they worshiped the dragon because he had given ruling authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast too, saying: “Who is like the beast?” and “Who is able to make war against him?”

The second beast was empowered to give life to the image of the first beast so that it could speak, and could cause all those who did not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.

For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”

He exercised all the ruling authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast, the one whose lethal wound had been healed.

A certain one of them, in fact, one of their own prophets, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”

These kings have a single intent, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.

He was in the wilderness forty days, enduring temptations from Satan. He was with wild animals, and angels were ministering to his needs.

As I stared I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and wild birds.

For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind.

Then I saw another beast coming up from the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but was speaking like a dragon.

Then I saw three unclean spirits that looked like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

The beast that was, and is not, is himself an eighth king and yet is one of the seven, and is going to destruction.

and, by the signs he was permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, he deceived those who live on the earth. He told those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who had been wounded by the sword, but still lived.

The beast you saw was, and is not, but is about to come up from the abyss and then go to destruction. The inhabitants of the earth – all those whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world – will be astounded when they see that the beast was, and is not, but is to come.

Now the beast was seized, and along with him the false prophet who had performed the signs on his behalf – signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire burning with sulfur.

When the local people saw the creature hanging from Paul’s hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer! Although he has escaped from the sea, Justice herself has not allowed him to live!”

When they have completed their testimony, the beast that comes up from the abyss will make war on them and conquer them and kill them.

One of the beast’s heads appeared to have been killed, but the lethal wound had been healed. And the whole world followed the beast in amazement;

Thus no one was allowed to buy or sell things unless he bore the mark of the beast – that is, his name or his number.