³⁶ “Then the king will do whatever he wants.^(A) He will exalt and magnify himself above every god,^(B) and he will say outrageous things against the God of gods.^(C) He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed,^(D) because what has been decreed will be accomplished.

13 And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea.^(A) It had ten horns and seven heads. On its horns were ten crowns,^[a](B) and on its heads were blasphemous names.^{[b](C) 2} The beast I saw was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth.^(D) The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority. ³ One of its heads appeared to be fatally wounded, but its fatal wound was healed.

The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast.^{(E) 4} They worshiped the dragon^(F) because he gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast?^(G) Who is able to wage war against it?”

⁵ The beast was given a mouth to utter boasts and blasphemies.^(H) It was allowed to exercise authority^[c][d] for forty-two months.^{(I) 6} It began to speak^[e] blasphemies against God: to blaspheme his name and his dwelling—those who dwell in heaven.