779. Verse 2 (Revelation 13:2). And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion; and the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.

2. "And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard," signifies reasonings that are discordant, and yet appear as if they cohere n. 780; "and his feet were as of a bear," signifies from natural things, which are fallacies n. 781; "and his mouth as the mouth of a lion," signifies reasonings from falsities destroying the truths of the Word (n. 782); "and the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority," signifies that those who separate faith from life support and corroborate their doctrinals by reasonings from fallacies, and thus powerfully seduce n. 783.

796. Because the Most Ancient Church conducted holy worship on mountains, the Ancient Churches therefore did so as well. Consequently with all the representative Churches of that time, and indeed with 'the nations' too, sacrifices were offered on mountains, and high places were built. This is clear from what is said about Abram in Genesis 12:8; 22:2; about the Jews before the Temple was built, in Deuteronomy 27:4-7; Joshua 8:30; 1 Samuel 9:12-14, 19; 10:5; 1 Kings 3:2-4; about the nations, in Deuteronomy 12:2; 2 Kings 17:9-11; about the Jews, who were idolaters, in Isaiah 57:7; 1 Kings 11:7; 14:23; 22:43; 2 Kings 12:3; 14:4; 15:3-4, 34-35; 16:4; 17:9-11; 21:3, 23:5, 8, 9, 13, 15.