⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief.^{(A) 5} For you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.^{(B) 6} So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.

⁹ The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with every kind of miracle, both signs and wonders serving the lie,^{(A) 10} and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved.^{(B) 11} For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, ¹² so that all will be condemned^(C)—those who did not believe^(D) the truth but delighted in unrighteousness.

³ Then another sign^[a] appeared in heaven: There was a great fiery red dragon^(A) having seven heads and ten horns,^(B) and on its heads were seven crowns.^[b]

⁴ Its tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth.^(A) And the dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she did give birth it might devour her child.^(B)

13 And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea.^(A) It had ten horns and seven heads. On its horns were ten crowns,^[a](B) and on its heads were blasphemous names.^[b](C)

⁶ It began to speak^[a] blasphemies against God: to blaspheme his name and his dwelling—those who dwell in heaven.

⁷ And it was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them.^(A) It was also given authority^(B) over every tribe, people, language, and nation.^(C)