²³ And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise.

The Second Beast

¹¹ Then ^(A)I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. ¹² It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence,^[a] and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, ^(B)whose mortal wound was healed. ^13 (C)It performs great signs, even ^(D)making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, ¹⁴ and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of^[b] the beast ^(E)it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast ^(F)that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.

⁹ The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan ^(A)with all power and false signs and wonders, ¹⁰ and with all wicked deception for ^(B)those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. ¹¹ Therefore ^(C)God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe ^(D)what is false,

²⁰ And the beast was captured, and with it ^(A)the false prophet ^(B)who in its presence^[a] had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who ^(C)worshiped its image. These two were ^(D)thrown alive into the lake of ^(E)fire that burns with sulfur.

Some Will Depart from the Faith

4 Now ^(A)the Spirit expressly says that ^(B)in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to ^(C)deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,