, and believe that these and no others understand the Word.
[2] But those of the people who look to the Lord, and to the Pope only as to the head of the church, and have some affection for truth, though they are indeed in Babylon, still they are not of it. For after death they can be withdrawn from the vanities and idolatries of that religious persuasion, and be brought to worship and adore the Lord; and they also receive truths from the Lord through the Word, or through those who teach it. Therefore also many societies, which are so many churches, were instituted from them by the Lord after the Last Judgment, of which we shall speak in what follows. As to the seven mountains upon which the woman was seen sitting, it is supposed that they are the seven mountains of Rome, where the Papal chair is. But admitting that Rome also is meant, still by the seven mountains are signified the goods of the Word adulterated and profaned; for the Word is everywhere spiritual, and this is its spiritual. That by the seven mountains are signified the goods of the Word adulterated and profaned, is evident also from what follows presently, where it is said, that by the seven heads of the beast are also signified seven kings; and by seven kings, in the spiritual sense, are signified the truths of the Word falsified and profaned.
Concerning the fourth kind of Profanation:-
[3] Those who give themselves up wholly to a life of piety, continually walk in pious meditations, pray frequently upon their knees, and discourse continually concerning salvation, faith, and love, and yet do not shun frauds, adulteries, hatred, blasphemies, and similar things, as sins against God, and do not fight against them, are those of this kind whose profanation is the greater. For by the impurities of their minds they defile the piety of their lips, especially if they abdicate the world, and lead solitary lives. Of this kind, those are guilty of greater profanation who are such, and yet defend their vices - as adulteries and lust as pertaining to nature and their pleasure - by reasonings and by the Word falsely interpreted. Such persons make themselves first secure, afterwards blameless, and at length holy; and so, under the veil of sanctity, they enter into impurities, with which they pollute both themselves and their garments.
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