God’s final Word – The False Prophet
The following comes through the notes of Mark Ramsey and the responses of the class.
- 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 he spoke as a dragon. (Revelation 13:11 NASB1995)
The major weapons in Satan’s arsenal are deception and manipulation.
You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44 NASB)
No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds. (2 Corinthians 11:14-15 NASB)
in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4 NASB)
Do you believe you have ever been deceived or manipulated by the devil or his minions? If so, what was the result? How did you recognize it and recover?
One class member admitted that she had been deceived by a preacher on television (who she named, but the name was too faint for me to hear); however, when the preaching did not align with the Bible, that class member abandoned the preacher.
Another class member shared that he been deceived by a business partner.
“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. (Matthew 7:15 NASB)
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. (2 Peter 2:1 NASB)
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1 NASB)
False prophets have plagued God’s people from the beginning of history. But they will proliferate even more as the return of Christ to establish His kingdom approaches. The devil will intensify his efforts.
for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. (Mark 13:22 NASB)
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, (1 Timothy 4:1 NASB1995)
Knowing this, what is your response?
One class member pointed to how we have had to deal with Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses. Therefore, we should be able to handle the lies Satan will create to cover for the Antichrist (however, luckily, we won’t be there).
The false prophet in the Tribulation will be the final false prophet and he will be Satan’s last and most powerful lying deceiver. The false prophet, who will counterfeit the Holy Spirit, will form the satanic false trinity with the Antichrist and Satan. He will be the high priest and religious leader of the Antichrist, who will lead the people into the satanic religion of worshipping Antichrist. The false prophet will deify Antichrist and convince unbelievers that he is the only hope for the world’s salvation.
Do you think the world is “ripe” for such a situation? Explain.
One class member pointed to political commentators who worked against President Trump and now are denouncing Governor DeSantis. That class member did not defend the sometimes gruff words of President Trump, but supported the righteous end-acts of both President Trump and Governor DeSantis.
Another class member pointed out that we are not to put our trust in Earthly princes (but in God — something everyone agreed to).
- Another of the same kind — Revelation 13:11
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. (Revelation 13:11 NASB)
The Greek term ἄλλο (pronounced “allo” and meaning “another of the same kind”) indicates that this beast like the first beast, will be a person.
This beast will come out of the earth. He will be indwelt by a demon out of the abyss. Coming out of the earth suggests that he will be less overpowering and terrifying than the Antichrist.
Two horns vs. ten horns indicates he is less powerful and as harmless as a lamb. He is a subtle deceiver.
He is a child of hell because he spoke as a dragon. He will be the dragon’s mouthpiece. He will speak deceiving words of praise about the Antichrist, luring the world to worship him.
- Demonic power and authority — Revelation 13:12-14
He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life. (Revelation 13:12-14 NASB)
The false prophet will exercise the same kind of demonic power and authority as the Antichrist as both are empowered by Satan. “In the Antichrist’s presence” implies that the Antichrist will delegate authority to him. He will lead the worldwide cult of Antichrist worship.
The efforts to promote worship of the Antichrist will receive a boost when he apparently is healed from a fatal wound and the false prophet performs great signs of his own.
that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)
Although the inhabitants (unbelievers) will be deceived, God’s elect will not be deceived.
For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Mark 13:22 NIV)
There will be a blasphemous image set up most likely on the temple grounds in Jerusalem and will be connected with the abomination of desolation.
- The image gets breath — Revelation 13:15-18
And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six. (Revelation 13:15-18 NASB)
This image may be a humanoid image of the Antichrist, some type of artificial intelligence that sounds and acts like the real person, that will deceive people into worshipping it and the beast it represents. Those who do not worship the image will be killed. Many of those martyred saints mentioned in chapters 6 and 7 will be killed at this time. Not all believers will be killed.
All unbelievers will be given a mark. The mark will signify that the person bearing the mark is a follower of the Antichrist.
Without the mark, no one will be able to buy and sell. The Antichrist will maintain strict economic control over the world. We already know microchips are being utilized in the world for financial records as well as medical records and proof of vaccines.
Imagine that you live in this time in which a professing Christian is outlawed and punished by death. The soldiers of the government are patrolling the neighborhood and arresting those suspected of being Christians. You are confronted and asked, “are you a Christian?” You have a choice to make. Either deny Christ and live or confess Him and die. Can you imagine such a scenario and your response?
Intensify the scene. Your spouse, children, or grandchildren are with you. “Reject Christ or they die!”
This is going on in the world today.
The mark will be the name of the beast or the number of his name.
Most people will follow the safe course by worshipping the beast. Revelation 14:9-11 warns of their fate.
A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” (Revelation 14:9-11 NIV)
These passages stand as a warning to the unbelieving world and a challenge to believers to lead watchful, godly lives and to share the message of hope of Jesus in an increasingly hopeless world before it is too late. It is possible to say “no” to God once too often. We are called to rescue the souls of those who are walking aimlessly or arrogantly to disaster and death by faithfully proclaiming the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. Will you choose to follow Jesus by denying yourself, taking up the cross and following Him in your daily life?
Mark 1:1 