"For sometimeagoTheudasroseup, claimingto be somebody,and a groupof aboutfour hundredmenjoinedup with him. But he was killed,and allwhofollowedhim were dispersedand cameto nothing.
Nowthere was a mannamedSimon,who formerlywas practicing magicin the cityand astonishingthe peopleof Samaria,claimingto be someonegreat;
Manywill followtheir sensuality,and becauseof them the wayof the truthwill be maligned;
and on her foreheada name[was] written,a mystery,"BABYLONTHE GREAT,THE MOTHEROF HARLOTSAND OF THE ABOMINATIONSOF THE EARTH."
Theseare grumblers,finding fault,followingaftertheir [own] lusts;they speakarrogantly,flatteringpeoplefor the sakeof [gaining an] advantage.
For ifanyonethinkshe is somethingwhen he is nothing,he deceiveshimself.
But from thosewho were of highreputation(whatthey were makesnodifferenceto me; Godshowsnopartiality)--well,thosewho were of reputationcontributednothingto me.
"Thenyou are not the Egyptianwho sometimeagostirred up a revoltand ledthe four thousandmenof the Assassinsout into the wilderness?"
"For false Christsand false prophetswill ariseand will showgreatsignsand wonders,soas to mislead,ifpossible,eventhe elect.
And he carried me awayin the Spiritinto a wilderness;and I sawa womansittingon a scarletbeast,fullof blasphemousnames,havingsevenheadsand tenhorns.
For speakingout arrogant[words] of vanitythey enticeby fleshlydesires,by sensuality,thosewho barelyescapefrom the ones who livein error,
"Soifthey sayto you, 'Behold,He is in the wilderness,'do not goout, [or], 'Behold,He is in the inner rooms,'do not believe[them].
"For manywill comein My name,saying,'I amthe Christ,'and will misleadmany.
And he saidto them, "Menof Israel,take carewhatyou proposeto dowith thesemen.
