782. And his mouth as the mouth of a lion. That this signifies reasonings from falsities destroying the truths of the church is evident from the signification of mouth, as denoting thought; concerning which see above (n. 580); but in the present case reasoning, of which we shall speak presently. And from the signification of a lion, as denoting infernal falsity as to power; concerning which also see above (n. 278) at the end. The reason is, that by a lion is signified Divine truth; therefore the Lord is also called a lion in the Word. Hence, in the opposite sense, a lion signifies infernal falsity as to the power of destroying Divine truth, and thus the Word; and this is done especially by the falsification and adulteration of it. And because a lion is the most powerful of all animals, and his power increases according to his appetite for devouring, and thus of seizing his prey and tearing it in pieces, therefore by a lion is also signified the desire to destroy the truths of the Word. Similar things are also represented by lions in the spiritual world, for lions also appear there; but their forms are appearances arising from the desire of those who have great power to adulterate and falsify the truths of the Word, whereby they are destroyed; and this power attends them according to the faculty of reasoning. Hence it is that by lion in the Word, in the opposite sense, is signified infernal falsity destroying the truths of the church.
Because these things are signified by a lion; and by the beast which was like a leopard, and which had feet as a bear, are signified reasonings confirming the separation of faith from life, by means of which the goods and truths of the Word are falsified and adulterated; therefore by the mouth of that beast, which was as the mouth of a lion, is signified reasoning from falsities destroying the truths of the Word.
By mouth, in the proper sense, is signified thought; but because a man speaks by the mouth, therefore by the mouth are signified the various things which flow from thought, as instruction, preaching, reasoning - in the present case, reasoning - because reasonings proceeding from the natural man are signified by the beast here treated of.
More, however, will be said upon this subject in the explanation of verses 5-7 of this chapter, where these words occur:
"And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given to him to make war forty and two months. And he opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them."
From this it is evident what is the nature of their power and desire, and also of the ability they possess, by reasonings, of falsifying the truths and adulterating the goods of the Word.
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