Translation
The beast that you saw once was, is not, but is at the brink of coming up out of the abyss
and going to its destruction.
Those dwelling on the earth, whose names are not written down in the book of life from the foundations of the world, will be awestruck at seeing this beast which was, but is not, yet will be.
Paraphrase
The ferocious creature that you saw was doing its best to imitate Jesus; he will come out
of the prison of the dead and of the foul spirits but will go right to its destruction.
Those dwelling on the
earth, whose names are not
written down in the book of
life from the foundations of
the world, will be awestruck
at seeing this ferocious creature who is trying to imitate Jesus.