³⁶ For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, ^[a]joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing.

The Sorcerer’s Profession of Faith

⁹ But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously ^(A)practiced ^[a]sorcery in the city and ^(B)astonished the ^[b]people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great,

² And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.

⁵ And on her forehead a name was written:

^(A)MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT,
THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS
AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS
OF THE EARTH.

Apostates Predicted

¹⁶ These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they ^(A)mouth great swelling words, ^(B)flattering people to gain advantage.

³ Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come ^(A)unless the falling away comes first, and ^(B)the man of ^[a]sin is revealed, ^(C)the son of perdition, ⁴ who opposes and ^(D)exalts himself ^(E)above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits ^[b]as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

⁵ Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? ⁶ And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. ⁷ For ^(F)the ^[c]mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only ^[d]He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.

⁶ But from those ^(A)who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; ^(B)God ^[a]shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something ^(C)added nothing to me.

^38 (A)Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?”

³ So he carried me away in the Spirit ^(A)into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting ^(B)on a scarlet beast which was full of ^(C)names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.