⁹ But, as it is written,

¹⁰ these things ^(D)God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even ^(E)the depths of God. ¹¹ For who knows a person's thoughts ^(F)except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² Now ^(G)we have received not ^(H)the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. ¹³ And we impart this ^(I)in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, ^(J)interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.^[a]

¹⁴ The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are ^(K)folly to him, and ^(L)he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵ The ^(M)spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. ^16 (N)“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But ^(O)we have the mind of Christ.

¹³ In him you also, when you heard ^(A)the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, ^(B)were sealed with the ^(C)promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is ^(D)the guarantee^[a] of our ^(E)inheritance until ^(F)we acquire ^(G)possession of it,^{[b] (H)}to the praise of his glory.

The First Beast

13 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, ^(A)with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and ^(B)blasphemous names on its heads. ² And the beast that I saw was ^(C)like a leopard; its feet were like ^(D)a bear's, and its mouth was like ^(E)a lion's mouth. And to it ^(F)the dragon gave his power and ^(G)his throne and great authority. ³ One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and ^(H)the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. ⁴ And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, ^(I)“Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”

⁵ And the beast was given ^(J)a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for ^(K)forty-two months. ⁶ It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling,^[a] that is, those who dwell in heaven. ⁷ Also it was allowed ^(L)to make war on the saints and to conquer them.^[b] And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, ⁸ and all ^(M)who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in ^(N)the book of life of ^(O)the Lamb ^(P)who was slain. ^9 (Q)If anyone has an ear, let him hear:

^(T)Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

The Second Beast

¹¹ Then ^(U)I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. ¹² It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence,^[c] and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, ^(V)whose mortal wound was healed. ^13 (W)It performs great signs, even ^(X)making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, ¹⁴ and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of^[d] the beast ^(Y)it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast ^(Z)that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. ¹⁵ And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not ^(AA)worship the image of the beast ^(AB)to be slain. ¹⁶ Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave,^{[e] (AC)}to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, ¹⁷ so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, ^(AD)the name of the beast or ^(AE)the number of its name. ^18 (AF)This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number ^(AG)of a man, and his number is 666.^[f]

¹⁵ And let ^(A)the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called ^(B)in one body. And ^(C)be thankful. ¹⁶ Let ^(D)the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, ^(E)singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, ^(F)with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And ^(G)whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, ^(H)giving thanks to God the Father through him.

13 “If a prophet or ^(A)a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, ² and ^(B)the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ ³ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God ^(C)is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. ⁴ You shall ^(D)walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and ^(E)hold fast to him.

A Tree and Its Fruit

^15 (A)“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ^(B)ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will recognize them ^(C)by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ So, ^(D)every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. ^19 (E)Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus you will recognize them ^(F)by their fruits.

^22 (A)For false christs and false prophets will arise and ^(B)perform signs and wonders, ^(C)to lead astray, if possible, ^(D)the elect. ²³ But ^(E)be on guard; ^(F)I have told you all things beforehand.

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁴ “But in those days, after ^(G)that tribulation, ^(H)the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, ²⁵ and ^(I)the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

Test the Spirits

4 Beloved, ^(A)do not believe every spirit, but ^(B)test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for ^(C)many ^(D)false prophets ^(E)have gone out into the world. ² By this you know the Spirit of God: ^(F)every spirit that confesses that ^(G)Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ and every spirit ^(H)that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and ^(I)now is in the world already.