1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. I saw a beast coming up out
of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads. On his horns were ten crowns,
and on his heads, blasphemous names. 2 The beast which I saw was like a
leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth
of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
3 One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal
wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast. 4 They
worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast, and they
worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war
with him?” 5 A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him.
Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him. 6 He opened
his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his dwelling,
those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was given to him to make war with the
saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language,
and nation was given to him. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship
him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the
world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed. 9 If anyone has
an ear, let him hear. 10 If anyone has captivity, he will go. If
anyone is with the sword, he must be killed.*1 Here is the
endurance and the faith of the saints.
11 I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a
lamb, and he spoke like a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the
first beast in his presence. He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to
worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He performs
great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the
sight of people. 14 He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth
because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast; saying to
those who dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who
had the sword wound and lived. 15 It was given to him to give breath to
it, to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak,
and cause as many as wouldn’t worship the image of the beast to be killed.
16 He causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the
free and the slave, to be given marks on their right hands, or on their
foreheads; 17 and that no one would be able to buy or to sell, unless he
has that mark, the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 Here is
wisdom. He who has understanding, let him calculate the number of the beast,
for it is the number of a man. His number is six hundred sixty-six.
1 TR reads “If anyone leads
into captivity, into captivity he goes. If anyone will kill with the sword,
he must be killed with a sword.” instead of “If anyone has captivity, he goes
away. If anyone is with the sword, he must be killed.”
World English Bible - Public Domain |
|
|