The Last False Prophet

Grab your Bibles and turn with me please to Revelation 13.

At the airport there were baggage handlers who went to the luggage bay to remove one of those animal carriers and they discovered the dog inside the animal carrier was dead…so they panicked and they thought a lawsuit would come their way and so to avoid that…they called called the owner of the pet and said “Hey your dog has been sent to a different destination but we promise we'll retrieve the dog and bring it to your house.” She said “Fine.” In the meantime they found a living dog that looked very similar to the one that had died and they put it in in its place hoping to fool the woman. Well when they came to her house and delivered her living dog in that animal carrier she took one look at it and said “That's not my dog…my dog is dead…I was bringing it home for burial.”

It’s hard to deceive somebody who knows the truth…

You don't trick a dog owner who knows their dog because…they know the real…and they know the counterfeit.

When it comes to Jesus…we need to know the true Jesus…so you can spot the counterfeit Jesus.

In Matthew 24 disciples asked Jesus “What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”  Jesus said that there would be

“…false christs and false prophets…and they would show great signs and wonders.” 

Satan’s major weapon has always been DECEPTION…

Seeking to confuse…even blinding the minds of the unbelieving so that they may not see the light of the gospel of Jesus.

Revelation 13 tells us that in the last days…(just before Jesus comes)…the devil knowing his time is short…raises up 2 individuals…

the Antichrist…

We looked last week at Revelation 13:1-10 the rapid rise of a political & military dictator…anti-Christ

But in addition to the Anti-Christ…John saw another beast…who will serve as his right hand man.

A “beast out of the earth”…commentaries refer to him as:  the final false prophet.

the False Prophet…they will be his double barrelled assault weapon on humanity…instruments of deception sent into this world.

[Note: He is not called “the false prophet” here…but in other passages he is]

He will be a religious leader who will deceive the world about the Antichrist.

There are 3 sections in Revelation 13:11-18 about the final false prophet I want to point out. 

1. The DESCRIPTION of the Last False Prophet…Revelation 13:11

Revelation 13:11 “Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.”

a. “Then I saw…” a continuing vision…John had on Patmos… 

In v.1 he saw the first beast (anti-Christ) in v.1 this beast appears probably at the mid-point of tribulation, and is prominent during the second half of tribulation. 

Notice John said “another beast…” 

b. “…another…” here means “…another of the same kind.” 

This beast “out of the earth…” v.11, has the same nature as the beast that came “out of the sea,” v.1.

The same Greek word for “beast,” in v.11…God considered him to be “a beast.” (therion)

So these two beasts are closely aligned with one another…they are a team. 

One is a political/military dictator…the second is a religious leader. But there are differences… 

c. “…out of the earth…” v.11 The beast in v.1 comes “…out of the sea”. (sea=humanity) 

Some say “earth” in v.11 can be translated “land.” Leading some to believe this second beast will come out of the “land” of Israel and so he could possibly be Jewish…

[CAUTION: We can’t be dogmatic…These are future realities, after the rapture. So we don’t need to get bogged down with details that aren’t really clear in the Scriptures. It’s easy to speculate.

“When the Bible doesn’t speak, it’s best for us not to speak as well…just take the Word at what it says.]

d. “…two horns…This second beast has “two horns” The first beast had “…ten horns…”

“Horns” in Biblical symbolism, speaks of power/authority…so it is possible the first beast, with “ten horns” had more power politically…his horns also had diadems (crowns)=political power.

The second beast only has “2 horns” no crowns…means he has some powers and authority, but without the crowns, he doesn’t have the same political power or political authority.

e. “…like a lamb…” v.11 is significant…seem to be kind, gentle, harmless beast (unlike the first beast)

f. “…it spoke like a dragon…” what a strange voice for a lamb…mouthpiece of Satan…the dragon

This indicates that he is a religious leader of a false religion, a false spirituality, 

So this False Prophet is aligned with the Antichrist, he may not have political power…he comes across meek and mild…having religious sway & power, but he “…spoke like a dragon.” 

He is given power and authority from Satan himself…his words are false and deceptive.

Matthew 7:15 at the end of His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”

JW knock at your door say, “Hi we’re Jehovah’s Witnesses. We’re Christians; we believe in Jesus. We have a Bible. We quote Scripture”?  They use the same words…with different meanings…use a different Bible…not based on the Greek…their own translation to promote their own false teaching.

