⁹ Out of one of them came another horn, which started small^(A) but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land.^{(B) 10} It grew until it reached^(C) the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth^(D) and trampled^(E) on them. ¹¹ It set itself up to be as great as the commander^(F) of the army of the Lord;^(G) it took away the daily sacrifice^(H) from the Lord, and his sanctuary was thrown down.^{(I) 12} Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people^[a] and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.^(J)

³ Don’t let anyone deceive you^(A) in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion^(B) occurs and the man of lawlessness^[a] is revealed,^(C) the man doomed to destruction. ⁴ He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God^(D) or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.^(E)

⁵ Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?^{(F) 6} And now you know what is holding him back,^(G) so that he may be revealed at the proper time. ⁷ For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back^(H) will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. ⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed,^(I) whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth^(J) and destroy by the splendor of his coming.^{(K) 9} The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan^(L) works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders^(M) that serve the lie, ¹⁰ and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing.^(N) They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.^(O)

⁴ 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?”

⁵ The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies^(B) and to exercise its authority for forty-two months.^{(C) 6} It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.^{(D) 7} It was given power to wage war^(E) against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.^{(F) 8} All inhabitants of the earth^(G) will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life,^(H) the Lamb^(I) who was slain from the creation of the world.^[a](J)

⁹ Whoever has ears, let them hear.^(K)

This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness^(M) on the part of God’s people.^(N)