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 ^(A)worship the image of the beast ^(B)to be slain. ¹⁶ Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave,^{[a] (C)}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, ^(D)the name of the beast or ^(E)the number of its name. ^18 (F)This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number ^(G)of a man, and his number is 666.^[b]

The Lamb and the 144,000

14 Then I looked, and behold, on ^(H)Mount Zion ^(I)stood the Lamb, and with him ^(J)144,000 who ^(K)had his name and his Father's name written ^(L)on their foreheads. ² And I heard a voice from heaven ^(M)like the roar of many waters and ^(N)like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of ^(O)harpists playing on their harps, ³ and they were singing ^(P)a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. ^(Q)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 ^(R)they are virgins. It is these ^(S)who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as ^(T)firstfruits for God and the Lamb, ⁵ and ^(U)in their mouth no lie was found, for they are ^(V)blameless.