The False Prophet
Revelation 13:11-18
Message #27
In our last Revelation message, we met the Antichrist. Today we meet the Antichrist’s spiritual counterpart – The False Prophet.
Both the Antichrist and the False Prophet are types of embodiments of Satan. They are counterfeit imitations of God. Remember, Satan cannot create. He can only imitate.
We said in our last message the Antichrist is an imitation of Jesus. He is a counterfeit copy of Jesus being God in the Flesh. And the False Prophet is an imitation of the Holy Spirit. The False Prophet is a counterfeit copy of the Holy Spirit. The False Prophet is the spiritual power of the Antichrist, and he is the worship leader for the Antichrist. His job is to bring glory to the Antichrist. And so, we have the counterfeit, imitation Satanic trinity with Satan, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet – ALL as counterfeit copies of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
In fact, Satan’s imitation of God is so deep in Revelation that the three persons of the “Satanic (Anti) Trinity” (The Dragon, The Antichrist, and the False Prophet) are often referred to (in Revelation) by one name – The Beast, in a perversion as a direct imitation of the Divine Trinity all being referred to as God. And it should help you as you read through Revelation and you’re wondering, “Is the Beast the Antichrist? Is the Beast the False Prophet? Or is the Beast Satan himself? The answer is yes; all three of them are called the Beast at one time or another. So, today, we meet the False Prophet, who is the counterfeit copy of God the Holy Spirit.
In the last message, we saw the Antichrist as a great world political figure. He comes on the scene as the leader of the Revived Roman Empire (according to the Daniel prophecies). We see him today as being the leader of a Federation of European Nations, which will be the dominant world power at that time. This would be the European Union. We see the End Times forming; we went over that last week in the message called “The Antichrist.” If you weren’t here, grab that message at wordbymail.com or at the Word By Mail phone app. And we talked about how the European Union is so blatantly fulfilling this prophecy of the Revived Roman Empire.
The Antichrist will be charismatic, handsome, winsome, and easily able to sway the people of the world. He will be brilliant and benevolent (at least initially). He comes in Revelation Chapter 6 as the rider on the white horse, the rider that brings false peace, and he is initially seen as the world’s savior. He will even orchestrate a miraculous peace treaty in Israel for seven years (the length of the Tribulation), almost certainly including giving Israel the right to build the third and final Temple in Jerusalem on the Temple Mount.
There is room right now; many of you have seen it there with us. All of the Islamic worship, the Dome of the Rock Mosque, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque are on the south side of the Temple Mount. If you draw a line down the middle of the Temple Mount, the north side is empty. And many believe that’s where the third Temple will be built. They are ready to build the Temple right now, and have everything they need to start, just waiting for the Antichrist to come and bring peace so that they can. They won’t think he’s the Antichrist, though. They’ll think he’s the Messiah.
And his true colors will not come out until he has got the world right where he wants it which doesn’t occur until the halfway point of the Tribulation.
And the event that will catapult the Antichrist to total world power will be when he is “resurrected” from a fatal wound. Most scholars believe this “resurrection” will be faked but will do the job to catapult the Antichrist from world prominence and ultimately to world dominance. It brings him from “A” leader to “THE” leader.
We read about this “counterfeit resurrection” last message.
Revelation 13:3–4 (NLT)
3 I saw that one of the heads (the Antichrist) of the beast (and in this context, the Beast is this Federation of European Nations – The Revived Roman Empire) seemed wounded beyond recovery—but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast. (Antichrist)
4 They worshiped the dragon (Satan) for giving the beast such power, and they also worshiped the beast . . .
And that is how the Antichrist goes from world prominence to world dominance, as the leader of this Federation of European Nations and ultimately the One-World government.
But now, for his next counterfeit trick, he needs another just like him. The Antichrist needs another just like him to come alongside him to be his One-World Religious Leader, and that is HOW we meet the False Prophet.
Revelation 13:11 (NLT)
11 Then I saw another beast (This is the False Prophet -We know this by context but also because the first Beast comes out of the sea of humanity, and this one comes out of the earth.) come up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb (lamb is associated with religious sacrifice with worship, and in a horrible imitation, the lamb is the Lamb of God that was slain for the sins of the world – so this refers to his religious side), but he spoke with the voice of a dragon.
