The 2nd Beast is the False Prophet
Revelation Chapter 13 - Part 2
For only $8.50 plus S & H
It is a great book for an in-depth study of the End Times ... Once you start reading it, you won't want to put it down until you've read the last word. Don't miss out on God's message to you concerning the End Times.
In Revelation Chapter 13, the 2nd Beast is the false prophet who will be the Antichrist's right hand man. He will be the enforcer who will cause everyone to take the mark of the beast, except those who refuse to take it.
As I stated in Part 1 of this study, the Book of Revelation, basically, describes two types of beasts in the book. One type of beast John describes is a natural beast such as a bull or wild beast that is an animal. The second type of beast John describes are two men whom he calls beasts.
The first beast, mentioned in Revelation chapter 13 is the Antichrist and his system. The second beast he speaks about, in the same chapter, is the false prophet. Keep these two beast definitions in mind as you read the chapter because it can get confusing when John changes from speaking of the first beast and then speaks immediately about the second beast. Again, these two beasts are simply describing two men, the Antichrist and his partner the false prophet.
Let's look at the second beast John describes in this chapter, which is the false prophet.
Revelation 13:11-12: NKJ
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. "
This is the second beast described in Revelation chapter 13 that describes the false prophet. Notice that in verse 12, the reference to the 'first beast' is speaking about the Antichrist himself.
So, the false prophet has "all the authority of the" Antichrist, "in his presence" is basically how to read verse 12 in context of who the characters are in this chapter.
The false prophet comes out of the earth, which is a different description as the first beast. The first beast came from the sea. This beast comes from the earth. Again, as I said about the Antichrist in Part 1 also applies to the false prophet. The second beast described here is simply a man who is more significant than all other men in that he will have great power given to him by Satan.
The 2nd beast "had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon." It is very important to understand the spiritual meaning of this section of the Biblical text.
The text describes the false prophet as being like two types of creatures. One is a lamb and the other is a dragon. From Revelation chapter 12, we understand that the dragon is speaking of Satan. In the whole Bible, a lamb represents a few things. One the Lamb represents Christ. A lamb in the Old and New Testaments are symbols of sacrifice, until Christ did away with the lamb and bull sacrifices for sins. Also a lamb represents Christians.
So, what is being referenced here is a meaning that brings with it a religious symbol mixed with Satan. So, the false prophet will look religious but will sound like Satan. A wolf in sheep's clothing, so to speak. The harlot system, spoken of in Revelation 17, is this Christian looking organization that follows Satan.
Notice that in verse 12 that the first beast, the Antichrist will have a fatal wound that is healed. The Antichrist will die and live again. This will convince the world that he is a god. The false prophet will help the Antichrist by also convincing the world that the Antichrist is a god.
Revelation 13:13-18: NKJ
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. And 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.
This Biblical text speaks of the false prophet in verse 13, as "He performs great signs" and even can call down fire from heaven. I imagine that this is done by a trick, by a man-made satellite that can spit fire, so to speak. I guess he could literally call down fire from heaven, but the Bible tells us that the Antichrist will do things by false wonders and by lies. Deception is another term describing the Antichrist, which in this case, probably would also apply to the false prophet
Whether the false prophet can literally call down fire from heaven, by the power of Satan or not, who knows. But the point is that the false prophet will demonstrate great signs to convince the world that he is powerful. All men will see his great power, but again, this is done through the power of Satan or a trick of mankind by satellite or something else. He will lie and deceive just like the Antichrist will lie and deceive.
The false prophet will be the enforcer of the mark of the beast or the mark of the Antichrist. Described to us in verses 16 and 17, he will cause everyone to take a mark, either on the right hand or forehead. REFUSE THIS MARK AT ANY COST! Do not allow any one or group mark you with a mark. If you take the mark of the Antichrist, your soul will be doomed. Now, not just any mark is the mark of the Antichrist. I've seen in some countries that people are being marked with barcodes and things like that. At this stage, it may or may not be the mark of the beast.
It is just best to play is safe and refuse all marks on your hands and forehead. The Antichrist will make it sound like it is harmless and necessary. But, this could not be farther from the truth. Remember that the Antichrist and false prophet will be liars. They will be known as smooth talkers with very convincing speeches. They could speak partial truths mixed with lies, but they will be lies none the less.
No one can buy or sell without the mark of the Antichrist. The false prophet and or the Antichrist will control all commerce. They will also control all religion by making everyone worship the Antichrist.
Both of these systems, the religious and commercial systems of the Antichrist and/or false prophet combination, are described in Revelation chapters 17 and 18. Revelation chapter 17 speaks of the religious system, the harlot and beast system. Revelation chapter 18 describes the commercial system at the point in which it is destroyed. But it will be strong and will encompass the whole world before it is destroyed.
Notice one special note about the mark of the beast... it is CALCULATED to be 666 (verse 18 above). It will be the number of a man, which means that the letters of the Antichrist's name will add up to be 666. It can also be a seat number that he takes up in his organization. It can also be that the letters of his organization also adds up to 666.
<--- PREVIOUS LESSON NEXT LESSON --->
Home End Times Book Back to Topics Page About Us Contact Us
How to Become a Christian Spread the Gospel Donations
Ministry Goals Classes on End Times Links
© 2007 - 2010 by Richter Cox