²⁸ “‘Do not cut^(A) your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.

³ Then another sign appeared in heaven:^(A) an enormous red dragon^(B) with seven heads^(C) and ten horns^(D) and seven crowns^(E) on its heads. ⁴ Its tail swept a third^(F) of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.^(G) The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child^(H) the moment he was born. ⁵ She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.”^[a](I) And her child was snatched up^(J) to God and to his throne. ⁶ The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.^(K)

⁷ Then war broke out in heaven. Michael^(L) and his angels fought against the dragon,^(M) and the dragon and his angels^(N) fought back. ⁸ But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. ⁹ The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent^(O) called the devil,^(P) or Satan,^(Q) who leads the whole world astray.^(R) He was hurled to the earth,^(S) and his angels with him.

¹⁴ Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him,