The Second Beast

¹¹ Then I saw another beast that rose 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 on its behalf, and it makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound^[a] had been healed. ¹³ It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of all,^{(A) 14} and by the signs that it is allowed to perform on behalf of the beast it deceives the inhabitants of earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that had been wounded by the sword^[b] and yet lived,^(B)

³ One of its heads seemed to have received a death blow, but its fatal wound^[a] had been healed. In amazement the whole earth followed the beast.^{(A) 4} They worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”^(B)

⁴ He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God.^{(A) 5} Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you? ⁶ And you know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed when his time comes. ⁷ For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one who now restrains it is removed.^{(B) 8} And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus^[a] will destroy^[b] with the breath of his mouth, annihilating him by the manifestation of his coming.^{(C) 9} The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders,^{(D) 10} and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.^{(E) 11} For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false,^(F)