1058. When they behold the beast, which was, and is not. That this signifies the knowledge that the Word was received, but still rejected, is evident from the signification of seeing, as denoting to know and cognise (concerning which see (n. 260, 529); and from the signification of the beast, as denoting the Word (see n. 1038); and from the signification of, which was, and is not, as denoting that it was received, and yet rejected (concerning which see (n. 1054, 1055, 1056).

Concerning the third kind of Profanation:-

[2] In this kind of profanation are those who adore Divine things with devout gestures and pious lips, and yet in heart and spirit deny them, thus, who outwardly and before the world venerate the holy things of the Word, of the church, and of worship, and yet, at home and in secret, deride them. Such persons, when they are in a holy external, whether they teach in the temple or speak with the common people, do not know but that what they say is so, but as soon as they return into themselves, they think the contrary. Because these are such, they can counterfeit angels of light, although they are angels of darkness. It is therefore evident that this kind of profanation is a hypocritical one. They are not unlike gilded images made of dirt; fruits inwardly putrified, but beautiful in the skin; or nuts inwardly consumed by worms, but whole in the shell. From which it is evident that their internal is diabolical, and consequently their holy external profane.

[3] Such are many of the rulers in the Babylon of the present day, and many of a certain society therein, as they themselves know, who claim to themselves dominion over the souls of men, and over heaven. For to believe, as they do, that power is granted to them to save and admit into heaven, and to acknowledge in heart that there is a God, are two opposites. The reason is, that a man must look to the Lord, and supplicate Him, in order to be saved and admitted into heaven. But the man who believes that that power is given to him looks to himself, and believes the things that are the Lord's to be in himself. And to believe this, and at the same time to believe that there is a God, or that God is in him, is not possible. To believe that God is in him, while he thinks that he is above the holy things of the church, and heaven in his power, is to be like Lucifer. He who is inflamed with the fire of ruling over all things, if he thinks that God is in him, cannot but think this from himself; and to think from himself that God is in him, is to think that God is not in him, but that he himself is God; as also is said of Lucifer in Isaiah (14:13, 14), by whom is there meant Babylon, as is clear from verses 4 and 22 of the same chapter.

[4] Such a man also of himself shows what he is. He breaks out when power is given him, and this by degrees according to his elevation. Hence it is evident that such persons are atheists, some avowedly, some clandestinely, and some ignorantly. And as they regard domination as an end, and the holy things of heaven and the church as means, they counterfeit angels of light in face, gestures, and discourse, and thus profane holy things.

1055. And is about to ascend out of the abyss, and go into perdition. That this signifies its being acknowledged as Divine for the sake of form, but nevertheless rejected, is evident from the signification of ascending out of the abyss, when said of the Word with those who belong to Babylon, as denoting to be received and acknowledged as Divine for the sake of form; of which we shall speak presently. And from the signification of going into perdition, as denoting not to be acknowledged but rejected.

That this is the case with the Word with those who belong to Babylon is known. For it is acknowledged as Divine because of the Lord's words to Peter concerning the keys; because of the historicals concerning the passion, concerning Mary, and concerning the Apostles; besides some passages which they can pervert to favour their dominion. For since all those things are from the Word, and their religion is founded upon them, therefore if the Word were not acknowledged as Divine, the religion itself would fall, and they could no longer exercise dominion over holy things, nor, indeed, be called Christians. But that the Word is, notwithstanding, rejected by them is also known. For it is not read by the common people, and but little by the monks, who teach it. Many also invalidate its sanctity, as is evident from their writings and discourses, because the things that are therein do not agree with the dictates and bulls of the Pope, and because Babel is there described to the life and condemned to hell. These are the causes of the rejection thereof, from which it is evident, that the Word is only acknowledged as Divine for the sake of form.

That such things are signified by these words becomes quite evident, when by the scarlet beast is understood the Word; and by the whore or woman sitting thereon is understood the religious persuasion which regards dominion as an end, and the holy things of the Word, of the church, and of worship as the means.

Continuation concerning the second kind of Profanation:-

[2] Those who are in the love of self, and thence in the love of ruling, and who covet, acquire, and afterwards exercise domination by means of the holy things of the Word, of the church, and of worship, are those who profane. For the delight of the love of ruling for the sake of themselves, that is, for the sake of eminence, and thence of being venerated, and, as it were, adored, is an infernal delight, which also reigns in hell. For in hell every one wishes to be the greatest, whereas in heaven every one desires to be the least. And to rule over things sacred from an infernal delight is to profane them.

[3] But this other kind of profanation of the holy things of the church is not like the former. Those are guilty of the former kind, with whom communication with heaven has taken place by the opening of their spiritual mind. But the other kind of profanation pertains to those with whom the spiritual mind has not been opened, and communication thus effected with heaven. For as long as the delight of the love of ruling exists in a man, so long that mind cannot be opened, nor is communication with heaven possible with him. The lot of these profaners, after death, also differs from the lot of the former. The former, as said, are in a perpetual delirium of phantasy; but these hate the Lord, heaven, the Word, the church, and all the holy things thereof. Into this hatred they come because their dominion is taken away from them; so their state is changed into the contrary.

They appear, as it were, fiery, and their hell, as it were, to be on fire; for infernal fire is nothing else but the lust of ruling from the love of self. They are amongst the worst, and are called devils, whereas the rest are called satans.