Because the beast also signifies confirmation from the Word of separated faith, and thence its falsification, therefore by having the victory over the beast is also signified, that they have not falsified the Word.

That by the two beasts of the dragon treated of in chapter xiii. is signified faith separated from the goods of life, and also the falsification of the Word to confirm it, may be seen above (n. 773, 875).

[2] Since in the explanations of the two preceding chapters (xii. and xiii.), faith separated from the goods of charity, which are good works, also faith from charity, have been treated of; in the explanations to this chapter and the following, the goods of charity must be treated of.

What the goods of charity or good works are, is at this day unknown to most of the Christian world, because of the prevalence of the religion of faith alone, which is a faith separated from the goods of charity; for if these contribute nothing to salvation, but faith only, it is thought that they may be left undone. But there are some who believe that good works are to be done, and yet do not know what constitutes good works. They suppose that they consist in merely giving to the poor, and in helping the needy, widows, and the fatherless, because such things are mentioned and so commanded in the Word. Some suppose, that if they are to be done for the sake of life eternal, they ought to give to the poor all they possess, as was done in the Primitive Church; and, as the Lord commanded the rich man, that he should sell all that he had, and give to the poor, and take up his cross and follow Him. But what the good works are that are meant in the Word shall be explained, in order, in the following articles.