Do you know that when God speaks to you, do you know that God is the Holy Spirit? And I hope that you are learning to listen to God. And I hope that you don’t confuse God with “self.” I hope that you don’t confuse God with your own emotions. Here’s how you can tell. Usually, when God speaks, he’s saying something that your flesh doesn’t want to hear. That’s primarily when you know it’s God. When God speaks to you, it is the Person of the Holy Spirit speaking.
The False Prophet (look again at verse 11) speaks with the voice of a dragon. THE dragon. So, he speaks on behalf of Satan.
This word “another” is the Greek word ALLOS. It’s the same word used to describe the Holy Spirit. ALLOS PRAKLETOS. It means One of the same kind and quality called alongside to help. So, the False Prophet is ALLOS, one of the same kind and quality. Like the first Beast (the Antichrist), this second Beast will also be an imitation embodiment of Satan. The False Prophet will also have a position of worldwide authority (much like the Antichrist but with a religious element instead of political and military), working in tandem with and working for the Antichrist to accomplish the goals, plans, and purpose of the dragon (Satan). The False Prophet will hold the position of the world’s religious leader.
The first Beast (Antichrist) is all political and military in focus. He is considered the Messiah for the Jews. What type of leader did Israel want Jesus to be? Political and military. They wanted the Messiah to come, run Rome out, and give them their solidarity as Israel. This guy (the first Beast) will do that. He will be received as the Messiah! (Right up until he shows his true colors.) So, he came politically and militarily.
The second Beast (False Prophet) is all religion and worship. In verse 11, the second Beast is likened to a lamb, which is most associated with religious sacrifice, and the primary job of this second Beast will be to bring worship to the Antichrist. (The primary job of the Holy Spirit is to bring glory to Jesus Christ.) All that we are seeing in Revelation is the perversion of the creation of God. It’s all the opposite of what God has created.
Notice that he speaks with the voice of a dragon, meaning he is Satan’s religious mouthpiece.
He will be the final world religion leader, and he will use his power and deception to get the world to worship the Antichrist and thereby to worship Satan himself.
Revelation 13:12 (NLT)
12 He (the False Prophet) exercised all the authority of the first beast (the Antichrist). And he required all the earth and its people to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed.
The False Prophet will function in an imitation role that is exactly like the Holy Spirit’s role.
And just as the Holy Spirit’s primary job is to bring glory to Jesus Christ, the False Prophet’s primary job is to bring glory to the Antichrist.
It doesn’t matter what area of life you choose to look at; you can see God’s plan for it and the enemy’s perversion of it in every area of life. Satan’s ultimate goal is to be worshiped as God. And so, the person of the Antichrist as an imitation of Jesus Christ, the person of the False Prophet bringing worship to the Antichrist – Satan, through that, is going to get a taste of worship from the world right before God issues his final and eternal judgment against him.
So, Satan is going to get what he wants; then he’s going to get what he deserves.
The final act that starts the world’s worship of the Antichrist is his “counterfeit resurrection.” Notice again at the end of Revelation 13, verse 12, the False Prophet required all the earth and its people to worship the first beast (Antichrist), whose fatal wound had been healed.
So, it’s really easy to see the False Prophet come along, take over a One World Government, and join the platform of the Antichrist. It’s very easy to see how a world religious leader could make a very big deal out of the “resurrection” of a world political leader who is already considered a “Messiah.”
How can it be that easy? Because the whole world witnessed his resurrection. How in the world can there ever be a time when the whole world could witness the resurrection of the Antichrist? Can you imagine a time when there’s a “web” of information around the world? Like a “worldwide web” that covers the whole world and allows the whole world to view something occurring, probably in Rome, all at the same time. The whole world can’t witness this resurrection until there’s this world wide web where everyone can witness an event. (Do you know right now, my son-in-law watches the war in Gaza live? Live streaming of the war.) So, as soon as that technology is available, then you know we’re moving in that direction where this could happen.
And the False Prophet will make a very big deal of that and he will also perform other supernatural signs.
Revelation 13:13 (NLT)
13 He (the False Prophet) did astounding miracles, even making fire flash down to earth from the sky while everyone was watching.
The False Prophet will perform what seem to be astounding miracles.
But it’s important we understand NOT all things that seem supernatural are FROM GOD. There are two sides to the supernatural world. There is a light and good side, and there is a dark and evil side, and they both exist in the supernatural world. And so, we can’t just say, Oh, this happened, and it’s supernatural, so it must be God. Not necessarily. Here’s the test: if Jesus Christ is glorified through the miracle, it’s from God.
Here’s what Jesus says about it (write this down).
Matthew 24:24 (NLT)
24 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.
Listen, most of the time, when the Bible uses the general term “God’s chosen ones,” it’s actually talking about Israel. Israel is God’s original Chosen Ones. Christian – you were grafted in as a wild olive branch. You were grafted into the salvation of Israel. You’ve become a spiritual son or daughter of Abraham through faith in Christ. But this, first, is talking about Israel. And will this False Messiah and this False Prophet deceive Israel? You’d better believe they will. One of God’s major purposes is to use the Tribulation to draw Israel back to himself. This is part of it.
So, just as the Prophets of God called fire from Heaven, the False Prophet will at least “appear” to do the same thing.
Then, through these counterfeit miracles, the False Prophet will get the world to make an image of the Antichrist to be worshiped!
Revelation 13:14 (NLT)
14 And with all the miracles he (False Prophet) was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world (the phrase used for unbelievers). He ordered the people to make a great statue of the first beast (the Antichrist), who was fatally wounded and then came back to life.
This is the image referred to by both Daniel and Jesus as “The Abomination of Desolation” or “The Abomination That Makes Desolate” – that makes the Temple desolate. This is where the Antichrist sets up an image of himself IN the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and demands the entire world worship him as God.
The Jews know this; they don’t know that he’s going to do it, but when he does, they will know it because a forerunner of the Antichrist, in 165 BC, his name was Antiochus Epiphanes, he already did this. He desecrated the Temple. The whole celebration of Hanukkah comes as a result of the Maccabees’ taking back the Temple. It’s a phenomenal historical story of God being on Israel’s side.
And on the heels of his counterfeit resurrection, those who belong to this world are going to go right along with it.
Isn’t it interesting how quick the world is to believe and follow anything but the God of the Bible? It is amazing how easily the world is deceived, and this great and final deception will be orchestrated BY the Antichrist with the help of the False Prophet and Satan himself.
So, after the counterfeit resurrection and after the counterfeit miracles, the False Prophet orders the world to make an image of the Antichrist to be worshiped. And in Revelation 13, verse 15, finally, we see the true colors of this counterfeit Messiah start to come out. Suddenly, he is going to take his “co-exist” headband off, and everything is going to change.
Revelation 13:15 (NLT)
15 He (the False Prophet) was then permitted (by God) to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue of the beast commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die.
This is Satan’s ultimate and last attempt to be worshiped, and it is going to work for a very short time.
So now, the statue of the Antichrist speaks and demands to be worshiped, and it requires that anyone who will not worship it – be killed!
That’s what it has all been building up to, right there. The Antichrist, the dragon, with the help of the False Prophet, forces the world to worship Satan. And this is the motivation: worship or die.
There will be people saved in the Tribulation. Yes, the Holy Spirit en masse, and in general, has been taken away because he is the restrainer of evil through the Church. And when the Church leaves in the Rapture (we see it happening in Revelation Chapter 4), the Church as the Temple of the Holy Spirit will be gone. But Revelation is clear. People are still saved in the Tribulation. And there will be people saved – right here. Right where you are. And now, they are going to find out how serious their commitment to worship God is.
Many of those who get saved during the second half of the Tribulation will be executed for holding to their faith in the true God and for refusing to worship this image of the Antichrist, and many, many Jews will also be executed because this Abomination of Desolation (that we know is SATANIC worship of the Antichrist) has been set up IN the Temple of God in Jerusalem.
And so, the only problem the Antichrist has now is how to track down those who refuse to worship him. And so, he begins phase two of his diabolical plan.
THIS is one of the MOST “talked about” sets of verses in all of Revelation.
Revelation 13:16–17 (NLT)
16 He required everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead.
17 And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name.
This is Satan’s way to ensure the worship of the Beast.
