The False Prophet

The False Prophet isn't mentioned as prominently as the Antichrist, but he plays an important role in end time prophecy. Here is a glimpse of who this man is and what his role will be during the Tribulation.

Rev. 13:11-15 “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. 12He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 14And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. 15And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 

Here we see that another beast comes up out of the earth. The first beast is the Antichrist. This beast is described as having the appearance of a lamb, but he speaks as a dragon, which means he'll appear innocent in appearance, but his true nature will be the same as that of the Antichrist. This second beast is subject to the Antichrist and can only exercise his “authority” in the Antichrist’s presence. This second beast causes the inhabitants of the earth to worship the Antichrist, who has miraculously been resurrected after a fatal head wound. We are shown that the False Prophet has no power of his own, but must be in the presence of the Antichrist to perform these great feats (I have underlined the relevant scripture above). There is a further blow to those who have become Christians during this period. A large statue will be built, a statue that will actually speak! A true living statue! This will deceive many who will believe that the Antichrist is indeed god. What will happen to those who refuse to worship the Antichrist’s image? They will be killed. So we can see that Christians are going to fall under a more intense period of persecution.

Rev. 13:16-18  And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.” 

This second beast causes the population of the earth to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead in order to buy or sell anything. If you want to know more about this mark, click here to be taken to another page on this web site where it is explained in further detail. This is another blow to Christians, who will refuse to take the mark.

Let’s look at another portion of scripture:

Rev. 16:13-16  “And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; 14for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. 15(‘Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.’) 16And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.” 

These “spirits of demons” come forth from the mouth of the dragon (Satan), the beast (the Antichrist) and who we now know is the second beast… the false prophet. These demons will performs signs and will bring the countries of the earth together for that one final battle before Jesus’ glorious return.

Here is yet another portion of scripture:

Rev. 19:19-20  “And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.” 

Revealing, isn't it? This false prophet could only perform signs in the presence of the beast, who is the Antichrist. The second beast is the false prophet! The False Prophet is shown to be very deceiving, causing those who had received the mark of the beast to worship the Antichrist and his image. Both the Antichrist and the false prophet are thrown alive into the lake of fire!

The final scripture:

Rev. 20:7-10 “When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. 9And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” 

And so Satan has his counterfeit trinity: Himself, the Antichrist and the False Prophet. They are all thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone where they are “tormented day and night forever and ever.”