This passage from Revelation 13 describes the rise and actions of two beasts, symbolizing corrupt and blasphemous powers. The first beast, given authority to act for 42 months, speaks blasphemies against God and wages war against the saints, gaining global worship except from those whose names are written in the Book of Life. The second beast, appearing lamb-like but speaking like a dragon, enforces the worship of the first beast through miracles, deception, and economic control, introducing a mark without which no one can buy or sell. This mark, or the number of the beast, is famously identified as 666. Do you think John, who said this number was the number of a man, expected his first-century readers to know who he was talking about? Let's find out.