Satan now has FULL global CONTROL
One World Government
One World Economy – and now a
One World Religion – worshiping him
You will not be able to take the “Mark” without knowing. And suddenly, every person on earth will be forced to choose to worship the Antichrist and eat or worship God and die. And trust me, worshiping God and dying is the eternally way better choice.
Today, all the major countries of the world are working together to stabilize the world’s economy. Eventually, the most obvious remedy to stabilize the world’s economy will be a One-World economy with a One-World currency. And once that One-World currency is in place (and with all the conditioning – already occurring), the switch from an actual currency to a simple mark on the right hand or forehead is going to be so easily received. Our world is speeding toward a “just wave your hand under the scanner” world culture.
Can you imagine (and I’m stretching my imagination) like a digital currency? A currency that doesn’t really exist tangibly but only exists in the digital world (only transferred “digitally”), and if this kind of digital currency ever were created, it would obviously be “computer-based.” And since computers run on “bits,” maybe the world would call this digital currency something like . . . BITCOIN. Oh, right! That happened fifteen years ago.
And the technology to place ALL your digital finances and all your personal data just under your skin on a tiny microchip already exists.
Quick test: who has a microchip implanted in their pet? And do you believe the people who developed that technology are just really big pet lovers? Or could it be that they are testing that technology on pets while they are preparing us to embrace the same technology?
The problem is in the Tribulation; when you take this Mark that’s required to buy or sell anything, it will also be a sign that you are personally worshiping the Antichrist. And the vast majority of the world will say, “Hey, I need to eat, so I’ll take it.” “I mean, what are you gonna do, right? You gotta eat.” And now, with the Mark in place, the Antichrist doesn’t have to hunt down people who refuse to worship him. They are either going to starve or they’ll get caught trying to buy food without the Mark and be killed.
Satan is going to successfully “motivate” the world to give him allegiance and worship him. The problem for the people who do receive this Mark is (the very next chapter in Revelation says) that whoever worships the Beast or receives this Mark will also receive God’s wrath and will face eternal torment along with the Antichrist and Satan himself.
But we will also read this encouragement in the next chapter.
Revelation 14:13 (NLT)
13 . . . Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on (from this point on) . . . for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!”
Yes, it is going to cost you your temporary life if you choose to worship God and not worship the Antichrist, but you will receive, in return, eternal life in Heaven with the Lord. Don’t make the wrong choice.
But here is the really good news. If Jesus Christ is your Lord today, you will be long gone before any of this occurs.
Listen, we are called Pre-Tribulationalists. We believe that the Rapture will occur before the Tribulation. But even the Mid-Tribulationalists believe that you’re out of here before this happens. But for those who do not receive Jesus as their Savior and who do end up in the Tribulation, this chapter in Revelation leaves you with a very ominous warning.
Revelation 13:18 (NLT)
18 Wisdom is needed here. Let the one with understanding solve the meaning of the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666.
We hate this number. We are almost superstitious about it. You know those three-digit security codes on the back of a credit card? I got one once that was a 666 – I got a new card. If we’re checking out at the store and the total comes up to $6.66, we throw a pack of gum or anything just to change the total.
So, is the Mark really going to be three 6’s in a row? We don’t know what the Mark will really look like, but what we do know is this. The number six in the Bible is the number of Man. We see it all through the scriptures (and here in verse 18). And the three 6’s together would represent the ultimate (epitome) of Man.
Six is also the number of in-completion, with seven being the number of completion. And Satan’s ultimate Man will always be a 6 at best. ALL of Satan’s counterfeiting and imitating of God will only get him to the ultimate incomplete number of 666.
But the completeness of God is always represented by the number seven, which is the number of completion. Jesus Christ alone will ALWAYS represent God’s completeness and God’s perfection.
So, don’t be deceived by the world or the little ‘g’ god of this world. Only in Jesus Christ will you ever be made complete. Following the world – doing it the world’s way will always leave you incomplete. And one day, the Prince of this World will come embodied in a Man as the Antichrist, and Satan will do his best to take the worship and glory that is due God.
But in the end, he will be incomplete, and he will be judged by God.
Make sure today that you will not be here in the Tribulation to face this terrible time. Invite Jesus Christ into your life. Make him your Savior and your Lord, and allow him to complete you for eternity. Allow him to keep you from this greatest time of Tribulation the world will ever see!
