The Beast from the Sea

¹ Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. ² The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power^* and his throne and great authority.

³ One of the heads of the beast appeared to have been mortally wounded. But the mortal wound was healed, and the whole world marveled and followed the beast. ⁴ They worshiped the dragon who had given authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can wage war against it?”

⁵ The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months. ⁶ And the beast opened its mouth to speak blasphemies against God and to slander His name and His tabernacle — those who dwell in heaven.

⁷ Then the beast was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer^* them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. ⁸ And all who dwell on the earth^* will worship the beast — all whose names have not been written from the foundation^* of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.

⁹ He who has an ear, let him hear:

¹⁰ “If anyone is destined for captivity,

into captivity he will go;

if anyone is to die by the sword,

by the sword he must be killed.”

Here is a call for the perseverance and faith^* of the saints.

The Beast from the Earth

¹¹ Then I saw another beast^* rising out of the earth.^* This beast had two horns like a lamb,^* but spoke like a dragon. ¹² And this beast exercised all the authority of the first beast and caused the earth^* and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed.

¹³ And the second beast performed great signs,^* even causing fire from heaven^* to come down to earth in the presence of the people. ¹⁴ Because of the signs^* it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth,^* telling them^* to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived. ¹⁵ The second beast was permitted^* to give^* breath^* to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship it to be killed.

The Mark of the Beast

¹⁶ And the second beast required all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, ¹⁷ so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark — the name of the beast or the number of its name.

¹⁸ Here is a call for wisdom: Let the one who has insight^* calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and that number is 666.