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]

A Vision of a Man with a Measuring Line

2 ^[a] And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, ^(A)a man with a measuring line in his hand! ² Then I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, ^(B)“To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” ³ And behold, ^(C)the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him ⁴ and said to him, “Run, say to that young man, ^(D)‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited ^(E)as villages without walls, because of ^(F)the multitude of people and livestock in it. ⁵ And I will be to her ^(G)a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”

⁶ Up! Up! ^(H)Flee from the land of the north, declares the Lord. For I have ^(I)spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, declares the Lord. ^7 (J)Up! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon. ⁸ For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me^[b] to the nations who plundered you, ^(K)for he who touches you touches ^(L)the apple of his eye: ⁹ “Behold, ^(M)I will shake my hand over them, ^(N)and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then ^(O)you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me. ^10 (P)Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for ^(Q)behold, I come ^(R)and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord. ^11 (S)And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people. ^(T)And I will dwell in your midst, and ^(U)you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. ^12 (V)And the Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again ^(W)choose Jerusalem.”

¹³ Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.

A Vision of Joshua the High Priest

3 Then he showed me ^(X)Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and ^(Y)Satan^[c] standing at his right hand to accuse him. ² And the Lord said to Satan, ^(Z)“The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has ^(AA)chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this ^(AB)a brand^[d] plucked from the fire?” ³ Now ^(AC)Joshua was standing before the angel, ^(AD)clothed with filthy garments. ⁴ And the angel said to ^(AE)those who were standing before him, ^(AF)“Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, ^(AG)I have taken your iniquity away from you, and ^(AH)I will clothe you with pure vestments.” ⁵ And I said, ^(AI)“Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by.

⁶ And the angel of the Lord solemnly assured ^(AJ)Joshua, ⁷ “Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and ^(AK)keep my charge, then you shall ^(AL)rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among ^(AM)those who are standing here. ⁸ Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for ^(AN)they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring ^(AO)my servant ^(AP)the Branch. ⁹ For behold, on ^(AQ)the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with ^(AR)seven eyes,^[e] I will ^(AS)engrave its inscription, declares the Lord of hosts, and ^(AT)I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. ¹⁰ In that day, declares the Lord of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come ^(AU)under his vine and under his fig tree.”

Give Ear to My Voice

A Psalm of David.