The False Prophet of Revelation, part 1
Study:
"And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon." Revelation 13:11
Who is this beast? What does he look like? What is he?
Notice that he is called "the false prophet," elsewhere in Revelation, in a confederation of three beasts (a false or anti-trinity or godhead):
"And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of (1) the dragon, and out of the mouth of (2) the beast, and out of the mouth of (3) the false prophet." Revelation 16:13
"And (2) the beast was taken, and with him (3) the false prophet... These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone." Revelation 19:20
"And (1) the devil [or the dragon] that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where (2) the beast and (3) the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." Revelation 20:10
How do we know that the false prophet is the same as the land beast or lamb-like beast of Revelation 13:11? Naturally, the dragon (or devil) here mentioned is the dragon of Revelation 12; the beast is the sea beast of Revelation 13:1. This would imply that "the false prophet" is the land beast! But, the connection is still firmer by far. Look at the parallel ideas shared between Revelation 19:20 and Revelation 13:11-18.
"And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. ..." Revelation 19:20
"And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him,... And he doeth great wonders,... And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; ... and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. ..." Revelation 13:11-18
Notice that both "the false prophet" and the land beast/lamb-like beast:
- are "before him," that is, before "the beast," "first beast," or "sea beast";
- "wrought miracles" or "doeth ... wonders ... miracles";
- use these miracles to deceive ("miracles ... with which he deceived" or "deceiveth ... by the means of those miracles"); and
- cause all to worship the image of the beast or receive his mark.
I think it is obvious, from the above comparison, that Revelation 13:11's land beast/ lamb-like beast and "the false prophet" are one and the same.
So why go through the trouble of identifying the false prophet with the land beast? Because it helps to paint a picture of who this beast is or in other words, what they look like!
Notice again what it says of "the false prophet"... "...he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon." (Revelation 13:11) False Prophet... Lamb... Dragon! Remind you of anything? Remind you of any sayings of Christ? How might you combine a dragon and a lamb so that you see the lamb and hear the dragon?
What about a dragon in sheep's clothing or a sheepskin?
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Matthew 7:15
To be continued...
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