KJV ORIGINAL
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
He was given the power to make the beast's image come alive — literally making it speak and move. And here's the terrifying part: anyone who refused to bow down and worship this living statue would be executed.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
When power gets twisted, it demands worship or death — there's no middle ground.
📜 Historical Context — Why was this verse written?
The book of Revelation was written by John to seven churches in Asia Minor during the late first century CE. It was written to encourage Christians enduring persecution and pressure to participate in the Roman imperial cult, which involved emperor worship.
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