The False Prophet
Notes
Transcript
V.11:
This beast is the false prophet.
This beast is the false prophet.
Revelation 16:13
Revelation 16:13
And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
Revelation 19:20
Revelation 19:20
Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Revelation 20:10
Revelation 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.
Like Satan, he is a counterfeit. A counterfeit Holy Spirit.
He will promote the Antichrist’s power and convince the world to worship him as God.
This second beast will be the chief proponent of satanic religion.
Any religion not founded exclusively on the Bible and preaching a gospel other than the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is satanic and accursed.
The false prophet will be the chief proponent of satanic religion. Any religion other than the Gospel of Jesus Christ is satanic And therefore cursed.
The false prophet will be the chief proponent of satanic religion. Any religion other than the Gospel of Jesus Christ is satanic And therefore cursed.
Galatians 1:6-8
Galatians 1:6-8
I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
The antichrist will primarily be a political and military leader, but the false prophet will be a religious leader.
Politics and religion will unite in a worldwide religion of worshiping the Antichrist.
He comes from "out of the earth". This is likely a reference to the abyss, where some of the demons are imprisoned.
The false prophet will be sent forth and controlled by a powerful demon from below.
However, his power will be inferior to the antichrist's.
We know this because we see the antichrist pictured as a beast with 10 horns, whereas this false prophet is seen as a lamb with just 2 horns.
He may appear as a lamb, but unlike Christ, he will multiply sin, not take it away.
Perhaps Jesus had this false prophet in mind when He made this statement.
Perhaps Jesus had this false prophet in mind when He made this statement.
Matthew 7:15
Matthew 7:15
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
The fact that he speaks like a dragon, tells us that he will be satan's mouthpiece.
V.12:
Like the antichrist, he draws his power from Satan.
He will establish a worldwide reputation as a miracle worker.
As already stated, we need to remember that he is a counterfeit, as are his miracles.
The reference in this verse is likely a very carefully crafted counterfeit resurrection.
Satan can never be God, but he will imitate Him every chance he gets.
The antichrist will be waging war against all believers. His mission will be to destroy all who follow Christ.
The false prophet will offer the people something else to worship in the place of Christ, the antichrist.
He will be to the antichrist what the Holy Spirit is to Jesus Christ.
The world will find the religious leader they've been looking for, one who will unite the. World's religions.
V.13:
This particular false sign, fire from heaven, is an imitation of the two witnesses.
Even though it is a counterfeit, it will convince many people.
Vv.14-15:
Throughout the Bible we see miracles performed as proof of God’s power, love, and authority.
Here we see counterfeit miracles performed in order to deceive.
In fact, many have been and will be deceived by counterfeit miracles. Jesus warns us of this.
Jesus warns us of counterfeit miracles.
Jesus warns us of counterfeit miracles.
Matthew 24:24
Matthew 24:24
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
This is also a reminder of Pharaoh’s magicians, who duplicated Moses’ signs in Egypt.
True signs and miracles point us to Jesus Christ, but miracles alone can be deceptive.
That is why we must ask with respect to each miracle we see: Is this consistent with what God says in the Bible? (I.e. faith healers/ false prophets of today, such as Benny Hinn and many others)
The false prophet orders the people to worship a statue in honor of the first beast—a direct violation of the second commandment.
The false prophet clearly violates the 2nd commandment, by ordering an image/idol to be made.
The false prophet clearly violates the 2nd commandment, by ordering an image/idol to be made.
Exodus 20:4-6
Exodus 20:4-6
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
This is why:
We must "test the spirits" against Scripture.
We must "test the spirits" against Scripture.
1 John 4:1
1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Using the Bible as our source of truth will keep us from being deceived by false signs, however convincing they appear to be.
Christians should know God's word, and be determined that any teaching that contradicts It is false.
Vv.16-17:
The mark of the beast is a counterfeit of the Holy Spirit's seal.
The mark of the beast is a counterfeit of the Holy Spirit's seal.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
Ephesians 1:13
Ephesians 1:13
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Without the mark of the beast, no one can buy or sell. Without the mark, people will not be able to attain the daily necessities of life.
This sets the antichrist up as the provider for the people. It is he who will enable them to survive.
As Christians sealed by the Spirit, we know that The Lord is our provider, and without Him we would have nothing.
This mark of the beast therefore, is just another imitation of God.
V.18:
Much has been made of the mark of the beast, and there has been a lot of speculation about certain technologies that it may encompass.
This is all pointless and idle speculation.
There are many things which have been labeled as the mark of the beast, including bar codes and implanted microchips.
Many Christians have gotten quite worked up over this issue, thinking that the mark of the beast is upon us. They make bold statements that they will not receive this Mark.
People get worked up over this simply because they are ignorant of Scripture.
If you are a born again believer in Christ, you won't have to say no to the mark, because you won't be around when it is implemented. Besides, believers already bear the mark of Christ.
The mark of the beast will not be implemented until the second half of the tribulation.
This is well after the rapture of the saints, so let's put aside this foolish ignorance, and actually learn a little something about God's Word, before we get ourselves worked up into a frenzy over something that will never affect us!
This, of course, is the number of man. It falls one short of God's perfect number, 7.
The antichrist, the most powerful human the world will ever know, will still be a man. . . Imperfect. . . Short of God.
What or who is intended by this, remains a mystery. Whether or not the antichrist will literally identify with this number (I.e. His name being the numerical equivalent), remains to be seen.
But he who has wisdom and understanding, will see that all the enemies of God are numbered and marked out for destruction.
The term of their power will soon expire, and that all nations shall submit to our King of righteousness and peace.
Christ WILL prevail!
Christ WILL prevail!
Revelation 19:15-16
Revelation 19:15-16
Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS
Romans 14:11
Romans 14:11
For it is written:
“As I live, says the Lord,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.”
Those who follow false prophets are being led straight to hell.
Godly wisdom is needed to spot the fakes, because they can be very convincing.
This is why we need a proper understanding of God's Word.
Christians need a proper understanding of God’s Word.
Christians need a proper understanding of God’s Word.
2 Timothy 2:15
2 Timothy 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
But none of that is possible without a saving faith in Christ.
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.