Third Member of the Unholy Trinity

A guy is driving around and he sees a sign in front of a house: "Talking Dog For Sale."

He rings the bell, and the owner tells him the dog is in the backyard. The guy goes into the backyard and sees a Labrador retriever sitting there.

"You talk?" he asks.

"Yep," the lab replies.

"So, what's your story?"

The lab looks up and says, "Well, I discovered that I could talk when I was pretty young. I wanted to help the government, so I told the CIA about my gift, and in no time at all they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping. I was one of their most valuable spies for eight years running.

"But the jetting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn't getting any younger, so I wanted to settle down. I signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security work, mostly wandering near suspicious characters and listening in. I uncovered some incredible dealings and was awarded a batch of medals. I got married, had a mess of puppies, and now I'm just retired."

The guy is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog.

"Ten dollars."

The guy says, "This dog is amazing. Why on earth are you selling him so cheap?"

"Because he's a liar. He didn't do any of that stuff!"

Received from David Davis.

Point: We can be so taken with what we see and observe that we embrace the entire package

Find ourselves rejecting truth in the process

Unholy trinity

Dragon

Satan

Beast from sea

“antichrist”

Beast from earth

False prophet

Described in Re 13:11-18

Revelation 13:11–18 NKJV

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 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. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 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. 15 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. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

Today we take a closer look at the third person of Satan’s unholy trinity, the False Prophet

1. Characteristics of the False Prophet

Two horns like a lamb

V.11

Seen as a religious figure

Another description found in chapter 17

Will have authority

Subservient to that of

Dragon

Antichrist

Spoke like a dragon

V.11

Spoke lies and blasphemy

Inspired by real Dragon

Satan

Summary

False prophet appears to be religious

Liar and blasphemer from his core

How will people be able to tell when the false prophet is lying?

When his lips are moving

2. Authority of the False Prophet

“Henchman” of the beast

V.12

Granted authority of the first beast

V.15

ability to give “breath” to the image of the beast

V.15

Granted authority to execute any non-compliers who fail to worship antichrist or image

V.16

Granted authority to remake world monetary system

V.17

Receive mark on hand or forehead

Number

666

Speculation about the mark and the number 666

Go wild with “what ifs”

ATMs

Bar codes

Computer chip implants

Still the danger of interpreting the “mark” through the lenses of today’s understanding

666 refers to Nero

Refers to another Roman emperor

Etc ad nauseum

666

3

Number of divine completion

6

Number of man

666

Man is divine

Mocks real trinity

3. Actions of the False Prophet

Causes world to worship beast

V.12

Performs great signs

V.13

Makes fire come down from sky

In the sight of men

i.e., for show

Another example of Satan’s lack of originality

Cannot create

Can only copy and mimic some of what God does

Deceives people

V.14

To make an image of beast

Summarizing his actions

World’s great deceiver

Convinces world that beast is god

Convinces world to make a statue of beast

Convinces world to worship that image

Convinces world that he has supernatural powers

Convinces world to totally identify themselves with beast

Now What?

That someone like the false prophet would arise should not surprise any of us

We are seeing fulfillment of Jesus’ promise that many false teachers would arise

Luke 21:8 NKJV

8 And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.

Look at all of the cults and false religions and false teaching

Including the teaching that “all religions and beliefs are valid”

They all somehow lead to the one true god

While people are free to believe what they choose to believe

That doesn’t make their beliefs right or true

A stop sign means stop

Doesn’t matter if you believe it means “slow down”

Keep this in perspective

Although this false prophet will possess an enormous amount of power and authority in the world

He will never be beyond the boundaries set for him by the Lord

This guy is going to be used in the Lord’s overall plan

Regardless of how hard this guy fights against the Lord

That ought to tell you something

What is it that He is wanting to do in your life that you are pushing back against?

What is it that He is calling you to that you are resisting?

What’s your next move?

Ready to surrender?

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Need to be certain you have everlasting life?

Text BELIEVE to 858.210.0291