Revelation 13

1 Then I saw [stood upon the sand of the sea] a beast [wild animal] with ten horns [symbols of strength and authority] and seven heads [leaders or sources] rising [ascending, coming up] out of the sea [a large body of water]. There were ten royal crowns [diadems, symbols of sovereignty] on its horns [symbols of strength and authority] and blasphemous [speaking badly of God, slanderous] names [representing character or authority] on its heads [leaders or sources]. word study 2 The beast [a wild and ferocious animal] I saw was like [similar in appearance to] a leopard [a symbol of power and speed], with the feet [a symbol of stability and strength] of a bear [a wild animal known for its ferocity] and the mouth [a symbol of speech and communication] of a lion [a wild animal]. And the dragon [a mythical monster] gave the beast his power [miraculous ability or strength] and his throne [a seat of authority] and great [large or intense] authority [the power or freedom to act]. word study 3 One [a single, unique] of the heads [leaders, rulers] of the beast [wild animal] appeared to be mortally [to the point of death, fatally] wounded [struck, slain]. But the mortal [fatal, deadly] wound [blow, plague] was healed [restored, made whole], and the whole [entire, all] world [earth, soil] marveled [was amazed, wondered] and followed [went after, pursued] the beast [the evil one, the antichrist]. word study 4 They worshiped [paid homage to, adored] the dragon [a mythical monster] who had given [granted, bestowed] authority [power, freedom to act] to the beast [a wild or dangerous animal, symbolizing the Antichrist], and they worshiped [paid homage to, revered] the beast, saying, “Who is like [similar to, comparable with] the beast [the Antichrist], and who can [is able, has the power] wage war [fight, engage in battle] against it [the beast, the Antichrist]?” word study 5 The beast [a wild or dangerous animal] was given [granted authority, allowed to have] a mouth [the ability to speak and communicate] to speak [utter words, proclaim] arrogant [proud, boastful] and blasphemous [slanderous, speaking evil of God] words [messages, declarations], and authority [power, freedom to act] to act [exercise power, carry out plans] for 42 [forty-two, a period of testing] months [a period of time, a season]. word study 6 And the beast [a wild or dangerous animal] opened its mouth [to speak forth] to speak blasphemies [slanderous words, evil-speaking] against God [the one true deity] and to slander [insult, speak evil of] His name [character, authority] and His tabernacle [dwelling place, sanctuary]—those who dwell [reside, have their home] in heaven [the spiritual realm, God’s throne]. word study 7 Then the beast [a symbol of evil, the Antichrist] was permitted [allowed by God’s sovereignty] to wage war [engage in spiritual battle] against the saints [God’s holy people, set apart] and to conquer [overcome, subdue] them, and it was given [granted, bestowed] authority [power, dominion] over every tribe [nation, ethnic group] and people [a group of individuals, a nation] and tongue [language, dialect] and nation [Gentiles, non-Jewish people]. word study 8 And all [every single one] who dwell [reside, make their home] on the earth [the world, the physical realm] will worship [bow down, pay homage to] the beast [the antichrist, a false Messiah]—all whose names [identities, characters] have not been written [recorded, inscribed] from the foundation [the beginning, the starting point] of the world [the cosmos, creation] in the Book [scroll, written document] of Life [eternal existence, spiritual vitality] belonging to the Lamb [the Messiah, the sacrificial victim] who was slain [sacrificed, slaughtered]. word study 9 He who [anyone, if any man] has [possesses, holds] an ear [the ability to hear and understand], let him [everyone who wants to understand] hear [listen carefully, obey]: word study 10 “If anyone is destined [appointed, ordained] for captivity [a state of being held prisoner, bondage], into captivity [a condition of confinement] he will go; if anyone is to die [be killed, meet their end] by the sword [a short sword or dagger], by the sword [an instrument of destruction] he must be killed [put to death, slain].” Here [in this situation, at this time] is a call [an invitation, a summons] for the perseverance [patient endurance, steadfastness] and faith [trust, confidence] of the saints [holy ones, set apart believers]. word study 11 Then I saw [beheld, perceived] another [different, distinct] beast [wild animal] rising out of [coming up from, ascending from] the earth [soil, ground, the physical world]. This beast had two [a pair of] horns [symbols of strength, power] like [similar to, resembling] a lamb [a symbol of innocence, purity], but spoke [uttered words, communicated] like [in the manner of, as] a dragon [a mythical monster]. word study 12 And this beast [the second beast] exercised all the authority [power, freedom to act] of the first beast [the Antichrist, a powerful opponent of God] and caused the earth [the world, all its inhabitants] and those who dwell [reside, live] in it to worship [honor, reverence] the first beast, whose mortal wound [fatal blow, deadly stroke] had been healed [restored to health, made whole]. word study 13 And the second beast performed [did, accomplished] great [intense, extraordinary] signs [miracles, wonders] to cause even fire [flames, divine judgment] from heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place] to come down [fall, descend] to earth [the land, the world] in the presence [before, in the sight] of the people [humans, mankind]. word study 14 Because of the signs [miracles, supernatural wonders] it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast [the Antichrist, a symbol of evil], it deceived [led astray, misled] those who dwell [reside, live] on the earth [the world, humanity], telling them to make an image [idol, representation] to the beast [the Antichrist, a powerful enemy] that had been wounded [struck, injured] by the sword [a short sword or dagger] and yet had lived [come back to life, been revived]. word study 15 The second beast was permitted [given the power and authority] to give breath [life, spirit] to the image [representation, likeness] of the first beast, so that the image could speak [utter words, communicate] and cause all who refused [would not, were unwilling] to worship [show reverence, honor] it to be killed [put to death, slain]. word study 16 And the second beast required [caused, made] all people [every individual, both small and great] small [humble, lowly] and great [powerful, influential], rich [wealthy, prosperous] and poor [needy, impoverished], free [unrestricted, liberated] and slave [bondservant, captive], to receive [be given, have bestowed upon them] a mark [image] on their right [dominant, favored] hand or [alternatively] on their forehead [the front part of the face], word study 17 so that no one [not a single person, anyone] could buy [purchase, acquire] or sell [trade, exchange] unless he had the mark [the image, a sign]—the name [character, authority] of the beast [a wild animal] or the number [a quantity, a count] of its name [character, identity]. word study 18 Here [in this place, at this point] is a call for [higher, spiritual] wisdom [discernment and insight]: Let the one who has [possesses, is endowed with] insight [understanding and perception] calculate [to count or figure out] the number [a quantity or amount] of the beast [a wild or dangerous animal], for [because, as an explanation] it is the number [a quantity or amount] of a man [a human being], and that number [a quantity or amount] is [exists as] 666 [six hundred sixty-six]. word study