Revelation 13:1-10

Expanded Bible

The Two Beasts

13 Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea [^Cthe sea was a symbol of chaos in the ancient world; Dan. 7:1–8]. It [or He] had ten horns [^Csymbols of power and strength] and seven heads [12:3], and there was a ·crown [diadem; royal crown; ^Cindicating a king of evil] on each horn. A ·name against God [^Lblasphemous name; some manuscripts read the plural “names”] was written on each head. ² This beast looked like a leopard, with feet like a bear’s feet and a mouth like a lion’s mouth. And the dragon gave the beast all of his ·power [authority] and his throne and great authority. ³ One of the heads of the beast looked as if it ·had been killed by a wound [had a fatal/mortal wound; ^Lwas slain to death; ^Can evil imitation of the Lamb that was slain; 5:6], but this ·death wound [fatal/mortal wound; ^Lwound of its death] was healed [^Ca false imitation of the resurrection]. Then the whole world was amazed and followed the beast. ⁴ People worshiped the dragon because he had given his ·power [authority] to the beast. And they also worshiped the beast, asking, “Who is like the beast [Ex. 15:11]? Who can make war against ·it [or him]?”

⁵ The beast was ·allowed [^Lgiven a mouth] to say ·proud words [^Lgreat things; Dan. 7:8, 11, 20] and ·words against God [^Lblasphemies; Dan. 11:36], and it was allowed to ·use [exercise] its ·power [authority] for forty-two months [11:2]. ⁶ It ·used [opened] its mouth ·to speak [blaspheme] against God, against God’s name, against ·the place where God lives [his dwelling/tabernacle], and against all those who ·live [dwell] in heaven. ⁷ It was given ·power [authority] to make war against ·God’s holy people [^Tthe saints] and to ·defeat [conquer] them. It was given ·power [authority] over every tribe, people, language, and nation [Dan. 7:21]. ⁸ And all who live on earth will worship ·the beast [^Lit; or him]—all the people since the ·beginning [foundation] of the world whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book [scroll] of life [3:5; 17:8; Ex. 32:32–33]. ·The Lamb is the One who was killed [or The Lamb who was killed/slaughtered before the creation/foundation of the earth]. [^CSome commentators link the phrase “since the beginning/foundation of the world” with “all who live on the earth”; others link it with “written in the Lamb’s book of life”; and still others with “the Lamb who was slain.”]

⁹ Anyone who has ears should ·listen [hear; obey]:

This means that ·God’s holy people [^Tthe saints] must have ·patience [perseverance; endurance] and faith.