The Final False Prophet
Revelation 13:11-12, “11Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb, and he spoke with the voice of a dragon.”
The beast here is the False Prophet. This can be seen by Revelation 19:20, “And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.” We see here then the point of this whole discussion upon Antichrist and the false prophet then. The point here is that this final false prophet will be the epidemy of what Jesus described false teachers as “sheep in wolves clothing”. Yet the reality is that our focus as believers is to be upon Christ. We will know all false teachers by the way in which they teach. They cannot deceive us when we study to show ourselves approved, for we give the Holy Spirit more in which to use for our own protection. Study, and think for yourselves, for your faith and your relationship with Christ depends upon it. This beast will have two horns indicates that he is not like the Antichrist in terms of the same massive might as described in our examination of Revelation 13:1-10. We have been here examining this because it is important. This beast will have horns like a lamb indication that the power of the false prophet will be among his mouth and his motivations which will clearly be directed by the Antichrist. This position is strengthened by the fact that the false prophet exercised all power from the first beast the Antichrist. Again this is strengthened by the fact that that the false prophet will spoke with the voice of a dragon.
False prophets and false teachers are all out in the world today. They would love to lead us away from understanding God’s true purpose for us is to be wholly in relationship with Christ and in communion with the Holy Spirit. False teachers and prophets would love to kill our souls and by so doing lead us away from God. We have already examined earlier the importance of understanding the unholy trinity earlier. Satan operates as a counter to God the Father, Antichrist as God the Son, the False Prophet like God the Holy Spirit. The false prophet will be the most controlling and manipulative of them all though. A characteristic of false teachers and prophets are that they are controlling and manipulative demanding self glorified worship through exposing arrogance and intolerance. This the final false prophet or the beast out of the earth will carry out much like the ministry of the Holy Spirit, except the False Prophet will seek to lure people to eternal condemnation rather than eternal life like the Holy Spirit. This false prophet will promise the suffering, tormented people of the world that all will be well if only they will worship Antichrist. But those who fall for his subtle lies will face the terrifying judgment of God (14:9-11; 16:2)
Revelation 13:12-14, “12He exercised all the authority of the first beast. And he required all the earth and those who belong to this world to worship the first beast, whose death-wound had been healed. 13He did astounding miracles, such as making fire flash down to earth from heaven while everyone was watching. 14And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world. He ordered the people of the world to make a great statue of the first beast, who was fatally wounded and then came back to life.”
The focus here is the fact that the false prophet will exercise the same kind of demonic power and authority as the Antichrist does, since both are empowered by the same hellish source, Satan. Again this is a counterfeit to God’s plan for believers. The false prophet will seek to bring worship even to the point of demanding it for the Antichrist, but unlike believers we are empowered wherever we go to preach and proclaim the message of salvation. The false prophet will be limited to the presence of the first beast to perform these miracles. Miracles are not proof enough of the Message. The Message of salvation has to remain the focal point in any ministry setting. We can know a false teacher if there teaching does not seek to bring honor and glory to the personhood of Jesus Christ.
The false prophet’s healing of the first beast will more than likely be a hoax. Again this is a counterfeit to the ministry of Christ. Satan will imitate God’s plan and here Satan is mimicking Christ’s resurrection but this more than likely is just a ruse. It is really unlikely that God would permit Satan to be resurrected from the grave but in either case here the world will worship and accept Antichrist’s resurrection as genuine, thus greatly enhancing both his prestige and that of the false prophet as well. Here then we see the false propagation of the gospel.
These signs will more than likely mimic not only the miracles performed by Jesus Christ (John 2:11, 23:6:2), but also those of the two witnesses (11:5-6). These satanic “false wonders. with all the deception of wickedness” will be extremely persuasive “for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved” (2 Thess 2:9-10). Those who reject the life giving message of salvation throughout history show their true allegiance to Satan and not to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Scripture is clear that false prophets can fabricate supernatural signs. Jannes and Jambres, the magicians in Pharaoh’s court (2 Tim 3:8-9), where they imitated some of the miracles God did through Moses and Aaron (Ex 7:11-12,22). An example of this could be found in Acts 8:9-11.
Revelation 13:13He did astounding miracles, such as making fire flash down to earth from heaven while everyone was watching.