With so many cults & false teaching on our doorstep…we need to be Biblically grounded & discerning as to the truth of God’s Word. So Jesus warned that they will come looking like sheep, maybe smelling like sheep…talking like sheep…acting like sheep, “…but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”

So this beast “out of the earth” is actually the false prophet, who comes speaking “like a dragon,” even though he looks “like a lamb.” We too must be careful.

You say, “Um, Pastor Dave…the text doesn’t say ‘false prophet.’” (See: Revelation 16:13)

Note how Satan is an IMITATOR…he tries to imitate the Trinity. (unholy trinity) 

Holy Trinity = Father, Son & Holy Spirit… Unholy trinity = dragon…antichrist…false prophet. 

We will see that the false prophet will do miracles and will point people to worship the Antichrist. 

On the contrary, the work of the Holy Spirit is to point people to Jesus.

BTW…a genuine work of the Holy Spirit of God is…it points people to Jesus Christ.

DO WE SEE ANY OF THIS TODAY?

It does seem in many ways…that we are set up today for the appearing of this false prophet. 

1 Timothy 4:1ff “In later times, some will depart from the faith, by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.”  

Beware of DECONSTRUCTIONISM…

Several places in the NT we’re warned that one of the signs of the end of times is apostasy in the church.

“Apostasy,” which means “a turning away”. (See:Jude 1:4; Titus 1:15-16; 1 John 2:18-19)

You may say: “Wait! Pastor Dave…I thought “once saved always saved.” (Perseverance of the saints)

APOSTASY…turning away…people not truly saved…not truly born again…not regenerated…not real Christians…Christians in name only and come to the place where they don’t believe in Christianity anymore…they don’t believe the Bible is the Word of God anymore…they don’t believe Jesus is the only Way anymore…they don’t believe that Jesus rose from the dead anymore. They deny all the doctrines of orthodox Christianity. Yet they still call themselves Christians.

APPLIC: It is so important for us to know what we believe & why we believe it…be like the Berean’s. 

Hold to the inerrancy (no errors) of Scripture Bible. 

Hold to the all sufficiency of Scripture…the inspiration of Scripture. 

Hold to the Scripture as your final authority for all faith and practice. 

Know that our authority is not the church…not the pope…preacher…church tradition/history…our intellect…experience or emotion. Our authority is the Bible, the Word of God. This is very important.

Beware of ECUMENICALISM…churches putting differences aside…thinking everything is cool. 

They do not believe in absolute truth…your truth is your truth, and my truth is mine. Make all faiths one.  We see this today…and it will culminate in the time of the tribulation.

Beware of PLURALISM...philosophies that there is no absolute truth…where all faiths are just as good as another. No one faith/religion has the truth. They say “You can’t say you’re right and I’m wrong.” 

Remember Jesus words: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me,” that’s pretty clear…it is what Jesus said! (John 14:6)

So the world is being set up for this false prophet to come on the scene.

[Beware of any teaching that does not line up with God’s Word]

2. The POWER of the Final False Prophet…Revelation 13:12-15 

FIVE THINGS ABOUT HIS POWER…

Revelation 13:12 “It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortals wound was healed.

i. He is given authority/power from the Antichrist… Revelation 13:12a

The Antichrist has received his power and authority from Satan himself Revelation 13:2 

So the false prophet is aligned with the Antichrist…the same kind of demonic power & authority

ii. He makes the whole world worship the beast (Antichrist)… Revelation 13:12b

As I mentioned, the Holy Spirit’s job is to get people to worship Jesus Christ. 

So the false prophet’s job…is to get people to worship the Antichrist, Satan’s deception and imitation.

iii. He performs powerful signs and wonders…Revelation 13:13

Revelation 13:13 “It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people,

Think of how many times God gave His true prophets the ability to perform signs. 

“signs” point to something. But not only do you have to have the miraculous; you have to have the message. And the message has to be from God and not from man’s own origin.

ex. Elijah called fire down from heaven. Rev.11 Maybe he is one of the two witnesses given power to breathe fire and consume those who oppose them. 

This false prophet will imitate Elijah…able to call fire down from heaven.

Job, when Satan attacked him & took out his animals & livestock, it was done by fire from heaven. 

