REVELATION
LESSON 26
ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES?
Revelation 13:11 11 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.
John saw a
second beast (the false prophet). The first beast will come out of the earth,
the sea is a symbol of the masses of humanity, while the earth is a symbol of
the land of Israel.
The first
beast will have ten horns, this is the beast that comes out of the sea. The second
beast will only have two horns. Lambs do not have horns, so except for his two
horns, the second beast will look like a lamb. He will try to imitate the Lamb
of God. He will be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
The first
beast will get his power from the dragon. The second beast will speak like a
dragon. He will do a lot of talking about loving, accepting, diversity, gender
equality and so forth. He will condemn racism, sexism, poverty and all forms of
discrimination. Underneath he will be a slithering monster.
In other words,
the snake that he is, it is important to remember that the focus of the world
will be mainly upon two places during the tribulation. First the revived Roman
empire with its one world government. Second will be the land of Israel with
its Jewish religion, temple, the 144,000 sealed Jews and the two witnesses.
The antichrist
and the false prophet are two separate individuals who will work toward a
common deceptive goal. Their roles and relationship will be that which was
common in the ancient world between a ruler and a high priest.
Revelation 13:12 12 And he exerciseth
all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them
which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
The second
beast who is the false prophet will hold as much authority as the first beast
who is the antichrist. The second beast will be the third member of the satanic
trinity. However, he will not use his great authority to exalt himself, he will
use it to exalt the antichrist. His whole purpose will be to work toward the
complete dominance of the earth by the antichrist which will include a form of
religion causing the earth and them that dwell on it to worship the first beast
Instead of
loving and accepting everyone he will try to change everyone’s beliefs. He will
attempt to merge religion and politics. By promoting a world religion and world
government he will order everyone to worship the antichrist and will not
hesitate to use force.
Whose deadly
wound was healed refers back to revelation 13:3, it reveals that the false
prophet will claim to be a healer and a miracle worker he will be what Jesus
said in Matthew 24:24. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and
shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they
shall deceive the very elect.
The false
prophet is the satanic counterfeit of the Holy Spirit. Just as the ministry of
the Holy Spirit is to give glory to Christ Jesus and to point people to him in
trust and worship, the ministry of the false prophet will be to glorify the
antichrist and to lead people to trust and worship him.
None of the
false teachers to this time has ever possessed the supernatural powers that
will be exhibited by the false prophet on behalf of the antichrist during the
tribulation period.
We could ask
ourselves why would God permit such power to be in Satan’s hands? It is because
even during the tribulation period men will be force to worship God by faith. If
all the supernatural power were on one side it would not take faith but common sense
to recognize the source of power.
The principal
of salvation as a gift of God will still rest on the basis of faith.
Hebrews 11:6 6 But without faith
it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he
is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Until the
next lesson,
Stay in the
word,
Brother Andy
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