The present tense of poieo (making) suggest that the false prophet will repeatedly perform this supernatural act while everyone is watching. God has often demonstrated His supernatural power by sending fire from heaven (11:15; Gen 19:24; Lev 10:1-2; 1 Kings 18:38; 2 Kings 1:9-12; 1 Chron 21:26; 2 Chron 7:1). Satan’s henchman will perform a similar sign, but his will be one of the “false wonders” (2nd Thess 2:9) that will lure unbelievers to their doom.
Revelation 13:14And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world. He ordered the people of the world to make a great statue of the first beast, who was fatally wounded and then came back to life.”
This is exactly what Jesus predicated in Matthew 24:5, 11,24;Mark 13:6). Deceives is from planao and means ‘to wander.” Macarthur points out, “It forms the root of the English word planet, since the planets appear to wander through the heavens. The world will be utterly vulnerable to his deception during the Tribulation. There will be unparalleled disasters and unimaginable horrors, leaving people desperate for answers. Having rejected the true gospel and blasphemed the true God (16:9, 11). That he deceived all the people who belong to the world is a reference to unbelievers which is used throughout Revelation (vs.18,12;3:10;6:10;8:13;11:10;17:2,8). Though sorely tested and persecuted believers will know the truth and it will set them free and be protected as well by their God (John 10:3-5, 14,27-30), they will recognize the false prophets teaching as lies and will not be swayed. The fact that this false teacher will be received should come of no surprise to us. False teachers have always come appearing to be that which they are not, claiming teaching they know nothing of. They come in the name of God, or false peace preaching peace, but they know not what they are speaking of, just empty thoughts and empty hearts leading people down the broad road, rather than the narrow road through accepting Christ’s sacrifice which He died on the Cross so that we could have eternal life. This will happen as the Apostle Paul outlined for us in 2 Thess 2:10-12.
That we see that false religion is growing, especially atheism should be of no surprise. We are nearing the end of all times and the increase and rise of atheism goes back to the 18th century with John Dewey and other American philosophers who wished to destroy the Bible. Even today America’s Supreme Court sits there and exposes not the Constitution but its self proclaimed agenda. The Supreme Court is no longer a venue of our protection but of our religious destruction. Satan can and will use any man to thwart God’s agenda for a nation and for His people, His very creation. This is why submission is so important, why we must repent and believe upon His name. If you haven’t done that today you are not an agent of Christ, but an agent of darkness doomed to hell forever along with Satan and his minions. Repent, and accept the free pardon that Christ offers you in a relationship with His Son Jesus Christ, for then you will have eternal life and not be lead to hell.
Much like Nebuchadnezzar before him (Daniel 3) but on a global scale, Antichrist aided by the false prophet, will set up a statue of himself as a symbol of his deity and worldwide worship. This blasphemous image will probably be set up on the temple grounds in Jerusalem (2 Thess 2:4) and will be connected with the abomination of desolation (Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; Matthew 24:14). This will be a monumental tribute to the awesome power of the Antichrist who was fatally wounded and then came back to life.
Revelation 13:15-18, “15He was permitted to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die.He required everyone--great and small, rich and poor, slave and free--to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. 17And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name. Wisdom is needed to understand this. Let the one who has understanding solve the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666.”
The purpose here is pointing back to the ministry of the false prophet to glorify Antichrist. All this leads to the building of a statue which is then brought to life by the false prophet. This statue commands worship like Satan has through ever means possible today through false religion leading to eternal death and condemnation. The Bible is clear on idols denouncing them scornfully (Pss 115:5; 135:15-1; Isa 46:7; Jer 10:5; Hab 2:18-19). As was said earlier this will be the hoax of all hoaxes throughout history. It is not hard to see that this could possibly happen with today’s sophisticated equipment in the special effects area the false prophet could very well just breathe into Antichrist’s lungs so as to give the appearance that Antichrist was being revived to life. As with the case of Nebuchadnezzar’s image (Dan 3:6), the death sentence will be decreed for those who refuse to worship the image of Antichrist. Many of the martyrs mentioned earlier in Revelation (6:9-11; 7:13-14) are those who will be killed during this terrible time of persecution. But though the death sentence may be decreed on all, not all believers will be killed. Some living people (Isa 65:20-23; Matthew 25:31-40). Nor will Antichrist and his henchmen kill all the Jews (12:607,14); two-thirds of them will perish, but the rest will be protected (Zech 13:8-9).
