Revelation 13 : Easy-to-Read Version
The Two Animals
13 1Then I saw an animal coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads. There was a crown on each of its horns. It had a bad name written on each head. 2This animal looked like a leopard, with feet like a bear's feet. It had a mouth like a lion's mouth. The giant snake [on the seashore] gave the animal all of his power and his throne and great authority. 3One of the heads of the animal looked like it had been wounded and killed. But this death wound was healed. All the people in the world were amazed, and they all followed the animal. 4People worshiped the giant snake because he had given his power to the animal. And the people also worshiped the animal. They asked, "Who is as powerful as the animal? Who can make war against him?" 5The animal was allowed to say proud words and very evil things. The animal was allowed to use his power for 42 months. 6The animal opened his mouth to say bad things against God. The animal also said bad things against God's name, against the place where God lives, and against all those who live in heaven. 7The animal was given power to make war against God's holy people* and to defeat them. The animal was given power over every tribe, race of people, language, and nation. 8All the people who live on earth will worship the animal. These are all the people since the beginning of the world whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life. The Lamb is the One who was killed. 9If a person hears these things, then he should listen to this: 10If any person is to be a prisoner, then that person will be a prisoner. If any person kills with a sword, then that person will be killed with a sword. This means that God's holy people* must have patience and faith. 11Then I saw another animal coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he talked like a giant snake. 12This animal stands before the first animal and uses the same power that the first animal has. He uses this power to make all the people living on the earth worship the first animal. The first animal was the one that had the death wound that was healed. 13This second animal does great miracles.* He even makes fire come down from heaven to earth while people are watching. 14This second animal fools the people that live on the earth. He fools them by using the miracles that he has been given the power to do. He does these miracles to serve the first animal. The second animal ordered people to make an idol* to honor the first animal. This was the animal that was wounded by the sword but did not die. 15The second animal was given power to give life to the idol of the first animal. Then the idol could speak and order all the people who did not worship it to be killed. 16The second animal also forced all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to have a mark on their right hand or on their forehead. 17No person could buy or sell without this mark. This mark is the name of the animal or the number of his name. 18A person that has understanding can find the meaning of the animal's number. This requires wisdom. This number is the number of a man. It is 666.
holy people God's people are called holy because they are made pure through Christ, and they belong only to God. miracles False miracles--powerful acts done by the power of the devil. idol(s) Idols are statues or other objects that people worshiped as gods.