Study Desk

Then I kept watching because of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued to watch, the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.

Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others-extremely terrifying-with iron teeth and bronze claws, devouring, crushing, and trampling underfoot whatever was left.

This is what he said: 'The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms, and it will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it.

Like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast would tear them apart.

Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: "By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let no man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything at all. They must not eat or drink.

Furthermore, let both man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and have everyone call out earnestly to God. Let each one turn from his evil ways and from the violence in his hands.

"I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and the ruins along with the wicked. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth," declares the LORD.

I have summoned a drought on the fields and on the mountains, on the grain, new wine, and olive oil, and on whatever the ground yields, on man and beast, and on all the labor of your hands."

For before those days neither man nor beast received wages, nor was there safety from the enemy for anyone who came or went, for I had turned every man against his neighbor.

When the two witnesses have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will wage war with them, and will overpower and kill them.

Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.

The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and throne and great authority.

One of the heads of the beast appeared to be fatally wounded. But the mortal wound was healed, and the whole world marveled and followed the beast.

They worshiped the dragon who had given authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who can wage war against it?"

The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months.

And the beast opened its mouth to blaspheme against God and slander His name and His tabernacle-those who dwell in heaven.

Then the beast was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.

And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast-all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.

Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. This beast had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon.

And this beast exercised all the authority of the first beast and caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed.