651. And shall overcome them, and kill them.- That this signifies the destruction thence of all the good and truth of the church, is evident from the signification of overcome and killing the two witnesses, as denoting to destroy those things which the two witnesses signify, which are the good of love and of charity, and the truth of doctrine and of faith. That the affections of the natural man separated from the affections of the spiritual man, which are evil desires of every kind arising from infernal loves, will destroy those things, is signified by the beast coming up out of the abyss; that it was predicted that this will come to pass at the end of the church, when the Last Judgment takes place, has been stated above. To kill, in the Word, signifies to kill spiritually, which is here to destroy the good of love and truth of doctrine, as may be seen above (n. 315).
Daniel 7:2-7
2
Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the sky broke forth on the great sea.
3
Four great animals came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
4
The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I saw until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand on two feet as a man; and a man's heart was given to it.
5
Behold, another animal, a second, like a bear; and it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth: and they said thus to it, Arise, devour much flesh.
6
After this I saw, and behold, another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the animal had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
7
After this I saw in the night visions, and, behold, a fourth animal, awesome and powerful, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet: and it was diverse from all the animals that were before it; and it had ten horns.
