The Tribulation People
10. The False Prophet
Revelation 13:11 ¶ Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.
12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.
14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.
15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
We come now, to another one of the tribulation people. What we are reading about is an evil creature with incredible power.
He is described as … looks like a lamb, but speaks like a dragon.
He originates ‘out of the earth’. The previous beast mentioned in the chapter, came out of the sea. Is this significant? Whether we are correct in this observation or not, it may be significant; The sea has been thought to refer to the gentile nations, whereas ‘the earth’ refers to Israel.
Only twice in scripture this beast has been called ‘the False Prophet’.
Let’s take a look at what John tells us about him.
Daniel tells us that he does not honor any particular God of his forefathers. ‘He shall honor the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.’ (Daniel 11.38)
And Paul adds, he opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 2 Thess 2:4
He causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, v12
This False Prophet has a few other names in scripture.
He is called
And also, Rev 20:10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Notice, it does not say “The Antichrist and the false prophet”. But people have assumed that the first beast is the Antichrist. The first beast, in my opinion and observation, is an entity, both military and political. If you recall, the first beast of Rev. 13 is explained by John. He said that the seven heads represented seven kings or global kingdoms. Five were past, one presently existed in John’s time and the other was yet to come. The False Prophet, in my observation, is actually the Antichrist. He wields the authority of the global power.
I am saying that the False Prophet and the Antichrist are one and the same. This man is portrayed as having amazing powers.
We read, 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.
He deceives by performing miracles. He causes a huge image representing the 7 headed beast to be built. He gives ‘life’ to the image of the beast. He has the authority and power to kill everyone who does not bow down to the beast. And he is the one who initiates the mark of the beast and uses it to control individual buying and selling. This False prophet is the Antichrist.
The first half of his name or title is ‘anti’. It is a Greek word that can mean two things, it can mean ‘against’ Christ. And it can mean a replacement of Christ. And both are true. He presents himself to the Jews as their ‘Christ’, their Messiah. And all the while he is against the true Christ.
So, what would it take for such a person to suddenly ‘show up’ and start acting like a world ruler? What needs to occur first? We have heard that, from a Pre-trib stand point, the removal of the church (the restrainer) is all that it would take. But I don’t think it is that simple. Even if the church were removed, there would remain a number of elements that would still have to take place before the man of sin could take full control. He still would have to deal with the present world leaders and somehow incorporate them into a unit … a unit that becomes the beast. It is that beast that he would then have authority over.
Many have wondered if the antichrist is already alive somewhere on earth. Some have actually voiced their opinions of his identity.
Whether or not any of that is true, the spirit of antichrist is already here, and has been here for a very long time. John tells us about it in his epistle called First John.
I John 2:18 ¶ Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
John is referring to what Jesus taught his disciples. They had heard that an antichrist would appear, and because he recognises that ‘many antichrists’ were around, it must be the last time.
John and the other disciples taught and expected the return of Jesus, possibly in their lifetimes. Paul said that we should live expectantly. He said that we should be looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Titus 2:13
So looking for Jesus to return was expected back in the first century. It amazes me that certain prophecy teachers say that the second coming is signless. But the criteria that John mentions is the appearance of an antichrist is an indication of the last time.
John notes that there were many antichrists in the vicinity and in the era in which he lived. When we understand just what an antichrist is, we will also antichrists all around us.
To be ‘against Christ’ and to ‘replace Christ’, is the agenda of an antichrist.
To teach that Jesus is less than God is antichrist teaching. The JW organization has taught that Jesus is created by Jehovah God, and is a son of God, but not God. That is antichrist. Their claim is that Michael the archangel is none other than Jesus in the Old Testament.
The Seventh Day Adventists teach that Jesus is Michael the Archangel. Individuals in their group can be saved, but by accident’ in a sense. But if an unbeliever begins attending and studying salvation from the SDA perspective, they will attempt to keep the commandments and believe that Michael has washed their sins away. Thankfully many SDA members and followers have already accepted Christ, the Son of God, before becoming an SDA convert.
Our children who are taught in public schools, who once learned how to read, write and count, are now hearing that sexual orientation is a matter of personal preference. They are steered away from faith in God, These children will grow up to be young adults, and if they continue to embrace a belief that everyone’s own truth is relevant, they will either have to be taught correctly in our churches or they will bring anti-biblical ideas into the church with them, This is antichrist. The foundation for all of the anti-biblical concepts and teachings, is teaching the theory of evolution of the world. This is a most effective tool of Satan. This is the spirit of antichrist.
Before we ever need to get concerned about the coming of a world renowned antichrist, we need to be concerned that we are identifying anti-christian influences that are all around us.
We are commanded through John, Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1Jo 4:1 ¶
How sharp are our spiritual senses in noticing the antichrist spirit that can be very close to home? In order to test the spirits, we first need to know that they can only be tested by scripture. We cannot go by feelings. I have heard people say, ‘I felt in my spirit’ that this was wrong. This is totally subjective and ends up replacing scripture. It is also much easier to just try to depend on the feeling in our spirit. It is more difficult to study the word. But be that as it may, we are instructed, Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2Ti 2:15
The Word of Truth can be wrongly divided, But the greater danger is that it is not divided at all. All too often it is left unread. Our protection against the spirit of antichrist is the Word of God.
The false prophet may indeed be alive and already working his evil plan. But our task remains to be aware of what is antichrist in and around us. We are admonished, but test everything; hold fast what is good. 1Th 5:21
Ro 16:19 … I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.
As John has said, It is the last hour.
Luke 12:35 "Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.
Ro 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.
14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.
15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
We come now, to another one of the tribulation people. What we are reading about is an evil creature with incredible power.
He is described as … looks like a lamb, but speaks like a dragon.
