634. 'If anyone adores the beast and his image, and accepts a mark upon his forehead and hand' signifies [that] he who acknowledges and receives the doctrine concerning justification and salvation by faith alone confirms it and lives in accordance with it. By 'to adore the beast' is signified to acknowledge that faith (n. 580). By 'to adore his image' is signified to acknowledge and receive that doctrine (n. 603). By 'to accept a mark upon forehead and hand' is signified to receive it in love and faith and to confirm oneself in it (n. 605, 606); and because those who confirm themselves in that love and faith also live in accordance with it, this also is understood. [2] There are three stages of the reception of that doctrine which are described by these words. The first stage is to acknowledge that doctrine, the second stage is to confirm it with oneself, and the third stage is to live in accordance with it. To acknowledge it is done from thought, to confirm it with oneself is done from understanding, and to live in accordance with it is done from will. There are those who are in the first stage and yet not in the second and third, and there are those who are in the first and second and yet not in the third; but those who are in the third, which is the stage of living in accordance therewith, are the ones of whom the things following in verses 10 and 11 are said. To live in accordance with that [faith] is to make evil of no account, thinking that evil does not condemn because the works of the law do not save, but only faith. It is also to make good of no account, thinking to oneself that no one can do good from himself except what is merit-seeking. Thus they are those who only avoid evils for the sake of civil and moral laws, and not for the sake of Divine laws. They are those who do good only for the sake of self and the world, consequently out of self-love, and not for the Lord's sake, consequently not out of love of the neighbour. [3] The reason that the things now following (vers. 10, 11) were said of them is because all that enters only into the thought and into the understanding does not condemn, but that which enters into the will does condemn, for this enters into the will and is permanent. For nothing can enter the will unless it is also of the love, and the love is the life of the man. These also are they who do not examine themselves, recognise their own sins and repent; and on account of this they are condemned. For they say at heart, What need is there for an examination, for the recognition and acknowledgment of sins, and for repentance, when faith alone involves them all? In the spiritual world I have seen many such, who have avoided evils and done goods by reason of civil and moral law only and not of spiritual law at the same time, and they have been cast into hell.