Both the Antichrist and the False Prophet are types of embodiments of Satan. They are counterfeit imitations of God. Remember, Satan cannot create. He can only imitate.
We said in our last message the Antichrist is an imitation of Jesus. He is a counterfeit copy of Jesus being God in the Flesh. And the False Prophet is an imitation of the Holy Spirit. The False Prophet is a counterfeit copy of the Holy Spirit. The False Prophet is the spiritual power of the Antichrist, and he is the worship leader for the Antichrist. His job is to bring glory to the Antichrist. And so, we have the counterfeit, imitation Satanic trinity with Satan, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet – ALL as counterfeit copies of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
In fact, Satan’s imitation of God is so deep in Revelation that the three persons of the “Satanic (Anti) Trinity” (The Dragon, The Antichrist, and the False Prophet) are often referred to (in Revelation) by one name – The Beast, in a perversion as a direct imitation of the Divine Trinity all being referred to as God. And it should help you as you read through Revelation and you’re wondering, “Is the Beast the Antichrist? Is the Beast the False Prophet? Or is the Beast Satan himself? The answer is yes; all three of them are called the Beast at one time or another. So, today, we meet the False Prophet, who is the counterfeit copy of God the Holy Spirit.
In the last message, we saw the Antichrist as a great world political figure. He comes on the scene as the leader of the Revived Roman Empire (according to the Daniel prophecies). We see him today as being the leader of a Federation of European Nations, which will be the dominant world power at that time. This would be the European Union. We see the End Times forming; we went over that last week in the message called “The Antichrist.” If you weren’t here, grab that message at wordbymail.com or at the Word By Mail phone app. And we talked about how the European Union is so blatantly fulfilling this prophecy of the Revived Roman Empire.
The Antichrist will be charismatic, handsome, winsome, and easily able to sway the people of the world. He will be brilliant and benevolent (at least initially). He comes in Revelation Chapter 6 as the rider on the white horse, the rider that brings false peace, and he is initially seen as the world’s savior. He will even orchestrate a miraculous peace treaty in Israel for seven years (the length of the Tribulation), almost certainly including giving Israel the right to build the third and final Temple in Jerusalem on the Temple Mount.
There is room right now; many of you have seen it there with us. All of the Islamic worship, the Dome of the Rock Mosque, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque are on the south side of the Temple Mount. If you draw a line down the middle of the Temple Mount, the north side is empty. And many believe that’s where the third Temple will be built. They are ready to build the Temple right now, and have everything they need to start, just waiting for the Antichrist to come and bring peace so that they can. They won’t think he’s the Antichrist, though. They’ll think he’s the Messiah.
And his true colors will not come out until he has got the world right where he wants it which doesn’t occur until the halfway point of the Tribulation.
And the event that will catapult the Antichrist to total world power will be when he is “resurrected” from a fatal wound. Most scholars believe this “resurrection” will be faked but will do the job to catapult the Antichrist from world prominence and ultimately to world dominance. It brings him from “A” leader to “THE” leader.
We read about this “counterfeit resurrection” last message.
Revelation 13:3–4 (NLT)
3 I saw that one of the heads (the Antichrist) of the beast (and in this context, the Beast is this Federation of European Nations – The Revived Roman Empire) seemed wounded beyond recovery—but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast. (Antichrist)
4 They worshiped the dragon (Satan) for giving the beast such power, and they also worshiped the beast . . .
And that is how the Antichrist goes from world prominence to world dominance, as the leader of this Federation of European Nations and ultimately the One-World government.
But now, for his next counterfeit trick, he needs another just like him. The Antichrist needs another just like him to come alongside him to be his One-World Religious Leader, and that is HOW we meet the False Prophet.
Revelation 13:11 (NLT)
11 Then I saw another beast (This is the False Prophet -We know this by context but also because the first Beast comes out of the sea of humanity, and this one comes out of the earth.) come up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb (lamb is associated with religious sacrifice with worship, and in a horrible imitation, the lamb is the Lamb of God that was slain for the sins of the world – so this refers to his religious side), but he spoke with the voice of a dragon.
