Revelation 12:17-14:12

English Standard Version

¹⁷ Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off ^(A)to make war on the rest of ^(B)her offspring, ^(C)on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to ^(D)the testimony of Jesus. And he stood^[a] on the sand of the sea.

The First Beast

13 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, ^(E)with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and ^(F)blasphemous names on its heads. ² And the beast that I saw was ^(G)like a leopard; its feet were like ^(H)a bear's, and its mouth was like ^(I)a lion's mouth. And to it ^(J)the dragon gave his power and ^(K)his throne and great authority. ³ One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and ^(L)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, ^(M)“Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”

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

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

The Second Beast

¹¹ Then ^(Y)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,^[d] and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, ^(Z)whose mortal wound was healed. ^13 (AA)It performs great signs, even ^(AB)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^[e] the beast ^(AC)it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast ^(AD)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 ^(AE)worship the image of the beast ^(AF)to be slain. ¹⁶ Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave,^{[f] (AG)}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, ^(AH)the name of the beast or ^(AI)the number of its name. ^18 (AJ)This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number ^(AK)of a man, and his number is 666.^[g]

The Lamb and the 144,000

14 Then I looked, and behold, on ^(AL)Mount Zion ^(AM)stood the Lamb, and with him ^(AN)144,000 who ^(AO)had his name and his Father's name written ^(AP)on their foreheads. ² And I heard a voice from heaven ^(AQ)like the roar of many waters and ^(AR)like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of ^(AS)harpists playing on their harps, ³ and they were singing ^(AT)a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. ^(AU)No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. ⁴ It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for ^(AV)they are virgins. It is these ^(AW)who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as ^(AX)firstfruits for God and the Lamb, ⁵ and ^(AY)in their mouth no lie was found, for they are ^(AZ)blameless.

The Messages of the Three Angels

⁶ Then I saw another angel ^(BA)flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to ^(BB)those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. ⁷ And he said with a loud voice, ^(BC)“Fear God and ^(BD)give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and ^(BE)worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the ^(BF)springs of water.”

⁸ Another angel, a second, followed, saying, ^(BG)“Fallen, fallen is ^(BH)Babylon the great, ^(BI)she who made all nations drink ^(BJ)the wine of the passion^[h] of her sexual immorality.”

⁹ And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone ^(BK)worships the beast and its image and receives ^(BL)a mark on his forehead or on his hand, ¹⁰ he also will drink ^(BM)the wine of God's wrath, ^(BN)poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and ^(BO)he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. ¹¹ And ^(BP)the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and ^(BQ)they have no rest, day or night, these ^(BR)worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

^12 (BS)Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who ^(BT)keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.^[i]