The Beast from the Sea
(Daniel 7:1–8)

1And he stood upon the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast ascending from the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon its horns were ten diadems, and upon its heads were names of blasphemy. 2And the beast that I saw was similar to a leopard, and its feet were like the feet of a bear, and its mouth was like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave his own power and great authority to it. 3And I saw that one of its heads seemed to be slain unto death, but his deadly wound was healed. And the entire world was in wonder following the beast. 4And they worshiped the dragon, who gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying: “Who is like the beast? And who would be able to fight with it?” 5And there was given to it a mouth, speaking great things and blasphemies. And authority was given to him to act for forty-two months. 6And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and those who dwell in heaven.

7And it was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given to him over every tribe and people and language and nation. 8And all who inhabit the earth worshiped the beast, those whose names have not been written, from the origin of the world, in the Book of Life of the Lamb who was slain. 9If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10Whoever will be led into captivity, into captivity he goes. Whoever will kill with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the patient endurance and faith of the Saints.

The Beast from the Earth

11And I saw another beast ascending from the land. And she had two horns like the Lamb, but she was speaking like the dragon. 12And she acted with all the authority of the first beast in his sight. And she caused the earth, and those dwelling in it, to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13And she accomplished great signs, even so that she would cause fire to descend from the sky to the earth in the sight of men. 14And she seduced those living on the earth, by means of the signs that were given to her to perform in the sight of the beast, saying to those dwelling on the earth that they should make an image of the beast who had a wound of the sword and yet lived. 15And it was given to her to give a spirit to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would speak. And she acted so that whoever would not worship the image of the beast would be slain.

The Mark of the Beast

16And she will cause everyone, small and great, wealthy and poor, free and servant, to have a character on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17so that no one may buy or sell, unless he has the character, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18Here is wisdom. Whoever has intelligence, let him determine the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.