¹³ When the dragon^(D) saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.^{(E) 14} The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle,^(F) so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time,^(G) out of the serpent’s reach. ¹⁵ Then from his mouth the serpent^(H) spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. ¹⁶ But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. ¹⁷ Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war^(I) against the rest of her offspring^(J)—those who keep God’s commands^(K) and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.^(L)

The Beast out of the Sea

13 The dragon^[a] stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea.^(M) It had ten horns and seven heads,^(N) with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.^{(O) 2} The beast I saw resembled a leopard,^(P) but had feet like those of a bear^(Q) and a mouth like that of a lion.^(R) The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.^{(S) 3} One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed.^(T) The whole world was filled with wonder^(U) and followed the beast. ⁴ People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like^(V) the beast? Who can wage war against it?”

⁵ The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies^(W) and to exercise its authority for forty-two months.^{(X) 6} It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.^{(Y) 7} It was given power to wage war^(Z) against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.^{(AA) 8} All inhabitants of the earth^(AB) will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life,^(AC) the Lamb^(AD) who was slain from the creation of the world.^[b](AE)

⁹ Whoever has ears, let them hear.^(AF)

This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness^(AH) on the part of God’s people.^(AI)

The Beast out of the Earth

¹¹ Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth.^(AJ) It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon.^{(AK) 12} It exercised all the authority^(AL) of the first beast on its behalf,^(AM) and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast,^(AN) whose fatal wound had been healed.^{(AO) 13} And it performed great signs,^(AP) even causing fire to come down from heaven^(AQ) to the earth in full view of the people. ¹⁴ Because of the signs^(AR) it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived^(AS) the inhabitants of the earth.^(AT) It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.^{(AU) 15} The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship^(AV) the image to be killed.^{(AW) 16} It also forced all people, great and small,^(AX) rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads,^{(AY) 17} so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark,^(AZ) which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.^(BA)

¹⁸ This calls for wisdom.^(BB) Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.^[e](BC) That number is 666.

The Lamb and the 144,000

14 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb,^(BD) standing on Mount Zion,^(BE) and with him 144,000^(BF) who had his name and his Father’s name^(BG) written on their foreheads.^{(BH) 2} And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters^(BI) and like a loud peal of thunder.^(BJ) The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.^{(BK) 3} And they sang a new song^(BL) before the throne and before the four living creatures^(BM) and the elders.^(BN) No one could learn the song except the 144,000^(BO) who had been redeemed from the earth. ⁴ These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins.^(BP) They follow the Lamb wherever he goes.^(BQ) They were purchased from among mankind^(BR) and offered as firstfruits^(BS) to God and the Lamb. ⁵ No lie was found in their mouths;^(BT) they are blameless.^(BU)