1064. Five are fallen. That this signifies that it is not here spoken of the rest of the truths profaned, but only of the two which are the heads of religion, is evident from the signification of five are fallen, as denoting that the rest are not here treated of. For by five, in the Word, when it follows ten, is signified some persons or some things; also, the persons remaining, or the things remaining, and also few persons or few things. But when it does not follow ten, it signifies many persons or many things (concerning which signification of its number, see n. 548). That by five are fallen is signified that it is not spoken of the rest, is evident also from these words which follow:
"One is, the other is not yet come; and when he shall come, he must continue a short space;"
this signifies that what is here said is concerning the two truths profaned, which are the heads of the rest. And, moreover, concerning the other in the verse following, in these words:
"And the beast which was, and is not, he is the eighth, and is of the seven;"
from which it is evident that, both by these and the former words, is signified that it is to be explained of those profaned truths alone, and not of the rest.
[2] Wherefore now by the five that are fallen are signified the rest [of the truths] of that religious persuasion that are profaned; for by these are meant five kings of the seven. And by seven kings are signified all the truths of the Word falsified and profaned by them, as may be seen just above (n. 1063). The two profaned truths, therefore, which are the heads of the rest, and are here treated of, are, that they have transferred to themselves the Lord's Divine power and have rejected the Word. The transferring of the Lord's Divine power to themselves is signified by the one king who is, and by the other who is to come; and their having rejected the Word, by the beast which is the eighth king, and yet among the seven.
Concerning the fifth kind of Profanation:-
[3] This kind is not like the rest treated of; for it consists in jesting from the Word and about the Word. For those who jest from the Word do not regard it as holy, and those who jest about the Word account it as worthless, when, notwithstanding, the Word is the very Divine truth of the Lord with men, and the Lord is present in the Word, and also heaven. For the particulars of the Word communicate with heaven, and through heaven with the Lord. Therefore to jest from the Word, and about the Word, is to sprinkle the holy things of heaven with the dust of the earth.