579. 13:4 Then they worshiped the dragon which gave authority to the beast. This symbolizes their acknowledgment of the doctrine of justification through faith apart from works of the law, as taught by the leaders of the church and its teachers, who have caused the doctrine to prevail as a result of its acceptance by the general populace.

To worship means, symbolically, to acknowledge as a sacred tenet of the church. The dragon symbolizes the doctrine of justification and salvation through faith without works of the law (no. 537). The beast here symbolizes the general populace, because it symbolizes the laity (no. 567). To give authority means, symbolically, to cause to prevail as a result of its acceptance by the laity (no. 575).