John sees another beast (earth beast), coming out of the earth. He exercises all the authority of the first beast (sea beast), performing great signs and making the earth-dwellers worship the first beast. He uses deception to persuade the people to make an image to the first beast, and he gives breath to the image, so that it can speak and so that it can force all people to worship itself. The second beast also forces everyone to receive a mark on his right hand or forehead as the only license to buy or sell. The mark is either the name of the sea beast or the number 666.