Revelation 13:1-8

Living Bible

13 And now, in my vision, I saw a strange Creature rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, and ten crowns upon its horns. And written on each head were blasphemous names, each one defying and insulting God. ² This Creature looked like a leopard but had bear’s feet and a lion’s mouth! And the Dragon gave him his own power and throne and great authority.

³ I saw that one of his heads seemed wounded beyond recovery—but the fatal wound was healed! All the world marveled at this miracle and followed the Creature in awe. ⁴ They worshiped the Dragon for giving him such power, and they worshiped the strange Creature. “Where is there anyone as great as he?” they exclaimed. “Who is able to fight against him?”

⁵ Then the Dragon encouraged the Creature to speak great blasphemies against the Lord; and gave him authority to control the earth for forty-two months. ⁶ All that time he blasphemed God’s Name and his temple and all those living in heaven. ⁷ The Dragon gave him power to fight against God’s people^[a] and to overcome them, and to rule over all nations and language groups throughout the world. ⁸ And all mankind—whose names were not written down before the founding of the world in the slain Lamb’s Book of Life^[b]—worshiped the evil Creature.