¹⁴ and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of^[a] the beast ^(A)it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast ^(B)that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 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 ^(C)worship the image of the beast ^(D)to be slain. ¹⁶ Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave,^{[b] (E)}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, ^(F)the name of the beast or ^(G)the number of its name. ^18 (H)This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number ^(I)of a man, and his number is 666.^[c]

The Lamb and the 144,000

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