Do you know that when God speaks to you, do you know that God is the Holy Spirit? And I hope that you are learning to listen to God. And I hope that you don’t confuse God with “self.” I hope that you don’t confuse God with your own emotions. Here’s how you can tell. Usually, when God speaks, he’s saying something that your flesh doesn’t want to hear. That’s primarily when you know it’s God. When God speaks to you, it is the Person of the Holy Spirit speaking.
The False Prophet (look again at verse 11) speaks with the voice of a dragon. THE dragon. So, he speaks on behalf of Satan.
This word “another” is the Greek word ALLOS. It’s the same word used to describe the Holy Spirit. ALLOS PRAKLETOS. It means One of the same kind and quality called alongside to help. So, the False Prophet is ALLOS, one of the same kind and quality. Like the first Beast (the Antichrist), this second Beast will also be an imitation embodiment of Satan. The False Prophet will also have a position of worldwide authority (much like the Antichrist but with a religious element instead of political and military), working in tandem with and working for the Antichrist to accomplish the goals, plans, and purpose of the dragon (Satan). The False Prophet will hold the position of the world’s religious leader.
The first Beast (Antichrist) is all political and military in focus. He is considered the Messiah for the Jews. What type of leader did Israel want Jesus to be? Political and military. They wanted the Messiah to come, run Rome out, and give them their solidarity as Israel. This guy (the first Beast) will do that. He will be received as the Messiah! (Right up until he shows his true colors.) So, he came politically and militarily.
The second Beast (False Prophet) is all religion and worship. In verse 11, the second Beast is likened to a lamb, which is most associated with religious sacrifice, and the primary job of this second Beast will be to bring worship to the Antichrist. (The primary job of the Holy Spirit is to bring glory to Jesus Christ.) All that we are seeing in Revelation is the perversion of the creation of God. It’s all the opposite of what God has created.
Notice that he speaks with the voice of a dragon, meaning he is Satan’s religious mouthpiece.
He will be the final world religion leader, and he will use his power and deception to get the world to worship the Antichrist and thereby to worship Satan himself.
Revelation 13:12 (NLT)
12 He (the False Prophet) exercised all the authority of the first beast (the Antichrist). And he required all the earth and its people to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed.
The False Prophet will function in an imitation role that is exactly like the Holy Spirit’s role.
And just as the Holy Spirit’s primary job is to bring glory to Jesus Christ, the False Prophet’s primary job is to bring glory to the Antichrist.
It doesn’t matter what area of life you choose to look at; you can see God’s plan for it and the enemy’s perversion of it in every area of life. Satan’s ultimate goal is to be worshiped as God. And so, the person of the Antichrist as an imitation of Jesus Christ, the person of the False Prophet bringing worship to the Antichrist – Satan, through that, is going to get a taste of worship from the world right before God issues his final and eternal judgment against him.
So, Satan is going to get what he wants; then he’s going to get what he deserves.
The final act that starts the world’s worship of the Antichrist is his “counterfeit resurrection.” Notice again at the end of Revelation 13, verse 12, the False Prophet required all the earth and its people to worship the first beast (Antichrist), whose fatal wound had been healed.
So, it’s really easy to see the False Prophet come along, take over a One World Government, and join the platform of the Antichrist. It’s very easy to see how a world religious leader could make a very big deal out of the “resurrection” of a world political leader who is already considered a “Messiah.”
How can it be that easy? Because the whole world witnessed his resurrection. How in the world can there ever be a time when the whole world could witness the resurrection of the Antichrist? Can you imagine a time when there’s a “web” of information around the world? Like a “worldwide web” that covers the whole world and allows the whole world to view something occurring, probably in Rome, all at the same time. The whole world can’t witness this resurrection until there’s this world wide web where everyone can witness an event. (Do you know right now, my son-in-law watches the war in Gaza live? Live streaming of the war.) So, as soon as that technology is available, then you know we’re moving in that direction where this could happen.
And the False Prophet will make a very big deal of that and he will also perform other supernatural signs.
Revelation 13:13 (NLT)
13 He (the False Prophet) did astounding miracles, even making fire flash down to earth from the sky while everyone was watching.
The False Prophet will perform what seem to be astounding miracles.
