We’re here in chapter 13: of the Revelation and today we’ll talk about the false prophet Lord willing.
Ø Listen as I read verses 11
11And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
This word “Another” in the Greek carries the meaning, “another of the same kind.” This beast, the false prophet will be actively busy in the work of Satan except he plays a different role, but in character he is one who is beastly, cruel, and hostile to the people of God, he is like a wolf, though dressed in sheep clothing.
He is seen “coming up out of the earth.”
Listen; “coming up” carries the meaning of a gradual, but continual ascendancy as a world figure and leader.
“Out of the earth” distinguishes him from the beast out of the sea. –vs.1 {Antichrist} These two beasts are both Satan controlled but they come from two different places.
As the sea [v-1] symbolized the mass of humanity, the nations of the world.
Lets keep in mind that just after the rapture has taken place the world will be in a chaotic state, it will need a leader, the earth dwellers will be fearful and crying for “peace and safety” and for a world ruler to settle world conditions. And the devil has his man ready; he rises up out of the raging sea of people and nations in turmoil.
So the 1st beast, the antichrist is the beast from the sea.
Isaiah 57:20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, ---
---------------
But this “another beast coming up out of the earth” [vs.11] comes from another place, from the earth.
It seems that this second beast comes on the scene after world conditions have been settled somewhat, when chaos has given place to some order and a more stable government has settled in human society (through out the earth).
Notice --that his “coming up” speaks of a gradual ascending.
---------
Listen, “The harlot” in chapter 17 refers to religious Babylon, ecclesiastical Rome. The waters there in that chapter represent the many nations she has influenced, worldwide.
This religion comes about its origins in old Babylon under the kingdom of Nimrod in
Gen. 10:10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel ***--
This religion is worldwide today, this corrupt system as been the instrument of Satan for thousands of years; this cruel religion has on its hands the blood of millions of Gods flock that refused to compromise their faith.
Ø Go to any library or Christian bookstore and get a copy of “the fox’s book of martyrs” and read all about it.
Revelation 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus:
-------------
Ø Let me remind us that there are 3 women figurative speaking in the Bible.
There’s Israel, who is Jehovah Gods wife.
Jeremiah 3:8 + 20 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce;
-- 20Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD.
----------
Ø There’s the Church who is the wife to be of Christ.
Ephesians 5:25 + 32 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;---- 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready—we are making our own wedding garment right now, by our works, now that we’re saved.
---------------
Ø And then the 3rd woman we find in the Bible figurative speaking is the harlot church of chapter 17: of the Revelation.
Revelation 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.-notice-13 words.
Every thing that God has Satan has a cheap counterfeit.
--------------
There are some commentators that believe that this 2nd beast that comes up from the earth will possible be a Jew, but I find that highly unlikely because Satan and the Antichrist will be out to destroy every Jew that they possibly can.
Judas Iscariot was a Jew, he will be brought out from his own place that he went too when he hang himself and be used once again, he betrayed the King of the Jews.
While this beast (or false prophet) may take on the appearance of a lamb, we’re told here,
AND HE SPAKE AS A DRAGON.
He speaks as the devil. He is a counterfeit of the Holy Spirit. He is an actual person-he is called the "false prophet."
The second Beast represents religious and media power in service of the first Beast.
------------
I personally believe he will be a Pope, the Pope has always wanted to be the Head of A ONE WORLD CHURCH and here he’ll be in that position, although later the antichrists forces turn on the false church and destroys it in chapter 17:16, how ever the false prophet will not be destroyed at that time, because we’re told in chapter 19:20 that the antichrist and the false prophet are both cast into the lake of fire alive, they’ll be destroyed together at the same time.
Ø The second beast is called the false prophet in three places- Rev 16:13; 19:20; and 20:10.
He has the spirit of a devil we’re told in Rev 16:14. For they are the spirits of devils**, working miracles-
There is no mention of this false prophet prior to the Antichrist being killed and his deadly wound healed. –I believe the antichrist will be killed during his early days and then brought back to life.
