WEB
Revelation 13
The dragon summons two beasts. The first rises from the sea, leopard-bear-lion, with a fatal head wound that heals so the whole earth marvels and worships. For forty-two months it blasphemes and wars on the saints. A second beast rises from the earth, two horns like a lamb but speaking like a dragon. Watch the second beast's machinery: it makes an image speak, kills those who refuse it, and brands every hand and forehead.
- 1
Then I stood on the sand of the sea. I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads. On his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads, blasphemous names.
- 2
The beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
- 3
One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast.
- 4
They worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
- 5
A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him.
- 6
He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, his dwelling, and those who dwell in heaven.
- 7
It was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him.
- 8
All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed.
- 9
If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
- 10
If anyone is to go into captivity, he will go into captivity. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, he must be killed. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints.
- 11
I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.
- 12
He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.
- 13
He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people.
- 14
He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast, saying to those who dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived.
- 15
It was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as wouldn’t worship the image of the beast to be killed.
- 16
He causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slave, to be given marks on their right hands or on their foreheads;
- 17
and that no one would be able to buy or to sell unless he has that mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.
- 18
Here is wisdom. He who has understanding, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is six hundred sixty-six.
The mark and the number 666
The land-beast enforces commerce: no one can buy or sell without the mark, "the name of the beast or the number of his name." The chapter closes with a riddle: "Here is wisdom"—the number is that of a man, six hundred sixty-six.
Between the threats sits a quiet word to the persecuted in verse 10: "Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints." Their victory is not resistance by force but faithful endurance under a power that imitates the Lamb.
Context layers
Keep these closed by default and open them only when you want more context.
- FaithWhat faith means in the Bible, how it differs from vague belief, and how to read it without turning it into self-confidence.
- WisdomWhat wisdom means in the Bible, how it differs from cleverness, and where to begin reading it well.
- WorshipWhat worship means in the Bible, how it goes beyond music, and where Scripture shows its full shape most clearly.
- Hebrews 11:1-6Key passage connected to Faith.
- Romans 1:16-17Key passage connected to Faith.
- Galatians 2:20Key passage connected to Faith.
- Proverbs 1:7Key passage connected to Wisdom.
- James 1:5Key passage connected to Wisdom.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13Key passage connected to Wisdom.
- Psalms 95:1-7Key passage connected to Worship.
- John 4:23-24Key passage connected to Worship.
Share a small range via:
/en/web/revelation/13/16-18
Or use the Passage link builder.