Revelation 13:8-14:12

New International Version

⁸ All inhabitants of the earth^(A) will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life,^(B) the Lamb^(C) who was slain from the creation of the world.^[a](D)

⁹ Whoever has ears, let them hear.^(E)

This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness^(G) on the part of God’s people.^(H)

The Beast out of the Earth

¹¹ Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth.^(I) It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon.^{(J) 12} It exercised all the authority^(K) of the first beast on its behalf,^(L) and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast,^(M) whose fatal wound had been healed.^{(N) 13} And it performed great signs,^(O) even causing fire to come down from heaven^(P) to the earth in full view of the people. ¹⁴ Because of the signs^(Q) it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived^(R) the inhabitants of the earth.^(S) It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.^{(T) 15} The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship^(U) the image to be killed.^{(V) 16} It also forced all people, great and small,^(W) rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads,^{(X) 17} so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark,^(Y) which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.^(Z)

¹⁸ This calls for wisdom.^(AA) Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.^[d](AB) That number is 666.

The Lamb and the 144,000

14 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb,^(AC) standing on Mount Zion,^(AD) and with him 144,000^(AE) who had his name and his Father’s name^(AF) written on their foreheads.^{(AG) 2} And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters^(AH) and like a loud peal of thunder.^(AI) The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.^{(AJ) 3} And they sang a new song^(AK) before the throne and before the four living creatures^(AL) and the elders.^(AM) No one could learn the song except the 144,000^(AN) who had been redeemed from the earth. ⁴ These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins.^(AO) They follow the Lamb wherever he goes.^(AP) They were purchased from among mankind^(AQ) and offered as firstfruits^(AR) to God and the Lamb. ⁵ No lie was found in their mouths;^(AS) they are blameless.^(AT)

The Three Angels

⁶ Then I saw another angel flying in midair,^(AU) and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth^(AV)—to every nation, tribe, language and people.^{(AW) 7} He said in a loud voice, “Fear God^(AX) and give him glory,^(AY) because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made^(AZ) the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”^(BA)

⁸ A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’^[e](BB) which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”^(BC)

⁹ A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast^(BD) and its image^(BE) and receives its mark on their forehead^(BF) or on their hand, ¹⁰ they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury,^(BG) which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.^(BH) They will be tormented with burning sulfur^(BI) in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. ¹¹ And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever.^(BJ) There will be no rest day or night^(BK) for those who worship the beast and its image,^(BL) or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”^{(BM) 12} This calls for patient endurance^(BN) on the part of the people of God^(BO) who keep his commands^(BP) and remain faithful to Jesus.