Sociological factors in regards to no separation or distinction between class systems of taking the mark should be duly noted here. Reference is possibly to Nero-Roman Empire type of situation, backdrop for thought of John’s developing here for the reader. Economic factors will also tie into the taking of the mark in the fact that the taking of the mark while signifying allegiance to the ministry of Satan and to the final rejection of the gift of salvation as well. Satan will demand allegiance to his world empire. God has sealed believers with the mark on the forehead to persevere (7:2-3) but Antichrist and the false prophet marks the unsaved to preserve them from Antichrist’s wrath against God. Marks (tattoos or brands) are commonly given to slaves (See Galatians 6:17). This mark of the beast will signify that the person bearing it is a worshiper and loyal follower of the Antichrist. A man who lived under Bulgaria’s communist regime remarked, “You cannot understand and you cannot know that the most terrible instrument of persecution ever devised is an innocent ration card. You cannot buy and you cannot self except according to that little, innocent card. If they please, you can be starved to death, and if they please, you can be disposed of everything you have; for you cannot trade, and you cannot buy and you cannot sell, without permission. (Cited in W.A. Criswell, Expository Sermons on Revelation Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 159, 4:120-21). This then will show the seriousness of the times that Antichrist will play no games; life will be controlled by the satanic powers ruling the earth here at this time. This then would further stress the point that manipulation and control are not of God that God does not expect His leaders to dominate, but to Shepherd, not to corral but to love.
We cannot solve the 666 issue. 6 is the number of man God said for man to work six days then rest the seventh (Gen 1:26-31). This then could be a reference to Nero, the worst of the emperors of Rome or to an archetype of Nero who will be the future leader during this time period. We are not exactly sure who this man will be other than his power will increase after he has been broken the back of the apostate church which we will examine in depth in Revelation 17. Either way believers in Christ are to abide by the teaching of the Word itself, and all positions or statements should be backed up by the Word of God.
Here is wisdom is a reference to be wise and discerning. People during this time will understand and know who 666 is. As was said we cannot solve the 666 issue. Some have said Nero, Caligula, Domitian, Napoleon, Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, and a host of others who have been proposed, based on some sort of convoluted mathematical rendering of the letters in their name. The problem though is that the number 66 is not associated with any historical figure. The church father Irenaeus cautioned against speculating about the identity of the person associated with the number 666 until that person arrives on the scene (Alan F. Johnson, Revelation, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996],137). Robert L Thomas points out, “The better part of wisdom is to be content that the identification is not yet available, but will be when the future false Christ ascends to his throne. The person to whom 666 applies must have been future to John’s time, because John clearly meant the number to be recognized to someone. If it was not discernible to his generation and those immediately following him-and it was not-the generation to whom it will be discernible must have lain (and still lies) in the future. Past generations have provided many illustrations of this future personage, but all past candidates have proven inadequate as fulfillments. Christians from generation to generation may manifest the same curiosity as the prophets of old regarding their own prophecies (1 Peter 10-11), but their curiosity will remain unsatisfied until the time of fulfillment arrives. (Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22: An Exegetical Commentary [Chicago: Moody, 1995], 185).
Revelation 14
9Then a third angel followed them, shouting, "Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or the hand 10must drink the wine of God’s wrath. It is poured out undiluted into God’s cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. 11The smoke of their torment rises forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.”
Revelation 19
20And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast--miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.”
Revelation 20
10Then the Devil, who betrayed them, was thrown into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
This then would lead us to see in Revelation 14:9-11 that people will follow the false prophet in ignorance, but this ignorance will lead them not to everlasting life to everlasting hell. This Scripture that we have examined today is very serious to the unbelieving world. It challenges believers to lead careful, watchful godly lives (1 Peter 4:7; 2 Peter 3:11), and to evangelize a hopelessly lost world, headed for destruction.
Believers are to faithfully proclaim the saving gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and thereby rescue the souls of men and women from the disaster that looms just over the horizon. Have you accepted the free gift of pardon through Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross today dear reader? If you haven’t all you must do is repent of your sin and believe in what Christ did for you on the Cross. If you did that today I would love to hear of your new found relationship and commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. You can email me at david@servantsofgrace.net with your decision to receive Christ, or with any questions or comments you may have.
God bless you and keep you in the palm of His everlasting Hand.
Pastor David Jenkins