It seems to be one of Satan’s tricks. The point is that Satan has the power to imitate and perform supernatural miracles…so be careful that you’re not deceived.

“Well, How on earth can I PROTECT myself?” 

The answer is…the Bible, the Word of God… “…a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” 

So your authority isn’t that I saw it…I felt it…I heard it or…I experienced it…your authority is God’s Word. All experiences, all beliefs must be submitted to the authority of Scripture.

But here we see that Satan certainly has some power. 

Remember Moses in Pharaoh’s  court…threw his rod on the floor & it became a snake=God’s power 

But Pharaoh said, “No big deal; it’s just a cheap, magician’s trick.” He called his magicians…threw their rods on the floor and they became snakes too. Moses might have thought, Oh, my. What am I going to do? But Moses’ snake ate up their snakes. God’s power is greater!  Exodus 7:8-13

Fellowship…be careful. As Christians, we don’t follow signs & wonders.

We need to be grounded in God’s Word, which is true and objective truth.

The safeguard for us is God’s Word.

iv. He deceives those who dwell on earth… 

Revelation 13:14 “and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives  those who dwell on earth, telling them to make  an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.

“those who dwell on the earth…” unbelievers deceived by the false prophet’s supernatural powers. 

They don’t know the truth of God’s Word…they don’t love the Word of God. 

Since they’re not believers, they don’t have the Holy Spirit to give them spiritual discernment.

It’s interesting that the word “deceives” = “planeo” means to wander away…it’s where we get our word “planet” from.as the planets seem to wander through the heavens.… 

Remember the context…the world has seen unparalleled disasters, unimaginable horrors…leaving them desperate for answers. They’ve rejected God & the Gospel but eager to believe in anti-Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 NLT, Paul says, “This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles.” In the context, I believe he is referring to the Antichrist…who gives the false prophet his power and authority. He works in alignment with the Antichrist. “He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.” 

So they reject the truth of God…and they will be led astray.

v. He commits the “abomination of desolation.” Revelation 13:14

Prophesied about in Daniel 9:27

v.14 “…telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast (i.e. antichrist)…”

Revelation 13:15 “And it was  allowed  to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast  might even speak and cause those who would not worship the image of the beasts to be slain.”

He was granted “power to give breath…”

It’s questionable he gave the image life, but he did give the appearance of breathing…to the image of the beast…so that the image of the beast could both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.”

This seems to be the background for what Daniel foretold as…the “abomination of desolation.” 

When the Antichrist sets up an image of himself in the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem…the false prophet is Satan’s tool to get that set up. 

He will command the world to worship the image. He gives the image the appearance of having life and breath, being an animate object and being able to communicate. So the whole world comes and wonders & worships after the beast, this idol, this statue, erected in the rebuilt temple of the Jews on the mount. This is the desecration or the abomination of that holy place.

See: Daniel 9:27 

See: Matthew 24:15 Jesus said this is one of the signs to take place just before His Second Coming. 

So this is yet future, happening in the middle of the tribulation. There will be 3.5 years before Christ returns. Jesus said, “When you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place…then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.”

See: 2 Thessalonians  2:4 Paul says, “…who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 

Paul explains what the “abomination of desolation” is. He sets up an image of himself, declares himself to be God and commands the whole world to bow down, and they began to worship him. 

If they don’t worship this image, they are put to death.

Daniel 3 King Nebuchadnezzar, erects this giant statue of pure gold.

In Daniel 2

When you’re going through the fire, trials and difficulties, Jesus is with you.

Nebuchadnezzar had to acknowledge there is a God in heaven…who had greater power than anything or anyone.

Don’t ever be afraid of Satan’s powers/devices. He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world..

3. The SCHEME of the Last False Prophet…Revelation 13:16-18

What is the last false prophet’s scheme? His program, purpose and plan? 

Revelation 13:16 “Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead…”

Revelation 13:17 “…so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.” 

The earth becomes one “…to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads…” (specific)

So if you do not have this mark you cannot buy, sell or go anywhere…you’re stuck. 

Revelation 13:18. “Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.”

The false prophet…not content to deceive people with miracles & idolatrous worship…he now commands the world to receive a mark…in order to control the economy. 