He originates ‘out of the earth’. The previous beast mentioned in the chapter, came out of the sea. Is this significant? Whether we are correct in this observation or not, it may be significant; The sea has been thought to refer to the gentile nations, whereas ‘the earth’ refers to Israel.
Only twice in scripture this beast has been called ‘the False Prophet’.
Let’s take a look at what John tells us about him.
- He looks like a lamb, but speaks as a dragon.
- He is a political figure and presents himself as a powerful world leader receiving his power from the government that backs him. (he exercises all the authority of the first beast) He will come to recognise the power of his government as being his own power.
- People will see him as a lamb. That is, nice, gentle, peace loving. Dan. 11:24 “He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province;
Daniel tells us that he does not honor any particular God of his forefathers. ‘He shall honor the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.’ (Daniel 11.38)
And Paul adds, he opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 2 Thess 2:4
He causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, v12
This False Prophet has a few other names in scripture.
He is called
- The man of sin (2 Thess 2:3)
- The son of perdition (2 Thess 2:3)
- The Lawless one (2 Thess 2:8,9)
And also, Rev 20:10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Notice, it does not say “The Antichrist and the false prophet”. But people have assumed that the first beast is the Antichrist. The first beast, in my opinion and observation, is an entity, both military and political. If you recall, the first beast of Rev. 13 is explained by John. He said that the seven heads represented seven kings or global kingdoms. Five were past, one presently existed in John’s time and the other was yet to come. The False Prophet, in my observation, is actually the Antichrist. He wields the authority of the global power.
I am saying that the False Prophet and the Antichrist are one and the same. This man is portrayed as having amazing powers.
We read, 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.
He deceives by performing miracles. He causes a huge image representing the 7 headed beast to be built. He gives ‘life’ to the image of the beast. He has the authority and power to kill everyone who does not bow down to the beast. And he is the one who initiates the mark of the beast and uses it to control individual buying and selling. This False prophet is the Antichrist.
The first half of his name or title is ‘anti’. It is a Greek word that can mean two things, it can mean ‘against’ Christ. And it can mean a replacement of Christ. And both are true. He presents himself to the Jews as their ‘Christ’, their Messiah. And all the while he is against the true Christ.
So, what would it take for such a person to suddenly ‘show up’ and start acting like a world ruler? What needs to occur first? We have heard that, from a Pre-trib stand point, the removal of the church (the restrainer) is all that it would take. But I don’t think it is that simple. Even if the church were removed, there would remain a number of elements that would still have to take place before the man of sin could take full control. He still would have to deal with the present world leaders and somehow incorporate them into a unit … a unit that becomes the beast. It is that beast that he would then have authority over.
Many have wondered if the antichrist is already alive somewhere on earth. Some have actually voiced their opinions of his identity.
Whether or not any of that is true, the spirit of antichrist is already here, and has been here for a very long time. John tells us about it in his epistle called First John.
I John 2:18 ¶ Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
John is referring to what Jesus taught his disciples. They had heard that an antichrist would appear, and because he recognises that ‘many antichrists’ were around, it must be the last time.
John and the other disciples taught and expected the return of Jesus, possibly in their lifetimes. Paul said that we should live expectantly. He said that we should be looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Titus 2:13
So looking for Jesus to return was expected back in the first century. It amazes me that certain prophecy teachers say that the second coming is signless. But the criteria that John mentions is the appearance of an antichrist is an indication of the last time.
John notes that there were many antichrists in the vicinity and in the era in which he lived. When we understand just what an antichrist is, we will also antichrists all around us.
To be ‘against Christ’ and to ‘replace Christ’, is the agenda of an antichrist.
To teach that Jesus is less than God is antichrist teaching. The JW organization has taught that Jesus is created by Jehovah God, and is a son of God, but not God. That is antichrist. Their claim is that Michael the archangel is none other than Jesus in the Old Testament.
The Seventh Day Adventists teach that Jesus is Michael the Archangel. Individuals in their group can be saved, but by accident’ in a sense. But if an unbeliever begins attending and studying salvation from the SDA perspective, they will attempt to keep the commandments and believe that Michael has washed their sins away. Thankfully many SDA members and followers have already accepted Christ, the Son of God, before becoming an SDA convert.
Our children who are taught in public schools, who once learned how to read, write and count, are now hearing that sexual orientation is a matter of personal preference. They are steered away from faith in God, These children will grow up to be young adults, and if they continue to embrace a belief that everyone’s own truth is relevant, they will either have to be taught correctly in our churches or they will bring anti-biblical ideas into the church with them, This is antichrist. The foundation for all of the anti-biblical concepts and teachings, is teaching the theory of evolution of the world. This is a most effective tool of Satan. This is the spirit of antichrist.
Before we ever need to get concerned about the coming of a world renowned antichrist, we need to be concerned that we are identifying anti-christian influences that are all around us.
We are commanded through John, Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1Jo 4:1 ¶
How sharp are our spiritual senses in noticing the antichrist spirit that can be very close to home? In order to test the spirits, we first need to know that they can only be tested by scripture. We cannot go by feelings. I have heard people say, ‘I felt in my spirit’ that this was wrong. This is totally subjective and ends up replacing scripture. It is also much easier to just try to depend on the feeling in our spirit. It is more difficult to study the word. But be that as it may, we are instructed, Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2Ti 2:15
The Word of Truth can be wrongly divided, But the greater danger is that it is not divided at all. All too often it is left unread. Our protection against the spirit of antichrist is the Word of God.
The false prophet may indeed be alive and already working his evil plan. But our task remains to be aware of what is antichrist in and around us. We are admonished, but test everything; hold fast what is good. 1Th 5:21
Ro 16:19 … I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.
As John has said, It is the last hour.
Luke 12:35 "Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.
Ro 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.