Revelation

¹²⁵⁵⁵ I then stood on the seashore and 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. ²The beast which I saw was like a leopard; his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth was like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.^{2556 3}One of his heads looked like it had been fatally wounded, but his fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast. ⁴They expressed adoration to²⁵⁵⁷ the dragon, which had given his authority to the beast, and they also expressed adoration to the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” ⁵A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to the beast,²⁵⁵⁸ and authority to make war²⁵⁵⁹ for forty-two months. ⁶He opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to slander his Name and his habitation, even those who dwell in heaven. ⁷He was given power to make war against the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people,²⁵⁶⁰ language, and nation was given to him. ⁸All who dwell on the earth will express adoration²⁵⁶¹ to him, everyone whose name has not, from the foundation of the world, been written in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.^{2562 9}Let anyone who has an ear listen: ¹⁰If anyone is to go into captivity, he will go into captivity. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, he must be killed.²⁵⁶³ Here is {a call for} the patient endurance and the faith of the saints.

The second beast

¹¹Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon. ¹²He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his behalf²⁵⁶⁴ and makes the earth and those who dwell in it express adoration²⁵⁶⁵ before the first beast, [the one] whose fatal wound had been healed. ¹³He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people.^{2566 14}He deceives those²⁵⁶⁷ who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to perform in front of the beast, saying to those who dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and [yet] lived. ¹⁵It was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast so that it should speak and cause as many as would not express adoration to the image of the beast to be killed. ¹⁶He causes all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to be given marks²⁵⁶⁸ on their right hands or on their foreheads. ¹⁷Hence, no one would be able to buy or sell,²⁵⁶⁹ unless he has that mark,²⁵⁷⁰ or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. ¹⁸Here is wisdom: let anyone who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is six hundred sixty-six.²⁵⁷¹

The 144,000

2555. CT reads “He (the dragon)” instead of “I”
2556. Compare Luke 4:5-8
2557. proskuneo can also be translated “worship (in the broad sense),” “venerate,” “fall down in reverence,” “do obeisance” (see NT introduction regarding proskuneo)
2558. Compare Daniel 7 (especially verse 8)
2559. CT and TR read “and authority to continue”
2560. TR omits “people”
2561. See verse 5
2562. Or possibly (although a less likely translation: “written in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain since the foundation of the world”
2563. 13:10 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 will go into captivity. If anyone is with the sword, he must be killed.”
2564. Or “presence”
2565. See verse 5
2566. The sign of a false prophet who imitates the ministry of Elias (Elijah)
2567. Some manuscripts (MT) read “my own people” instead of “those”
2568. The Greek word for “mark” is ca,ragma. Some translators have suggested “puncture mark.” This word also means “stamp/image/representation.” It is however different than the Greek word used in Genesis 4:14 and Ezekiel 9 which is shmei/on. The nuances may indicate the intention to make a connection with a coin or currency.
2569. A reminder that economic issues (including economic control or freedom) constitute an important theme in the Scriptures (see also James 5:4; the system of the Jubilees as Leviticus 25; Deuteronomy 15; Revelation 6:6).
2570. TR adds “or”
2571. Certain manuscripts read “616” instead of “666”