The Beast from the Earth

The second beast rises from the earth with two horns like a lamb, giving it the appearance of innocence or religious legitimacy, yet it speaks like a dragon. It exercises the first beast's authority and channels worship toward that beast. Through great signs, including calling down fire from heaven, it deceives the inhabitants of the earth and directs them to make an image of the first beast. It is even permitted to give breath to the image so that it speaks and becomes an instrument for condemning those who refuse worship. The paragraph shows deception and coercion joining hands in the service of beastly worship.

T¹¹hen I saw another beast rising out of the earth. This beast had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon. ¹²And this beast exercised all the authority of the first beast and caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed. ¹³And the second beast performed great signs, even causing fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people. ¹⁴Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived. ¹⁵The second beast was permitted to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship it to be killed.