713. Verse 3. And there was seen another sign in heaven, signifies Divine revelation respecting the attack upon the doctrine that is for the New Church, and by whom. This is evident from the signification of "a great sign," as being Divine revelation, manifestation, and attestation (of which above, n. 706; that it has reference to attack upon the doctrine that is for the New Church, and by whom, is evident from what follows where this sign is described. They who are about to attack this doctrine are meant by "the great red dragon, the old serpent;" and the attack itself is described by the words, "the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bring forth, that he might devour her offspring," and afterwards by "the combat of the dragon with Michael," and finally by "he pursued the woman into the wilderness, and there cast out water after her as a river;" and further in what follows. Who they are who are meant by "the dragon" will be told in the following article; here let it be said merely that they are those that have communication with angels of heaven, but only through externals, not through internals, for it is said that that dragon was seen "in heaven," and those who have no communication with heaven cannot be seen there, for they are in hell; they are such as deny God, especially the Lord, and make no account of the Word and blaspheme it, who have no faith in eternal life; in a word, they are all such as love self and the world above all things, and live a life of enmity, hatred, revenge, and deceit, and have delight in these. This has been said to make known that such as these are not meant by "the dragon," but such as have, while living in the world, an external communication with heaven, which communication they have from the reading of the Word, from preaching therefrom, and from external worship according to the ordinances of their church, but who nevertheless are not in a life according to the Lord's commandments; from this such have communication with heaven, but not an internal communication. Why such are called "the devil and Satan" will also be told in what follows.