Remember he is allied with the Antichrist, the political leader. The world has become one…so he has actually conquered the world. He has been given Satan’s power, authority. So now the Antichrist has this religious sidekick, the false prophet, his right-hand man. 

The false prophet gets all the religious world…through spiritual deception…to align with him.

People are commanded to worship the image of the Antichrist, the beast, that is erected in the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. It’s the “‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet.” 

Jesus warned us. They are commanded to worship this image and take his mark or be put to death.

Revelation 14 helps us understand…how serious this is. There are 3 angels…each with a message

The first angel is in Revelation 14:6-7, is preaching “the eternal Gospel…” 

The second angel is in Revelation 14:8, preaching that “Babylon is fallen…” 

The third angel in Revelation 14:9 “saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and its image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of His anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, there worshippers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

This is makes very clear will happen to those who take the mark of the beast and worship his image.

There is a lot of confusion, craziness and bizarre speculation around the mark of the beast. 

What is the mark of the beast? When will the mark of the beast come? 

There are a lot of questions concerning this. I believe the mark of the beast will be instituted by the false prophet, by the Antichrist, in the second half of the tribulation. 

And I do believe that the church, the true believers, the body of Christ, the bride of Christ, will be raptured or “caught up…to meet the Lord in the air,” 1 Thessalonians 4:17 before the Antichrist, the first beast, shows up, before the false prophet shows up, before the “abomination of desolation” takes place and before the mark of the beast.

A lot of people try to figure out what the 666 means. 

In the Greek and Hebrew, as in other ancient languages, letters had numeric value. 

So you could take a name and use the letters to add up the numbers in the name to see if it added up to 666.

I don’t know who the Antichrist will be, but I don’t plan to be around to meet him anyway. 

I plan to be “caught up” to meet the real Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Saviour of the world.

So yes…maybe a lot of the stage is set for apostasy…ecumenicalism, pluralism and spiritism. 

Make sure that you know…we haven’t missed the rapture. Jesus is coming back for the church. 

That’s the blessed hope we need to hang on to.

And try as hard as you will by studying 666, you’re not going to figure out who the Antichrist is.

But it is interesting that 6 in Biblical numerology is the number of man. And the statement says in v.18 that “It is the number of a man.”

Man was created on the sixth day.

7 is the number of perfection/completion.

So the Antichrist is far short of being the true Messiah or Saviour of the world.

The End of the anti-Christ & False Prophet…

You may ask, “How do the Antichrist and the false prophet come to an end?”

Revelation 19:20 happens at the Second Coming, when Jesus Christ returns. 

What does He do to the beast and the false prophet? Spoiler ALert

Revelation 19:20 “And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in his presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two (Antichrist & false prophet)…were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulphur.”

Jesus Christ will come again…and He will put an end to the beast from the sea, the Antichrist, and to the beast from the earth, the false prophet.

And He will set up His kingdom, which is an everlasting kingdom.

Then the dragon, Satan, will be bound for 1,000 years. And Christ will reign on the earth in righteousness.

So How Should We Live?

We need to give the world a dose of the real Jesus…

The living Christ…living in us…powerful in us…loving through us…living through us…because the false Jesus is coming…the false Christ is coming. 

Make sure that your name is written in God's Book of Life the Lamb's Book of Life.

To the unbeliever…you need to be warned…this will happen.

To the believer…it challenges us to live careful, discerning, watchful, godly lives, faithfully sharing Christ with a hopelessly lost world…headed for destruction…let’s make heaven crowded.

Father as we close this service there's that element of hope that penetrates even the darkest of Revelation…you plainly tell us what is happening…what is going to happen but Father we hold on to the Hope just like we have discovered our names are written in the book of life that many others will as well. Father, we pray for those who don't know Jesus…to them maybe Christianity has been a social club up/pep rally up to this point…Lord, I pray they will come into an intimate relationship with You.

INVITE…Eternal life can be yours if you simply agree with God that you need Jesus…agree with God that you are a sinner and that you receive and accept God's payment for your sin.

If you do that by faith so wherever you are you could say “Lord I admit I am a sinner and I'm sorry for my sin…I know Jesus died on a cross for me…He shed His blood for me and that He rose from the grave for me and I turn from my sin, I turn from my past, I leave it all behind. You know all about it but I turn to Jesus to save me and I want to follow Him. Help me to do that…in Jesus’ name amen.