583. And it was given authority to do so for forty-two months. This symbolizes the scope to teach and practice the evils and falsities accompanying that doctrine even to the end of that church, until the beginning of a new one.

Being given authority to do so symbolizes the ability to speak great and blasphemous things, namely, to teach and practice evils and falsities, as indicated just above in no. 582. Forty-two months mean, symbolically, to the end of the previous church, until the beginning of a new one, as said in no. 489 above, having the same symbolic meaning as three and a half days (no. 505), as time, times and half a time (no. 562), and as one thousand, two hundred and sixty days (no. 491). For forty-two months constitute three and a half years.