The Beast
Last week we discussed the “Beast”. We determined that the word “beast” has three different meanings in Scripture. It’s used as either a creature, the Antichrist or the false prophet.
Just to remind us and refresh our memory let’s look again at the INTRODUCTION to Revelation chapter 13 from the Study Guide DIGGING DEEP into THE REVELATION of JESUS CHRIST” –Second Edition- pg 114:
“Chapter 13 introduces us to how Satan (the dragon) blasphemously sets up his own false “trinity”. Satan acts as the Father, the Antichrist as the Son, and the False Prophet as the Spirit who attempts to bring glory to the Antichrist. Satan appoints two great beasts (men): the first beast rising up out of the sea—the Antichrist and his empire—and the second beast out of the earth or land—the False Prophet—possibly a Jew. The land could be the literal earth, or, possibly, the land of Israel. *These beasts symbolize men who will play prominent roles during the Tribulation Period. They combine the features of the four beasts of Daniel 7:3*-9.”
False Prophet – False Prophets
Today we will have a closer look at the beast representing the “false prophet”.
Scripture talks about “the false prophet” and “false prophets” in general. Is there a difference?
Jesus warns us in the Gospels that there will be many false prophets – watch out, beware!
We find the false prophet or prophets mentioned in the New Testament in:
Matthew 7:15; 24:11; 24:24;
Mark 13:22;
Luke 6:26;
2 Peter 2:1;
1 John 4:1;
Acts 13:6; and
Revelation 16:13; 19:20; 20:10.
In all above cases Strong’s Concordance defines prophet as #G5578 – pseudoprophētēs. Coming from G5571 and G4396; a spurious prophet, that is, pretended foreteller or religious impostor: – false prophet.()
New Testament False Prophet/s
So, what’s the difference between “the” false prophet, mentioned three times in the Book of Revelation, and the false prophet/s in the rest of the New Testament?
Revelation 13:11-15
Then I saw another beast [the false prophet] coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 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. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 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. 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. (NKJV)
Second Beast – False Prophet
Revelation 13:11-15 shows us that the second beast is the False Prophet symbolizing the “Holy Spirit of God” in Satan’s false “trinity”.
William MacDonald comments as follows in The Believer’s Bible Commentary:
*He comes up out of the land. If the land is Israel, he is likely a Jew. He has two horns like a lamb, giving the appearance of gentleness and harmlessness* (Matthew 7:15), *but also suggesting that he speaks for the Lamb of God. He converses like a dragon, indicating that he is directly inspired and empowered by Satan. He works closely with the Antichrist first beast, even organizing an international campaign for the worship of the Antichrist, and makes an image [huge idol illustration]*
of the Antichrist to show the Antichrist was wounded—and lived. The Antichrist is the political ruler and the False Prophet is the priestly religious leader who promotes global worship of the Antichrist.
*The False Prophet has even been given supernatural power from Satan to cause fire to fall from heaven. The purpose of his miracles is to deceive the people into worshiping a man as though the man is God* (Deuteronomy 13:1-3).
Now the second beast—false prophet—has been introduced. Having been given power from Satan, the False Prophet gives a delusion to make the great image of the beast able to speak (2 Thessalonians 2:4, 2:9-11). The image of the beast not only appears able to speak, but also causes those who would not worship the image (idol) to be killed.
Beware of False Prophets
Matthew 7:15
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”
The Lord Jesus warned in Matthew 7:15 to beware of false prophets, and the purpose of the Tribulation False Prophet’s miracles is to deceive the people into worshiping a man as though the man is God.
As born-again believers we will not suffer under the reign of the Antichrist and false prophet, we will actually be with the Lord already. However, may we be aware of false prophets – religious imposters – in today’s world!
Have you ever encountered a religious imposter?
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Quotations and paraphrased quotations marked *.. quoted text * taken from The Believer’s Bible Commentary by William MacDonald Copyright © 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995 by William MacDonald. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson.
() The new Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible Red-Letter Edition – Greek Dictionary of the New Testament
