MSB REV Chapter 13

The Beast from the Sea

(Daniel 7:1–8)

13 Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. [There were] ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names[fn] on its heads. 2 The beast I saw was like a leopard, [with] the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave [the beast] his power and his throne and great authority.

3 One[fn] of the heads of [the beast] appeared to have been mortally wounded. [But] the mortal wound was healed, and the whole world marveled [and] followed the beast. 4 They worshiped the dragon who had given authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who [is] like the beast, and who can wage war against it?”

5 [The beast] was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous [words],[fn] and authority to make war[fn] for 42 months. 6 And [the beast] opened its mouth to [speak] blasphemy[fn] against God [and] to slander His name and His tabernacle—those who dwell in heaven.

7 Then [the beast] was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people[fn] and tongue and nation. 8 And all who dwell on the earth will worship [the beast]—[all] whose names have not been written from [the] foundation of [the] world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.[fn]

9 He who has an ear, let him hear:

10 “If anyone [is destined for] captivity,

[there] he will go;[fn]

if anyone kills[fn] by [the] sword,

by [the] sword he must be killed.”[fn]

Here is [a call for] the perseverance and faith of the saints.

The Beast from the Earth

11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. [This beast] had two horns like a lamb, [but] spoke like a dragon. 12 And [this beast] exercised all the authority of the first beast and caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed.

13 And [the second beast] performed great signs, even causing fire from heaven to come down upon the earth[fn] in the presence of the people. 14 Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the [first] beast, it deceived my own [people] who dwell[fn] on the earth, telling [them] to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived. 15 [The second beast] was permitted to give breath to the image of the [first] beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship [it] to be killed.

The Mark of the Beast

16 And [the second beast] required all [people], small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark—the name of the beast or the number of its name.

18 Here is [a call for] wisdom: {Let} the [one who] has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is [the] number of a man, and [that] number [is] 666.[fn]