845# “有聪明的人，就让他计算兽的数字”表示那些处于光照的人可以调查对这宗教或宗教说服的信的品质或性质。这从“有聪明”、“计算”和“兽的数字”的含义清楚可知：“有聪明”是指处于光照(对此，我们稍后会提到)；“计算”是指调查。“计算”之所以表示调查，是因为在圣言的两种意义，即字义和灵义中，经上所用的词都与它们的主题一致；也就是说，“计算”论及数字，调查论及信的品质。“兽的数字”是指对这宗教或宗教说服的信的品质或性质。“数字或数目”表示信的品质或性质(可参看AE841节)；这“兽”表示与生活分离之信，也就是对这宗教原则或宗教说服的信。由此清楚可知，“有聪明的人，就让他计算兽的数字”表示那些处于光照的人可以调查对这宗教或宗教说服的信的品质或性质。那些处于光照的人之所以要进行调查，是因为对这宗教或宗教说服的信的品质或性质无法被其他人看出来，因而无法被调查。事实上，调查必须通过圣言的一切进行，并从圣言的一切中形成一种判断，而圣言的一切都处于天堂之光，因而只能从这光中被看到；那光照人的，正是这光。因此，只有那些处于天堂之光，从而处于光照的人才能调查对任何宗教的信的品质或性质(这种品质或性质已经被某些圣言经文证实)。
845. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast. That this signifies that those who are in enlightenment should inquire into the nature of the belief in this religious persuasion, is evident from the signification of having understanding, as denoting to be in enlightenment; of which we shall speak presently; and from the signification of counting, as denoting to inquire. The reason why counting signifies to inquire is, that in the two senses of the Word - the sense of the letter and the spiritual sense - words are used according to their subjects. Thus to count is said of number, and to inquire, is used in reference to the quality of faith; and from the signification of the number of the beast, as denoting the nature of the belief in this religious persuasion. That number signifies the nature of faith, may be seen above (n. 841); and that the beast signifies faith separate from life, which is the belief in this religious persuasion. Hence it is evident, that "He who hath understanding let him count the number of the beast," signifies, that those who are in enlightenment should inquire into the nature of the belief in this religious persuasion.
The reason why those who are in enlightenment are to make inquiry is, that the nature of the faith in this religious persuasion cannot be seen by any others, nor, consequently, inquired into. For every thing in the Word, by which inquiry ought to be made, and from which a judgment is formed, is in the light of heaven, and hence can be seen only from that light; and this light is that which enlightens man. To inquire therefore into the nature of the belief in any religion - which nature is confirmed by some passages of the Word - can be done only by those who are in the light of heaven, consequently who are in enlightenment.
845. He that hath intelligence let him count the number of the beast, signifies that those who are in enlightenment may inquire into the quality of the faith of that religion. This is evident from the signification of "having intelligence," as meaning to be in enlightenment (of which presently); also from the signification of "to count," as being to inquire into. "To count" signifies to inquire into because in the two senses of the Word, namely, in the literal sense and in the spiritual sense, words are used in agreement with their subjects; that is, "to count" is predicated of number, and to inquire into is predicated of the quality of faith. Also from the signification of "the number of the beast" as being the quality of the faith of this religion. That "number" signifies the quality of faith, may be seen above (n. 841), also that "the beast" signifies faith separated from life, which is the faith of that religious principle. From this it is clear that "he that hath intelligence let him count the number of the beast" signifies that those who are in enlightenment may inquire into the quality of the faith of that religion. Those who are in enlightenment are to make the inquiry because the quality of the faith of that religion can be seen and thus can be inquired into by no others. For everything of the Word by which inquiry must be made and from which there can be judgment is in the light of heaven, and therefore can be seen only from that light, and it is that light which enlightens man; therefore to inquire into the quality of the faith of any religion which has been confirmed by some passages of the Word can be done only by one who is in the light of heaven, consequently who is in enlightenment.
845. "Habens intelligentiam computet numerum bestiae." Quod significet quod qui in illustratione sunt, inquirant quale fidei hujus religiosi, constat ex significatione "habens intelligentiam", quod sit qui in illustratione est (de qua sequitur); ex significatione "computare", quod sit inquirere; causa quod "computare" significet inquirere, est quia in binis sensibus Verbi, nempe in sensu litterali et in sensu spirituali, verba praedicantur secundum sua subjecta; ita "computare" de numero, et inquirere de quali fidei: et ex significatione "numeri bestiae", quod sit quale fidei hujus religiosi; quod "numerus" significet quale fidei, videatur supra (n. 841); et quod "bestia" significet fidem separatam a vita, quae fides est hujus religiosi: inde constare potest, quod "Habens intelligentiam computet numerum bestiae", significet quod qui in illustratione sunt, inquirant quale fidei hujus religiosi. Quod illi qui in illustratione sunt, inquisituri sint, est quia quale fidei istius religiosi ab aliis non videri potest, ita nec inquiri; nam omne Verbi, per quod fiet inquisitio, et ex quo judicatio, in luce caeli est, et inde non nisi quam ex illa luce potest videri, et illa lux est quae illustrat hominem; quare inquirere quale fidei alicujus religionis, quod confirmatum est per aliqua loca ex Verbo, non alius potest quam qui in luce caeli est, proinde qui in illustratione est.