844. 'Until the thousand years were finished, and after that he must be let loose for a short time' signifies these things for a while or for a considerable time, until those who were in truths derived from good were taken up into heaven by the Lord; after which those who are understood by 'the dragon' are to be let loose for a short time and a communication between them and the rest opened. By 'until the thousand years were finished' is signified for a while or for a considerable time. This is because by 'the thousand years' is not signified a thousand years but for a while and for a considerable time, as above (n. 842). By its being necessary for him to be loosed for a short time is signified that after this those who are understood by 'the dragon' (treated of above) are to be released from their confinement, and then communication is to be opened between them and the rest. That these things are signified is plain from the things said above, thus from the series of the things, and from the connection with the things following in the spiritual sense. In the things now following from vers. 4-6 [the Word] treats of those who were taken up into heaven by the Lord, on whose account the dragon was removed and shut up.