AND I stood upon the sand of the sea, and I saw a beast rising up out
of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon the horns ten
diadems, and upon the heads a title of blasphemy. (2)And the beast
which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a
bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his
power, and his throne, and great authority. (3)And I saw one of his
heads as if wounded unto death; and his deadly wound was healed: and
all the earth wondered after the beast. (4)And they worshipped the
dragon who had given authority to the beast: and they worshipped the
beast, saying, Who is like to the beast? who is able to wage war with
him? (5)And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and
blasphemies; and there was given to him authority to make war forty-two
months.
(6)And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his
name, and his tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. (7)And it was
given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and
authority was given to him over every tribe, and tongue, and nation.
(8)And all the inhabitants who dwell upon the earth shall worship him,
whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from
the foundation of the world. (9)He that hath an ear, let him hear.
(10)If any person leads _others_ into captivity, he shall be led into
captivity; if any person kills with the sword, he must be slain by the
sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
(11)And I saw another beast rising up out of the earth, and he had two
horns like a lamb, though he spake as the dragon. (12)And he exerciseth
all the authority of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth,
and those who inhabit therein, to worship the first beast whose deadly
wound was healed. (13)And he performeth great signs, so that he even
causeth fire to come down from heaven to the earth, in the sight of
men, (14)and deceiveth the inhabitants of the earth by the signs, which
he is enabled to perform before the beast, saying to the dwellers upon
the earth, that they should make an image for the beast who had the
stroke of the sword, and survived. (15)And he is enabled to impart life
to the image of the beast that even the image of the beast should
speak, and cause as many as will not worship the image of the beast to
be put to death. (16)And he causeth all the small and the great, the
rich and the poor, the freemen and the slaves, to receive a brand upon
their right hand, and upon their foreheads: (17)and that no man may buy
or sell, but he that hath the mark impressed, or the name of the beast,
or the number of his name. (18)Here is wisdom. Let him that hath
understanding calculate the number of the beast: for it is the number
of a man; and his number is six hundred sixty-six.