THE SECOND BEAST:  THE FALSE PROPHET

Donnie's Teaching Notes

 

During Daniel's 70th Week, a second beast arises, known as the False Prophet.  The False Prophet will be cloaked in religion and will be given supernatural powers, which he will use in the service of Antichrist.  The False Prophet will perform great miracles in the name of Antichrist, and will use his demonic powers to deceive men into worshiping Antichrist as God.  The False Prophet is also Antichrist's henchman - he will be responsible for the creation of the Speaking Image of the Beast, and will oversee the use of the Mark of the Beast - "666" - as a tool to separate Antichrist's followers from those loyal to Christ.

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John for the first time discusses the role that the False Prophet will play in Antichrist's empire.  Satan will give the False Prophet supernatural powers, which the False Prophet will use to recruit men to Antichrist.  The False Prophet represents ultimate deception of false religion.  He will direct the final apostasy ¾ when Antichrist is resurrected from the dead a large number of those who claim to be Christians will defect from the Church and follow Antichrist.  The False Prophet will be the powerful henchman of Antichrist; he will be responsible for implementing much of Antichrist's plan to destroy the Church (think of the Nazi butcher Adolph Eichmann, who implemented and enforced Hitler’s extermination of more than six million Jews during World War II).  John details two key End-Times events in which the False Prophet plays an essential role:  (1) the creation of the Speaking Image of the Beast; and (2) the implementation of the ferociously evil religious and economic system known as the Mark of the Beast.

  

11 Then I saw another beast (this second beast is called the “False Prophet,” indicating that he will come cloaked in religious power.  See Revelation 16:3, 19:20 & 20:10), coming out of the earth (no clear nationality is revealed).  He had two horns (In the Bible horns are symbolic of authority and power.  See Rev 13:1) like a lamb (outwardly the false prophet appears to be a gentle man of God, perhaps even outwardly Christian), but he spoke like a dragon (the False Prophet will speak the words of Satan and he too will blaspheme God.)  12 He (the False Prophet) exercised all the authority of the first beast (the Antichrist) on his behalf (the False Prophet will work for Antichrist - he will be Antichrist's right hand man, or more accurately, his henchman), and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast (the False Prophet will attempt to capture the religious loyalties of men and to force all to worship Antichrist), whose fatal wound had been healed. (John reminds us that Antichrist has recovered from a deadly wound. The False Prophet will exploit the supernatural healing to convince people that Antichrist is God.)   13 And he (the False Prophet) performed great and miraculous signs (the False Prophet will attempt to authenticate Antichrist as God by performing supernatural feats.  See Mt. 24:24, 2 Thes 2:9-10), even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. (Fire could refer to supernatural activity or it could be “fire power,” indicating a strong military program or weapon that awes the world. He is able to duplicate the miracles of the Two Witnesses.  See Rev 11:5.) 

 

THE SPEAKING IMAGE OF THE BEAST

 

      14 Because of the signs he (the False Prophet) was given power to do on behalf of the first beast (Antichrist), he deceived the inhabitants of the earth (The False Prophet will perform lying wonders that will be so persuasive that they will even cause the elect of God to be deceived.  See Mt. 24:24.  The False Prophet's ability to deceive with these “miraculous” signs will be incredible; this is raw satanic power!). He (the False Prophet) ordered them (the followers of Antichrist) to set up an image in honor of the beast (After the Antichrist declares himself to be God, the False Prophet will place an image [Greek = “icon”] of the Beast in the rebuilt temple for the world to worship.  See 2 Thess 2:2-4. Note the parallels to the golden image of King Nebuchadnezzar. See Daniel 3) who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. (Again, John underscores the importance of Antichrist's resurrection in establishing Antichrist's Kingdom. Also note that John reveals that a sword will be used to cause the death of Antichrist. Antichrist will miraculously survive this successful assassination attempt. Zechariah 11:17 tells us that the mortal wound will leave him blinded in his right eye and without the use of his right arm.  Regardless, the fact that he survives causes the world to marvel and the healing brings him world-wide glory.)

 

            15 He (the False Prophet) was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast (the statute of Antichrist), so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.  (The statue of Antichrist will literally come alive and be able to speak and have life.  This speaking image of the beast will command the death of those who do not worship Antichrist.  See Revelation 20:4.  It is easy to understand how unbelievers could be deceived by such overwhelming supernatural forces.  This is the beginning of tremendous supernatural activity and demonic oppression that will occur during Daniel's 70th Week.) 

 

THE MARK OF THE BEAST (666)

 

      The False Prophet will force the world to take the Mark of the Beast, which is the number “666.”  The Mark of the Beast serves two purposes.  First, it will separate the followers of Antichrist from those who reject his blasphemy.  Remember, there will be those who, although they do not believe in Jesus, will see through Antichrist's deception and will refuse to take the Mark of the Beast.  Chief among these groups will be the 144,000 Jews.  Those without the Mark of the Beast will be easily identified as enemies of Antichrist's Empire and will be persecuted and killed.  Second, the Mark of the Beast will be an additional tool in Antichrist's arsenal of persecution.  Individuals who do not take the Mark of the Beast will be unable to buy and sell.  As a practical matter, this will perform a great hardship on believers, as they will have great difficulty buying food and other necessities, and will likely drive any resistance movements underground.  Note the parallels to Hitler's use of the Star of David to mark and persecute the Jews.

 

    16 He (the False Prophet) also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, (the mark will be easily seen) 17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.  18 This calls for wisdom.  If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number.  His number is 666.  (John literally gives us the Mark of the Beast so that we will not be tricked into taking it.)

 

John indicates that spiritual wisdom is required to understand how the Mark of the Beast will function.  Today, no one knows what this mark is, but there is much speculation.  Many feel it may involve an embedded computer chip under the skin.  Such a chip could contain all financial, medical and personal data.  Regardless, its meaning will be plain when the time comes. 

 

The False Prophet will somehow incorporate the name of Antichrist into the Mark of the Beast.  Note that, in a rare instance of total clarity, John provides us with the Mark of the Beast.  It is vitally important that we NOT receive this mark, and John does not want us to be deceived into doing so.  Late in Daniel’s 70th week, an angel will announce a warning to the world concerning the Mark of the Beast and the reign of Antichrist.  The angel will explain that anyone who receives the mark will be eternally damned, and will forfeit any further opportunity for salvation.  The angel tells the faithful to persevere, keep God’s commandments and their faith in Jesus.  Revelation 16 also reveals that God will visit physical plagues on those who have received the Mark of the Beast.

 

Revelation 14:9-12  [9] A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice:  "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, [10] he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.  He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.  [11] And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.  [12] This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.  

        

Revelation 16:2

 

[2] The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image.