Ø The false prophet masquerades as being of the light, [ a LAMB] but he is of the darkness.
About the middle of the Tribulation, the Antichrist moves into the temple. [2nd thess. 2:] This being the case, it would appear that the entire public ministry of the false prophet would be in Israel.
12And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, [antichrist] whose deadly wound was healed.
Notice, this false prophet causes the earth dwellers to worship the Antichrist, he imitates the 3RD PERSON OF THE HOLY TRINITY.
That is–GOD THE FATHER- GOD THE SON- GOD THE HOLY GHOST
Jesus said in Jn.16:13,14. HOWBEIT WHEN HE, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, [HOLY GHOST] IS COME, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH: -LISTEN- FOR HE SHALL NOT SPEAK OF HIMSELF; BUT WHATSOEVER HE SHALL HEAR, THAT SHALL HE SPEAK: AND HE WILL SHOW YOU THINGS TO COME. HE SHALL GLORIFY ME:** FOR HE SHALL RECEIVE OF MINE, AND SHALL SHOW IT UNTO YOU- the Holy Ghost calls & convicts us through Gods WORD, and then He seals us unto the day of redemption, He receives the Lord born again children, and He keeps us.
In v.12, once again, the deadly wound of the Antichrist is mentioned. This caused the world to be amazed, and, as a result, people worshiped the Antichrist and Satan-ref Rev 13:3,4.
Ø The test of a true prophet is not just his ability to perform great wonders but also his fidelity to the revealed Word of God.
Duet. 13:1-3 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, 2And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; 3Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams:
----------
13And he doeth great wonders, [false prophet] so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, --
As it was said in chapter 11: to do with Moses and Elijah being raised from the dead on worldwide T.V. so will be the case here. –This is near the end of the 1st half of the Tribulation, remember Moses and Elijah’s ministry is during the 1st half.
One sure proof of that is because there’ll not be any rejoicing during the last half.
Rev. 11:9-12 9And they [earth dwellers] of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
11And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
12And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; --notice--and their enemies beheld them.
For people the world over to behold them, to see them, this will without a doubt have to be by satellite.
Ø Remember when this false prophet becomes so prominent is a little way into the 2nd half of the Tribulation, its before God literally sends the earth into chouse & massive convulsions, please don’t misunderstand, this is not his 1st appearance, but at about this time he will become most active.
-----------
14And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image** to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
And obviously the earth dwellers construct this hugh image, a hugh statue of the antichrist.
----------
15 And he [false prophet] had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Ø The image comes to life and is able to move and speak.
The False Prophet through the power of Satan brings the image to life. Let me say again, that all power comes from God, God allows Satan so much power in order to accomplish His plan, but Satan’s power is only temporarily.
Notice; This image gives orders to kill all who fail to worship it.
It craves worship so much that anyone who refuses to worship it is put to death, and the death penalty at that time will be cutting off of the head. Rev.20:4 --and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus--
-----------
16And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17And that no man might buy or sell, save **he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
--------------------------
I want us to notice that we’re here in chapter 13: {13} is the number of wickedness and depravity, also notice verse 18-{18} is the number of bondage, all who receive this number or name or mark will be in bondage.
Also notice that the number is {6-6-6}, which adds up, to 18, again the number of bondage.
Since man was created on the sixth day, six is the number of man. Creation was made for man and likewise has the number six stamped on it: twenty-four hours to a day (4 x 6), twelve months to a year (2x6).
Seven is the number of perfection and completion, but six is the “human number,” just short of perfection.
Ø ONE-is the number of God, 6 the number of man, without ONE, 6 will never become 7.
Without God man will never be complete, but when 6 & 1 are UNITED together where will be 7, PERFECT AND COMPLETE.
Colossians 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
There has been all kinds of speculation about the number ”666” but let me remind us that so far its still speculation, and if your saved you don’t have to worry about it because we’re not going to be here to receive this mark, and let me also point out that its not only the number ”666” but also the “mark” and also his “name”, and I’m certain no one knows his name as yet.
Ø Next time we’ll say some more about verses 16-18 Lord willing.
