Apocalypse Revealed #609
609. For it is the number of a man. This means, symbolically, the character of the Word and so of the church.
A human being symbolizes wisdom and intelligence (no. 243), in this case wisdom and intelligence gained from the Word, thus also the Word in relation to the wisdom and intelligence in a person in the church. The church itself also appears as a person in the Lord's sight. Therefore in respect to his spirit a person in the church appears in heaven as human in accordance with the character of the church in him gained from the Word. This is consequently the symbolic meaning of the number of a man, because it follows after the statement, "Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast," which symbolically means that one who is enlightened by the Lord can discern the character of the arguments the clergy use from the Word in defense of their doctrine and faith regarding God and salvation.
The character of the church gained from the Word is also symbolically meant by a man in no. 910, and also elsewhere.
Deuteronomy 19:1-9
1
When Yahweh your God shall cut off the nations, whose land Yahweh your God gives you, and you succeed them, and dwell in their cities, and in their houses;
2
you shall set apart three cities for you in the midst of your land, which Yahweh your God gives you to possess it.
3
You shall prepare you the way, and divide the borders of your land, which Yahweh your God causes you to inherit, into three parts, that every manslayer may flee there.
4
This is the case of the manslayer, that shall flee there and live: whoever kills his neighbor unawares, and didn't hate him in time past;
5
as when a man goes into the forest with his neighbor to chop wood, and his hand fetches a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slips from the handle, and lights on his neighbor, so that he dies; he shall flee to one of these cities and live:
6
lest the avenger of blood pursue the manslayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and strike him mortally; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he didn't hate him in time past.
7
Therefore I command you, saying, You shall set apart three cities for yourselves.
8
If Yahweh your God enlarges your border, as he has sworn to your fathers, and gives you all the land which he promised to give to your fathers;
9
if you keep all this commandment to do it, which I command you this day, to love Yahweh your God, and to walk ever in his ways; then you shall add three cities more for yourselves, besides these three:
