LEARNING DAILY

 

Revelation 13:11-12, Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.  And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes all the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast.

 

Can you imagine John the Revelator seeing all that would happen during this time and then trying to explain what he saw?  He was trying to explain what he saw in the only terms he knew.  Perhaps that is why The Revelation is difficult to understand.

 

The second beast John saw is the False Prophet, the third member of the unholy trinity.  This beast is seen coming from the earth, not from heaven and will come like a lamb.  The two horns reveal he is not who he tries to portray; instead of a lamb, he is a dragon. He will be able to perform miracles – even call fire down from heaven as the prophet Elijah did.  He will appear to have a true religious character which will enable him to deceive many.  This deception will help the Antichrist unite the world into with his false religion. 

The activities of the False Prophet are shown in the verses 12-15.  Basically, he is to promote a religion that unifies all the different religious groups to worship the Antichrist and his images.  “Just as the Holy Spirit exercises equal authority with the Son, the False Prophet will exercise equal authority with the counterfeit son” (Dr. Arnold G. Fuchtenbaum).

It is important to go back to Revelation 13:3.  The Antichrist is somehow wounded in the head and dies (or appears to).  But the deadly wound was healed.  Remember this is a counterfeit trinity.  Here the counterfeit son dies and comes back to life.  The False Prophet is responsible to call all people to worship the counterfeit son who was “resurrected”.  This will be brought about by the performing of many signs and wonders which will imitate the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

The False Prophet will decree that an image of the antichrist be built and placed where it can be seen by all.  He will have the power to give life to the image of the beast and the image will speak (verse 15).  Some scholars believe this will be through ventriloquism, others believe it will be through voice reproduction.  Still others wonder if the statute actually speaks through the power Satan has given him.  The result, according to Scripture, is men fall down and worship the beast. 

A decree will be issued for those who do not worship this image to be killed.  Sound familiar?  Do you remember the three Hebrews who refused to bow to the image of Nebuchadnezzar?  They did not bow and were thrown into the fiery furnace only to have the fourth Man show up (Daniel 3).  Deception, fear and intimidation are always tools of those in control to get people to follow the decrees they have made.  To remain faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ in these days, and to resist the Antichrist will cost them their lives.