856. [verse 7] 'And when the thousand years are finished, Satan shall be let loose out of his prison' signifies that after those who had till then been hidden and guarded in the lower land were taken up by the Lord into heaven and by means of them the Christian New Heaven was increased, all those who have confirmed untruths of faith with themselves should be let out. 'When the thousand years are finished' signifies after those who had till then been hidden and guarded in the lower land were taken up by the Lord into heaven. The reason this is signified by 'when the thousand years are finished' is because in the preceding verses (4-6) it treats only of the salvation of those who worshipped the Lord and lived in accordance with His precepts, and this space of time is understood by 'the thousand years'. It is not indeed said that they are those who were taken up out of the lower land, but yet it is plain from chap. vi 9-1 where they were seen 'under the altar', and 'under the altar' is in the lower land; and therefore also here they are called 'priests of God and Christ' (verse 6) as may be seen above (n. 854). Neither is it said here that by means of them the Christian New Heaven was increased, although, however, this is plain from chap. xiv where it treats of the Christian New Heaven, as can be seen from the things expounded there (especially n. 612, 613, 626, 631, 647, 659, 661). The reason that by 'Satan shall be let loose out of his prison' is signified that those who have confirmed themselves doctrinally in faith alone should be let out, is because the dragon is here called 'Satan' and not at the same time 'the Devil' as above (verse 2), and by 'the dragon' as 'Satan' are understood those who are in untruths of faith, as may be seen above (n. 841); but what the one is like and what the other will be seen in the following paragraph.