The Two Beasts

13:1 Then1 I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It2 had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadem crowns,3 and on its heads a blasphemous name.4 13:2 Now5 the beast that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The6 dragon gave the beast7 his power, his throne, and great authority to rule.8 13:3 One of the beast’s9 heads appeared to have been killed,10 but the lethal wound had been healed.11 And the whole world followed12 the beast in amazement; 13:4 they worshiped the dragon because he had given ruling authority13 to the beast, and they worshiped the beast too, saying: “Who is like the beast?” and “Who is able to make war against him?”14 13:5 The beast15 was given a mouth speaking proud words16 and blasphemies, and he was permitted17 to exercise ruling authority18 for forty-two months. 13:6 So19 the beast20 opened his mouth to blaspheme against God—to blaspheme both his name and his dwelling place,21 that is, those who dwell in heaven. 13:7 The beast22 was permitted to go to war against the saints and conquer them.23 He was given ruling authority24 over every tribe, people,25 language, and nation, 13:8 and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast,26 everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world27 in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed.28 13:9 If anyone has an ear, he had better listen!

13:10 If anyone is meant for captivity,

into captivity he will go.

If anyone is to be killed by the sword,29

then by the sword he must be killed.

This30 requires steadfast endurance31 and faith from the saints.

13:11 Then32 I saw another beast33 coming up from the earth. He34 had two horns like a lamb,35 but36 was speaking like a dragon. 13:12 He37 exercised all the ruling authority38 of the first beast on his behalf,39 and made the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast, the one whose lethal wound had been healed. 13:13 He40 performed momentous signs, even making fire come down from heaven in front of people41 13:14 and, by the signs he was permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, he deceived those who live on the earth. He told42 those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who had been wounded by the sword, but still lived. 13:15 The second beast43 was empowered44 to give life45 to the image of the first beast46 so that it could speak, and could cause all those who did not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 13:16 He also caused47 everyone (small and great, rich and poor, free and slave48) to obtain a mark on their right hand or on their forehead. 13:17 Thus no one was allowed to buy49 or sell things50 unless he bore51 the mark of the beast—that is, his name or his number.52 13:18 This calls for wisdom:53 Let the one who has insight calculate the beast’s number, for it is man’s number,54 and his number is 666.55