14. He did the signs the first beast wanted him to do. In that way the second beast tricked those who live on the earth. He ordered them to set up a statue to honor the first beast. The first beast was the one who had been wounded by the sword and still lived.
15. The second beast was allowed to give breath to the statue so it could speak. He was allowed to kill all who refused to worship the statue.
16. He also forced everyone to receive a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. People great or small, rich or poor, free or slave had to receive the mark.
17. They could not buy or sell anything unless they had the mark. The mark is the name of the beast or the number of his name.