Apocalypse Revealed #572
572. 13:2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard. This symbolizes their heresy destructive of the church, being founded on the Word's truths falsified.
Animals in general symbolize people in respect to their affections (no. 567), and a leopard symbolizes an affection or penchant for falsifying the Word's truths. Moreover, because it is a fierce beast and slaughters harmless animals, it also symbolizes a heresy destructive of the church.
A leopard symbolizes the Word's truths falsified because of its black and white spots, its black spots symbolizing falsities, and the whiteness between them symbolizing truth. Consequently, because it is a fierce and savage beast, it symbolizes the Word's truths falsified and so destroyed.
A leopard has a similar symbolism in the following places:
Shall an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots? Then you also can do good who have been taught to do evil. (Jeremiah 13:23)
...a lion from the forest slew (the great men), a wolf in the fields shall devastate them; a leopard is watching their cities. Everyone who goes out... shall be torn in pieces, because... their apostasies have become mighty. (Jeremiah 5:6)
A leopard lying watching their cities is to ambush doctrinal truths - a city being doctrine (no. 194).
(Because) they forgot Me... I have become to them like a lion, and like a leopard by the path I will watch them. (Hosea 13:5-7)
A path, too, symbolizes truth (no. 176).
The wolf shall tarry with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat... (Isaiah 11:6)
The subject there is the Lord's kingdom to come. The young goat is genuine truth in the church, and the leopard is that truth falsified.
(The third beast that came up from the sea) was like a leopard, which had on its back four wings... (Daniel 7:6)
On the four beasts seen by Daniel, see no. 574.
Hosea 12
1
Ephraim feeds on wind, and chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.
2
Yahweh also has a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his deeds he will repay him.
3
In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he contended with God.
4
Indeed, he struggled with the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication to him. He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with us,
5
even Yahweh, the God of Armies; Yahweh is his name of renown!
6
Therefore turn to your God. Keep kindness and justice, and wait continually for your God.
7
A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand. He loves to defraud.
8
Ephraim said, "Surely I have become rich, I have found myself wealth. In all my wealth they won't find in me any iniquity that is sin."
9
"But I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt. I will yet again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast.
10
I have also spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables.
11
If Gilead is wicked, surely they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls. Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field.
12
Jacob fled into the country of Aram, and Israel served to get a wife, and for a wife he tended flocks and herds.
13
By a prophet Yahweh brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved.
14
Ephraim has bitterly provoked anger. Therefore his blood will be left on him, and his Lord will repay his contempt.
