600. 13:14 And to lead astray those who dwell on the earth, because of the signs which it was granted to do in the presence of the beast. This symbolically means that through their testifications and assertions the clergy lead people in the church into errors.

To lead astray means, symbolically, to lead into errors. Those who dwell on the earth symbolize people in the Protestant Reformed Church, as in nos. 578, 588, 597 above. The signs which the second beast was granted to do in the presence of the first beast symbolize testifications and assertions (nos. 598, 599). The beast from the sea, before whom the signs were done, symbolizes the faith of the dragon among the laity (no. 567); and the beast coming up out of the earth that did the signs, which is elsewhere called a false prophet, symbolizes the faith of the dragon among the clergy (no. 594).

The Lord says something akin to this in Matthew 24:24-26.

597. And causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal injury was healed. This symbolically means that in this way, by supporting arguments, the clergy have established that it be acknowledged as a sacred tenet of the church that because no one can do any good work of himself and fulfill the law, the only means of salvation is faith in the righteousness and merit of Christ, who suffered for mankind and thereby took away the condemnation of the law.

We skip an explanation of these words because their meanings follow from the explanations above in nos. 566, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582. The earth and those who dwell in it symbolize the Protestant Reformed Church, as before. To worship means, symbolically, to acknowledge as a sacred tenet of the church, as before too. That is what is meant here by the beast from the sea whose mortal injury was healed, and it is something we explained above.