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They worshiped the dragon because it gave its authority to the beast; they also worshiped the beast[a] and said, “Who can compare with the beast or who can fight against it?”

[b]The beast was given a mouth uttering proud boasts and blasphemies,(A) and it was given authority to act for forty-two months.[c] It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling and those who dwell in heaven.

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Footnotes

  1. 13:4 Worshiped the beast: allusion to emperor worship, which Domitian insisted upon and ruthlessly enforced. Who can compare with the beast: perhaps a deliberate parody of the name Michael; see note on Rev 12:7.
  2. 13:5–6 Domitian, like Antiochus IV Epiphanes (Dn 7:8, 11, 25), demanded that he be called by divine titles such as “our lord and god” and “Jupiter.” See note on Rev 11:2.
  3. 13:5 Forty-two months: this is the same duration as the profanation of the holy city (Rev 11:2), the prophetic mission of the two witnesses (Rev 11:3), and the retreat of the woman into the desert (Rev 12:6, 14).

People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like(A) the beast? Who can wage war against it?”

The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies(B) and to exercise its authority for forty-two months.(C) It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.(D)

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