12 It worked for the beast whose fatal wound had been healed. And it used all its authority to force the earth and its people to worship that beast.
13 It performed mighty miracles, and while people watched, it even made fire come down from the sky.
14 This second beast fooled people on earth by performing miracles for the first one. Then it talked them into making an idol in the form of the beast that did not die after being wounded by a sword.
15 It was allowed to put breath into the idol, so that it could speak. Everyone who refused to worship the idol of the beast was put to death.
16 All people were forced to put a mark on their right hand or forehead. Whether they were powerful or weak, rich or poor, free people or slaves,
17 they all had to have this mark, or else they could not buy or sell anything. This mark stood for the name of the beast and for the number of its name.
18 You need wisdom to understand the number of the beast! But if you are clever enough, you can work this out. Its number is six hundred and sixty-six, and it stands for a person.