841. Or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. That this signifies either what is similar to it as to life, or what is similar to it as to faith, is evident from the signification of name, as denoting the quality of the good of love, and of life therefrom; and from the signification of number, as denoting the quality of the truth of faith, and of intelligence therefrom. Hence by the number of a name is signified the quality of the truth of faith and of intelligence therefrom as a result of the quality of the good of love and of life therefrom; here in the opposite sense, because it is said, "the name of the beast," and "the number of his name."

That name, in the Word, signifies the quality of the good, and of love, thence of life, may be seen above (n. 102, 135, 148, 676, 695, 696, 815). Further, that number signifies the quality of the thing treated of, and that the quality is determined by the numbers involved, may also be seen above (n. 429, 430, 574); thus the quality of the truth of faith; and that to number signifies to know the quality of a thing, and to arrange and to dispose accordingly (n. 453). The reason why number signifies the quality of truth and of faith therefrom is, that number involves multitude; and multitude, in the Word, is said of truths, as may be seen above (n. 336, 337).

Hence now by the number of a name is signified the quality of truth from good, or the quality of faith from love; but, here, in the opposite sense, because it is said of the beast.

6048. 'And says, What are your works?' means and to know your forms of good. This is clear from meaning of 'works' as forms of good. The reason why 'works' means forms of good is that works originate in the will, and what originates in the will is a form of good or a form of evil, whereas what originates in the understanding, such as spoken words, is a form of truth or a form of falsity. The 'works' done by Jacob's sons, and also by their forefathers, consisted in tending livestock, thus in acting as shepherds; and by these 'works' too forms of good are meant, in particular forms of the good of truth. This meaning has its origin in correspondences, for lambs, sheep, kids, and she-goats, which are members of the flock, correspond to forms of the good of charity; and so do young bulls and oxen, which are members of the herd. The fact that these animals have this correspondence is clear from the consideration that when angels, moved by a heavenly affection, talk to one another about forms of the good of charity, flocks and herds are seen in some places in the world of spirits and also in the first or lowest heaven. Flocks are seen when they talk about interior forms of the good of charity, but herds when they talk about exterior forms, see 3218-3220. This explains why in the Word such deeds are meant by 'flocks and herds'.

[2] In general it should be recognized that every spiritual meaning contained in the Word has its origin in representatives in the next life, and those representatives in correspondences. The reason for this is that the natural world derives its existence from the spiritual world in the way an effect does from its cause, to the end that the spiritual world may flow into the natural world and act as the causes behind things there. In this way everything there is maintained in its proper path and order. For the whole natural creation is a theatre representative of the Lord's kingdom, that is, of the spiritual and celestial realities there, see 2758, 2987-3002, 4939, 5116.