The Antichrist And The False Prophet

Over the centuries, Satan has repeatedly tried to seize control of the world by setting up a global government and religion.  After the flood, he inspired the construction of the Tower of Babel, and has inspired a number of world empires since that time.  He will set up one more world empire a few years before the Lord’s return.  That government will be based on what he learned from the previous world empires, and will be taken over by a man we know as the Antichrist.  Revelation 13:1-8 describes his coming to power.  “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.  And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.  

And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Satanically inspired, the beast or Antichrist will convince people that they can resolve all the world’s problems if they just follow him.  Despite his promises of peace, we will use military might to crush any opposition and do everything in his power to destroy anyone who worships God, blaming them for preventing his success.  The resemblances to the dragon are intentional, focusing mankind’s attention on Satan. 

Just before the Antichrist takes power, according to Daniel 11:17-19, the world government will form a peace treaty with Israel and then turn to the east in a conflict over a bunch of islands.  This will result in one of the armies being wiped out and economic collapse.  When the Antichrist comes to power he will rebuild that country, convincing people he has the power to fix the world’s problems.  Revelation 13:9-10 warns that  things will not turn out the way he promises.  “If any man have an ear, let him hear.   He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.”

Throughout history, governments have used religion to manipulate the people and the Antichrist will use religion to help him control the people as well.  Revelation 13:11-17 describes the leader of his religious organization.  “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 causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 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; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.  And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, 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.”

This second beast, or false prophet forms a religion that in some ways resembles Christianity, but their beliefs are Satanic.  It is designed to deceive the people, seeming miracles to convince them and getting them to worship the Antichrist as a god. 

Citizens of the Antichrists empire will be required to have a mark, perhaps some sort of chip in their forehead or their hand, and apparently it will use the number 666 as a prefix to identify them as following the Antichrist.  Revelation 13:18 warns “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”  666 is just a number at present, but what it means will become clear during the Tribulation period.