Men worshiped the dragon: after saying, in verse 3, “the whole earth,” this verse begins “They worshiped.” This should be stated inclusively, “They all” or “Everyone.” For the verb “to worship” see 4.10. The full meaning of worshiped is intended; the people who followed the dragon worshiped him as their God, and in the same way they worshiped the beast.

Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?: this rhetorical double question is a way of saying “No one is like the beast” or “No one is as strong (or, powerful) as the beast”—since it is his power and strength that are in focus. “No one can fight against it,” that is, “… fight against it and win.” This is practically a psalm sung in praise of the great beast (see similar expressions of praise to God in Exo 15.11; Psa 35.10; 113.5).

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• They all showed reverence to the dragon as if he were God, because he had let the beast have authority. They also worshiped the beast, saying, “No one is as strong as the beast. No one can fight against it and win.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Revelation to John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .