The False Prophet

Last time we got together on a Sunday night, we talked about the man who will prove to be the most formidable and dangerous man to ever rise to power in the history of the World, the Anti-Christ. The Antichrist, however, will not rise to power alone. introduces a second beast that comes up out of the earth. Also known as the “false prophet,” he will serve as the lieutenant for the Antichrist.

Last time we got together on a Sunday night, we talked about the man who will prove to be the most formidable and dangerous man to ever rise to power in the history of the World, the Anti-Christ. The Antichrist, however, will not rise to power alone. introduces a second beast that comes up out of the earth. Also known as the “false prophet,” he will serve as the lieutenant for the Antichrist.

Revelation 13:11–17 HCSB

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; he had two horns like a lamb, but he sounded like a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast on his behalf and compels the earth and those who live on it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He also performs great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in front of people. 14 He deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs that he is permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image of the beast who had the sword wound and yet lived. 15 He was permitted to give a spirit to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast could both speak and cause whoever would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 And he requires everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark: the beast’s name or the number of his name.

The world has always had false prophets and false teachers. One of Satan’s chief methods of operation is to use false messengers to counterfeit and corrupt the message of God. But this strategy of Satan will increase dramatically in the end times. The Bible says that in the last days of planet earth, many false prophets will perform great signs and wonders and spew out lies (). In this mass of deception one false prophet will rise high above all the others in his ability to capture the world’s attention. Although a great deal has been written about the Antichrist, very little has been written about the false prophet. Yet he is a central figure in the coming events of the Tribulation. So, we’ll take a look at some of the characteristics of the false prophet.

The Purpose of the False Prophet

The purpose of God’s Prophets is to proclaim His Word and to see that some particular aspect of God’s plan is carried out. In much the same manner, the False Prophet will exist to further Satan’s program and to deceive the world with Satan’s lies. The Bible teaches that there are three main functions of the False Prophet.

1. To Prepare the Way for the Anti-Christ Politically.

He will be the world’s greatest campaign manager. He will be the Beast’s chief propagandist and spokesman for the beast.

When the world turns to chaos, he will point people to the beast as the only best solution to their problems. He will convince the people that the Anti-Christ has all the answers, and the leadership and negotiating abilities to encourage everyone to get along and work together, and that he has the wisdom to understand what needs to be done and the courage to actually do what is necessary.

He will be the one who manages the Beast’s economic policies and brings people into line through the complete control of all commerce.

He will secure the Beast’s rule through total economic control ().

2. To Prepare the Way for the Anti-Christ Religiously.

Primarily a military and political figure, but he will also be the head of the Beast’s worldwide religion.

Has been compared to a Satanic John the Baptist.

Serves as the Antithesis of the two witnesses.

Similar to Pharaoh’s magicians

Through miracles, signs and wonders, he will lead people to worship the beast.

Establishes and promotes the worship of the Beast.

Commissions the construction of the Image of the Beast.

Provides the image of the beast, the Abomination of Desolation, with the ability to speak and strike down those who do not worship the beast.

Will either be directly or indirectly involved in the resurrection of the beast.

Some claim that he will resurrect the Beast, others claim that the Beast will resurrect himself, but the False Prophet will point everyone to the miracle.

I believe that the Beast will resurrect himself, because it further copies the life of Jesus, which is his goal.

Serves as the head of the new world-wide religious ecclesiology.

3. To Deceive the People of the World.

In ranching there’s a special animal known as a Judas goat that is used to herd animals. Named after Judas Iscariot, the traitor of Christ, this goat is trained to mix with the sheep and lead them around, often into pens and onto trucks. One of the functions of this goat is to lead the unsuspecting sheep to the slaughterhouse. Like a Judas goat, the false prophet will gain the world’s confidence and enthrall the masses, all the while leading them to their destruction. He will seduce the world with his words and stun the world with his wonders.

This will be one of the Prophets main purposes....deception.

Deceptive Appearance

His entire appearance is a contradiction

Beast from the Earth - speaks of a hostile nature towards God’s people.

Horns of a lamb - speaks of his docile appearance. No one will suspect that his intentions are anything but genuine. Who’s afraid of a lamb?

Voice of a Dragon - speaks of the power and authority with which he speaks, but it could also refer to the deceptive and convincing nature of his speech. Satan, referred to as the Dragon, is the Father of Lies, and the most deceptive of creatures.

Deceptive Goals

He will make the Beasts vision seem desirable to all people.

World security

Fair distribution of resources (food, water, etc.)

Put everyone back to work...

He will promote the idea that the Beast is working with the best interests of everyone at heart.

But, he will be helping the Beast to enslave the people of the World under his tyrannical reign

John Philips summarizes the deceptive nature of the False Prophet perfectly:

The dynamic appeal of the false prophet will lie in his skill in combining political expediency with religious passion, self-interest with benevolent philanthropy, lofty sentiment with blatant sophistry, moral platitude with unbridled self-indulgence. His arguments will be subtle, convincing, and appealing. His oratory will be hypnotic, for he will be able to move the masses to tears or whip them into a frenzy. . .  . His deadly appeal will lie in the fact that what he says will sound so right, so sensible, so exactly what unregenerate men have always wanted to hear.

Hitchcock, Mark. The End: A Complete Overview of Bible Prophecy and the End of Days (p. 272). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Anyone who doubts this is possible need only consider the atrocities that were committed in Nazi Germany or the blind followers of people like Jim Jones, who happily committed ritual suicide because they believed such a charismatic speaker. Imagine the lengths to which people will go under the power and skill of Satan’s personal propagandist.

The Power of the False Prophet

He will be acting in Satan and the Beast’s authority.

He will act with Satan’s abilities.

The Person of the False Prophet

His Earthly Origins

Mixed opinions concerning his ethnicity

Support for Jewish heritage

“Out of the Earth” is contrasted with the Beast coming out of the Sea.

Suggested that Earth refers to the land of Israel since the Sea refers to the Gentile nations.

Gentile heritage

Like the Beast, these people feel it is unlikely he will persecute his own people.

Contrast, “Out of the Earth” with the Holy Spirit coming from Heaven

The Earth is his domain and his sole focus.

The Bible is unclear on this one way or the other.

Both arguments have similar levels of evidence

Neither provides conclusive proof one way or the other

His Unholy Position

3rd person of the Unholy Trinity

3 Times referred to in Revelation as the False Prophet

Called the Second Beast

Functions as the Unholy Spirit

Similarities to the Holy Spirit

Works to glorify the Anti-Christ

Points people to him

Serves as an instrument of satanic revelation

Builds the empire of the Anti-Christ

Completes Satan’s counterfeit kingdom

Deceives men through miracles

Completes Satan’s counterfeit kingdom

Application

As Christians, how does all of this apply to us?

If what we have discussed and the conclusions we have come to concerning the location of the Church during these times is accurate, then we will not be present during this time period. So, why is it important to study this now?

Satan is not original

His tactics do not change.

He copies from God and His Word to accomplish His purposes

His goals are not new

He has always and will always seek to lead people away from Christ.

He desires to replace God as man’s object of worship and position as King

He is currently working today.

The False Prophet will be the last and greatest in a long line of false prophets.

Current instruments of Satan may not have his resources or power, but they can be just as deceptive.

Therefore, current Christians should be reminded to be always on guard against teachings that lead us away form Christ.

Don’t let miracles and wonders be your final determination of God working.

If the False Prophet had come in Jesus’ time, many would have been deceived because many only believed initially because of the miracles, and many turned away following His arrest and execution…bad things happen to bad people

Even Nicodemus was certain that Christ must be from God, because of the things He did.

Don’t let positive or negative results serve as an indicator of God’s Will.

Always evaluate the message that is being taught rather than the charisma of the messenger.