545. 'And her offspring was caught up to God and His throne' signifies the protection of the doctrine by the Lord because it is for the New Church, and its being guarded by means of angels of heaven. By these things the protection of the doctrine by the Lord is signified because it is said that 'the dragon stood before the woman about to bring forth, that after she had brought fords he might devour her offspring', and by the 'offspring' and the 'male child' is signified the doctrine for the New Church (n. 542, 543). Its being guarded also by means of angels of heaven is signified because it is said that it 'was caught up to God and His throne', and by 'throne' is signified the angelic heaven (n. 14, 221, 222).