554. For the accuser of our brethren, which accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. This symbolically means that by the Last Judgment those were removed who stood in opposition to the doctrine of the New Church.

The dragon's being cast down means, symbolically, that those meant by the dragon were removed. They were removed by being cast down from heaven into the world of spirits, as we said before, and after that into hell, which was the Last Judgment on them. Brethren mean people who have the doctrine of the New Jerusalem and live in accordance with it. To accuse means, symbolically, to stand in opposition to a doctrine, to charge that it is false, and to expostulate against it. And because those meant by the dragon do this continually as though before God, the dragon is called the accuser of our brethren which accused them before God day and night.

The devil does this, too, whenever it tempts or subjects to trial, for it draws out various thoughts from a person which it labels as false and condemns.

506. And not allow their bodies to be put into tombs. This symbolically means that they have condemned these two essential elements and will continue to condemn them.

The bodies here symbolize the two essential elements of the New Church, as explained in no. 505 and earlier numbers. And not allowing these to be put into tombs symbolizes their rejection as condemned. This is the symbolic meaning because putting people into tombs or burying them symbolizes their resurrection and continuation of life, for committed to the earth then are the materials taken from the earth, thus things that are earthly and so unclean. Thus not to be put into tombs or buried means, symbolically, to remain immersed in earthly and unclean things, and therefore to be rejected as condemned.

It was owing to this that in the church among the children of Israel, which was a representational church, it was a statute that people regarded as condemned be cast out and not buried, as is apparent from the following passages:

(Jehovah said concerning them,) "They shall die harsh deaths. They shall not be lamented, nor shall they be buried; they shall become dung on the face of the earth... and their dead bodies shall become food for the birds of the air and for the animals of the earth." (Jeremiah 16:3-4)

(Prophets who prophesy falsely) shall be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem... having no one to bury them. (Jeremiah 14:15-16)

At that time... they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of its princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets... from their graves... They shall not be gathered nor buried; they shall become dung on the face of the earth. (Jeremiah 8:1-2)

The dogs would eat Jezebel on the plot of ground... having no one to bury her. (2 Kings 9:10)

...you have been cast out of your grave like an abominable twig..., like a corpse trodden underfoot. You will not be joined with them in burial... (Isaiah 14:19-20)

And so on elsewhere, as in Jeremiah 25:32-33; 22:19; 7:32-33; 19:11-12, 2 Kings 23:16.