Antichrist and the False Prophet

Most people don’t realize it but there will be two beasts working together during the great tribulation. They are called the first and second beast in the Bible

Revelation Chapter 13 is where the two beast come to power.

The First Beast:

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.

Revelation 13: 1-2

• John starts with imagery giving the reader the mental picture of a beast coming to power along with his unholy kingdom. The leopard, bear, and lion represent a kingdom that comes together fast and is destructive. The Dragon who is Satan will give the two beasts all their power.

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?

Revelation 13: 3-4

• We know from studying the New Testament, God is going to send a strong delusion to the world. And it will be so strong the whole world falls for it and only the elect will understand the event is a lie. The beast will come to power by peace. The world will believe Jesus has returned to earth who was wounded to death and is alive.

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.

Revelation 13: 5-8

• It won’t take long after the beast has deceived and taken over the world before he shows his true nature. God is going to allow the Antichrist 42 months to rule the whole earth and kill the Christians.

If any man have an ear, let him hear.
He that is taken into captivity shall go into captivity: he that is killed with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Revelation 13: 9-10

• God is warning the Christians to have faith because this is the way the great tribulation has to be. God foretold us in the ‘Seven Seals’ step by step how Christians would live and die during the great tribulation.

The Second Beast:

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.

Revelation 13: 11-14

• The second beast is the False Prophet. This is the guy that will be using sorcery that fools the world. His power also comes from Satan and he forces the world to worship the first beast who is the Antichrist and the image in the temple. Notice, the people make the image that is placed in the temple.

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.

Revelation 13: 15

• Seems gold is the standard choice of metal when making idols to worship
• In the time of Moses, the people made an image out of gold to worship.
• King Nebuchadnezzar made an image out of gold whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits and the people were forced to worship.
• The number 666 is also associated with Solomon when counting the gold talents.

(The second beast) causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,
so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.
This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

Revelation 13: 16-18

• In order to buy or sell during the great tribulation, people will have to have the name of the beast or his number on your right hand or forehead.
• No one knows yet the identity of the first beast. However, we do know before Jesus returns to earth all the Christians during the great tribulation will know who he is.
• Paul made this very clear when he wrote.

Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction

2 Thessalonians 2:3

• Finally, after the seven vials are poured on earth during God’s wrath the Antichrist and his False Prophet will meet their doom.

And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

Revelation 19:20

Click here to find out what happens to you if you take the mark of the beast.