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The First Beast

13 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems upon its horns and a blasphemous name upon its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth followed the beast with wonder. Men 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?”

And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months; it opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them.[a] And authority was given it over every tribe and people and tongue and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, every one whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain. If any one has an ear, let him hear:

10 If any one is to be taken captive,
    to captivity he goes;
if any one slays with the sword,
    with the sword must he be slain.

Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 13:7 Other ancient authorities omit this sentence

13 and [a]he stood upon the sand of the sea.

And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as though it had been [b]smitten unto death; and his death-stroke was healed: and the whole earth wondered after the beast; and they [c]worshipped the dragon, because he gave his authority unto the beast; and they [d]worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? and who is able to war with him? and there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and there was given to him authority [e]to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth for blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, even them that [f]dwell in the heaven. [g]And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. And all that dwell on the earth shall [h]worship him, every one whose name hath not been [i]written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain. If any man hath an ear, let him hear. 10 [j]If any man [k]is for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the [l]patience and the faith of the saints.

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 13:1 Some ancient authorities read I stood etc. connecting the clause with what follows.
  2. Revelation 13:3 Greek slain.
  3. Revelation 13:4 See marginal note on 3:9.
  4. Revelation 13:4 See marginal note on 3:9.
  5. Revelation 13:5 Or, to do his works during. See Dan. 11:28.
  6. Revelation 13:6 Greek tabernacle.
  7. Revelation 13:7 Some ancient authorities omit And it was given . . . overcome them.
  8. Revelation 13:8 See marginal note on 3:9.
  9. Revelation 13:8 Or, written in the book . . . slain from the foundation of the world
  10. Revelation 13:10 The Greek text in this verse is somewhat uncertain.
  11. Revelation 13:10 Or, leadeth into captivity
  12. Revelation 13:10 Or, stedfastness