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.