But it’s important we understand NOT all things that seem supernatural are FROM GOD. There are two sides to the supernatural world. There is a light and good side, and there is a dark and evil side, and they both exist in the supernatural world. And so, we can’t just say, Oh, this happened, and it’s supernatural, so it must be God. Not necessarily. Here’s the test: if Jesus Christ is glorified through the miracle, it’s from God.
Here’s what Jesus says about it (write this down).
Matthew 24:24 (NLT)
24 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.
Listen, most of the time, when the Bible uses the general term “God’s chosen ones,” it’s actually talking about Israel. Israel is God’s original Chosen Ones. Christian – you were grafted in as a wild olive branch. You were grafted into the salvation of Israel. You’ve become a spiritual son or daughter of Abraham through faith in Christ. But this, first, is talking about Israel. And will this False Messiah and this False Prophet deceive Israel? You’d better believe they will. One of God’s major purposes is to use the Tribulation to draw Israel back to himself. This is part of it.
So, just as the Prophets of God called fire from Heaven, the False Prophet will at least “appear” to do the same thing.
Then, through these counterfeit miracles, the False Prophet will get the world to make an image of the Antichrist to be worshiped!
Revelation 13:14 (NLT)
14 And with all the miracles he (False Prophet) was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world (the phrase used for unbelievers). He ordered the people to make a great statue of the first beast (the Antichrist), who was fatally wounded and then came back to life.
This is the image referred to by both Daniel and Jesus as “The Abomination of Desolation” or “The Abomination That Makes Desolate” – that makes the Temple desolate. This is where the Antichrist sets up an image of himself IN the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and demands the entire world worship him as God.
The Jews know this; they don’t know that he’s going to do it, but when he does, they will know it because a forerunner of the Antichrist, in 165 BC, his name was Antiochus Epiphanes, he already did this. He desecrated the Temple. The whole celebration of Hanukkah comes as a result of the Maccabees’ taking back the Temple. It’s a phenomenal historical story of God being on Israel’s side.
And on the heels of his counterfeit resurrection, those who belong to this world are going to go right along with it.
Isn’t it interesting how quick the world is to believe and follow anything but the God of the Bible? It is amazing how easily the world is deceived, and this great and final deception will be orchestrated BY the Antichrist with the help of the False Prophet and Satan himself.
So, after the counterfeit resurrection and after the counterfeit miracles, the False Prophet orders the world to make an image of the Antichrist to be worshiped. And in Revelation 13, verse 15, finally, we see the true colors of this counterfeit Messiah start to come out. Suddenly, he is going to take his “co-exist” headband off, and everything is going to change.
Revelation 13:15 (NLT)
15 He (the False Prophet) was then permitted (by God) to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue of the beast commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die.
This is Satan’s ultimate and last attempt to be worshiped, and it is going to work for a very short time.
So now, the statue of the Antichrist speaks and demands to be worshiped, and it requires that anyone who will not worship it – be killed!
That’s what it has all been building up to, right there. The Antichrist, the dragon, with the help of the False Prophet, forces the world to worship Satan. And this is the motivation: worship or die.
There will be people saved in the Tribulation. Yes, the Holy Spirit en masse, and in general, has been taken away because he is the restrainer of evil through the Church. And when the Church leaves in the Rapture (we see it happening in Revelation Chapter 4), the Church as the Temple of the Holy Spirit will be gone. But Revelation is clear. People are still saved in the Tribulation. And there will be people saved – right here. Right where you are. And now, they are going to find out how serious their commitment to worship God is.
Many of those who get saved during the second half of the Tribulation will be executed for holding to their faith in the true God and for refusing to worship this image of the Antichrist, and many, many Jews will also be executed because this Abomination of Desolation (that we know is SATANIC worship of the Antichrist) has been set up IN the Temple of God in Jerusalem.
And so, the only problem the Antichrist has now is how to track down those who refuse to worship him. And so, he begins phase two of his diabolical plan.
THIS is one of the MOST “talked about” sets of verses in all of Revelation.
Revelation 13:16–17 (NLT)
16 He required everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead.
17 And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name.
This is Satan’s way to ensure the worship of the Beast.
Satan now has FULL global CONTROL
One World Government
One World Economy – and now a
One World Religion – worshiping him
You will not be able to take the “Mark” without knowing. And suddenly, every person on earth will be forced to choose to worship the Antichrist and eat or worship God and die. And trust me, worshiping God and dying is the eternally way better choice.
Today, all the major countries of the world are working together to stabilize the world’s economy. Eventually, the most obvious remedy to stabilize the world’s economy will be a One-World economy with a One-World currency. And once that One-World currency is in place (and with all the conditioning – already occurring), the switch from an actual currency to a simple mark on the right hand or forehead is going to be so easily received. Our world is speeding toward a “just wave your hand under the scanner” world culture.
Can you imagine (and I’m stretching my imagination) like a digital currency? A currency that doesn’t really exist tangibly but only exists in the digital world (only transferred “digitally”), and if this kind of digital currency ever were created, it would obviously be “computer-based.” And since computers run on “bits,” maybe the world would call this digital currency something like . . . BITCOIN. Oh, right! That happened fifteen years ago.
And the technology to place ALL your digital finances and all your personal data just under your skin on a tiny microchip already exists.
Quick test: who has a microchip implanted in their pet? And do you believe the people who developed that technology are just really big pet lovers? Or could it be that they are testing that technology on pets while they are preparing us to embrace the same technology?
The problem is in the Tribulation; when you take this Mark that’s required to buy or sell anything, it will also be a sign that you are personally worshiping the Antichrist. And the vast majority of the world will say, “Hey, I need to eat, so I’ll take it.” “I mean, what are you gonna do, right? You gotta eat.” And now, with the Mark in place, the Antichrist doesn’t have to hunt down people who refuse to worship him. They are either going to starve or they’ll get caught trying to buy food without the Mark and be killed.
Satan is going to successfully “motivate” the world to give him allegiance and worship him. The problem for the people who do receive this Mark is (the very next chapter in Revelation says) that whoever worships the Beast or receives this Mark will also receive God’s wrath and will face eternal torment along with the Antichrist and Satan himself.
But we will also read this encouragement in the next chapter.
Revelation 14:13 (NLT)
13 . . . Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on (from this point on) . . . for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!”
Yes, it is going to cost you your temporary life if you choose to worship God and not worship the Antichrist, but you will receive, in return, eternal life in Heaven with the Lord. Don’t make the wrong choice.
But here is the really good news. If Jesus Christ is your Lord today, you will be long gone before any of this occurs.
Listen, we are called Pre-Tribulationalists. We believe that the Rapture will occur before the Tribulation. But even the Mid-Tribulationalists believe that you’re out of here before this happens. But for those who do not receive Jesus as their Savior and who do end up in the Tribulation, this chapter in Revelation leaves you with a very ominous warning.
Revelation 13:18 (NLT)
18 Wisdom is needed here. Let the one with understanding solve the meaning of the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666.
We hate this number. We are almost superstitious about it. You know those three-digit security codes on the back of a credit card? I got one once that was a 666 – I got a new card. If we’re checking out at the store and the total comes up to $6.66, we throw a pack of gum or anything just to change the total.
So, is the Mark really going to be three 6’s in a row? We don’t know what the Mark will really look like, but what we do know is this. The number six in the Bible is the number of Man. We see it all through the scriptures (and here in verse 18). And the three 6’s together would represent the ultimate (epitome) of Man.
Six is also the number of in-completion, with seven being the number of completion. And Satan’s ultimate Man will always be a 6 at best. ALL of Satan’s counterfeiting and imitating of God will only get him to the ultimate incomplete number of 666.
But the completeness of God is always represented by the number seven, which is the number of completion. Jesus Christ alone will ALWAYS represent God’s completeness and God’s perfection.
So, don’t be deceived by the world or the little ‘g’ god of this world. Only in Jesus Christ will you ever be made complete. Following the world – doing it the world’s way will always leave you incomplete. And one day, the Prince of this World will come embodied in a Man as the Antichrist, and Satan will do his best to take the worship and glory that is due God.
But in the end, he will be incomplete, and he will be judged by God.
Make sure today that you will not be here in the Tribulation to face this terrible time. Invite Jesus Christ into your life. Make him your Savior and your Lord, and allow him to complete you for eternity. Allow him to keep you from this greatest time of Tribulation the world will ever see!