The False Prophet

Go To Babylon

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 the False Prophet is.

The False Prophet comes up out of the earth, that is, out of the soul of man. This is not true of the beast, the Antichrist, who rises up out of the "sea" (the peoples of the earth), The Antichrist dwells in man when man insists upon sitting on the throne of his own personality, the throne that was created in man to be the seat of God and His Christ.

The False Prophet dwells in spiritually gifted individuals who seek to employ spiritual wisdom and power but who do not enter the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.

The Pentecostal outpouring that took place at the turn of the twentieth century was of God. The Charismatic movement, while it came into being as a sequel to Pentecost, has embraced the gifts of the Spirit but not the cross-carrying pilgrimage of the true saint. Therefore it has been deceived in many instances with the faith, prosperity, and reconstruction errors.

While it may be premature to claim that the Charismatic movement is the False Prophet of Revelation, Chapter 13, it is true that the spirit of the False Prophet is present among Charismatics. The False Prophet has "two horns like a lamb" but speaks as a dragon. Horns, as employed in the Scriptures, speak of power. The False Prophet attempts to use the power of the Lamb but speaks with the voice of Satan.

The False Prophet will support the Antichrist.

If, as we think, the first beast, the Antichrist, will be represented in the last days by libertarian democracy and capitalism (self-government plus the love of money), and the second beast represents Christians who are not crucified with Jesus but who are seeking to manipulate the metaphysical realm according to their own soulish abilities, then we would expect to see the soulish believers supporting democracy as a form of government and capitalism as an economic system; for the Scripture teaches that the False Prophet will be the mainstay of the Antichrist.

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. (Revelation 13:12)

Evidently democracy and capitalism are going to be dealt a terrible blow, perhaps by the Communists attacking the United States and then England. But after that takes place, the deluded Christians, moving according to their own soulish promptings, will assist in the restoring of democracy and capitalism to the nations of the earth.

Since the first edition of this booklet, the Soviet Union has apparently undergone radical changes. Whether this is a master ploy or an actual collapse of Communism remains to be seen. In any case, the democratic form of government finally will prevail. It is best suited to the desire of Satan to govern the world.

The False Prophet will work spectacular miracles.

And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, (Revelation 13:13)

Since 1950 there has been a gradually increasing acceptance and expectation of miracles, especially on the part of Charismatic believers. Many outstanding healings and other miracles have come from the Holy Spirit of God. However, in some instances the workers of miracles have not been following the Lord as they should; therefore, the miracles have been endorsing unscriptural beliefs and unrighteous practices. The believers seldom are careful to examine if the Lord's will is being done. It is enough that the name of Jesus seems to be honored and the miracle occurs. Thus the Charismatic believers are wide open to deception—and they have been deceived!

In the days ahead there will be unprecedented miracles, continually increasing in number and power. Some will be worked by true saints; others will be wrought at the hands of those who are being moved by their own soul and who are not part of the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord. They are not abiding in the Lord Jesus and are lawless as far as the Kingdom of God is concerned.

Miracles, performed in the name of the Lord Jesus, will be used to endorse the Antichrist system.

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 13:14)

One can imagine how attractive libertarian democracy will appear to the peoples of the earth who have suffered so long under totalitarian systems. When democracy is then endorsed by tremendous signs and wonders, such as fire coming down from the sky, the appeal will be irresistible.

The teaching that faith is a method by which the believer can obtain what he wants is the forerunner of the use of faith to bring about democratic government. It is not a huge leap from using soulish faith to get the job we desire, or the money we want, to using soulish faith to support the kind of government and economic system we believe to be the most moral, enjoyable and productive. We use the term soulish faith to distinguish the current "positive thinking," imaging, and "creative speaking" from true scriptural faith in the Lord Jesus.

The image of the beast.

It is not clear to us what the image is that the False Prophet will make in honor of the Antichrist system of government and economics. We do know that the concept of image is important in the business world of today. We know also that much is said in Christian and secular circles about the power of dwelling on images in the mind in order to attain one's desires.

No doubt the soulish believers, operating in the Satan-inspired supernatural realm they have accepted as being of the Lord Jesus, will be able to conceive of something that will portray the ideal of democracy and capitalism. One is reminded of the image set up by King Nebuchadnezzar—an image of gold that Nebuchadnezzar felt would consolidate his power and deify his person.

The Statue of Liberty, coming from France, a land of revolution, represents the values of the American Constitution. A few years ago the Statue of Liberty was honored in a ceremony that was idolatrous. Chinese students, when attempting to gain some aspects of personal freedom, made a replica of the Statue of Liberty that they referred to as the "goddess of liberty."

The concept of "liberty" refers to political freedom. Political freedom is desirable, but the Christian redemption often flourishes more readily under oppression than it does under political freedom.

The slavery that is to be feared is spiritual slavery. Men are slaves to the lusts of demons until they are set free by the Lord Jesus. The freedom of spirit that Jesus brings can be enjoyed under a democratic government or a totalitarian regime. The citizens of the Western governments have much political freedom but they are in the chains of slavery to Satan and his demons.

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)

It remains to be seen whether the image will be a physical statue or some other representation of democracy and capitalism. In any event, Christians working miracles will make this form of government and economics "live." Furthermore, the Christians may murder those who refuse to go along with their scheme for world peace.

It may be difficult for us to believe that some Christians would murder others, but such has occurred on numerous occasions in Church history.

One must remember that under the reign of Antichrist, soulish Christians will be working together with libertarian government to provide a peaceful world in which every person will have sufficient food, clothing, shelter, and health care. "Renegade" Christians and Jews who refuse to participate in the new world order will be tolerated at first, then scorned, then perceived as enemies of mankind.

There is a movement today among Christians to organize civil government according to Mosaic Law. This would include the institution of capital punishment for a number of crimes that today would not warrant the death penalty.

When the Pharisees had the Lord murdered, and when Saul of Tarsus was imprisoning Christians, they were doing so according to the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses commands very harsh punishments for anyone found worshiping a false God. Satan’s original declaration was that he would be like the Most High, that he would be above the stars of God, that is, seated on a throne above the other sons of God. Satan is always present in a fervent Christian assembly. He looks about to see if any believer has a desire for preeminence. If he can find such an individual he enters him and begins to seduce him.

The fervent Christian who thus becomes invaded by Satan’s desire for preeminence becomes a destroyer of the work of God. He will split his assembly or do whatever else is necessary attain preeminence among the brothers and sisters. He or she will gossip, slander, lie, persuade and exploit young people, and do anything and everything else to gain preeminence and control.

After having seen such believers at work it is not too difficult to picture them arranging circumstances resulting in the death of those who truly were obeying the Lord, sincerely believing by doing this they were serving God.

And he [the False Prophet] had power to give life unto the image of the beast [of Antichrist], 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)

As Antichrist gains control he will be emboldened to put uncooperative Christians to death. Let us call to mind that Pontius Pilate was the one who sentenced the Lord to death, but he did not do so until forced by the leaders of Israel.

As the Pharisees gave satanic life and utterance to the Roman government through Pilate, so the supernaturally driven Christians will give satanic life and utterance to the world system of democracy and capitalism and cause to be put to death all who refuse to participate in their plans.

And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. (Daniel 11:33)

The False Prophet will enforce the mark of the beast.

It is the False Prophet who enforces the mark as a sign of compliance with the preferred economic system.

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: (Revelation 13:16)

Notice that there still are people who are not socially equal ("small and great, rich and poor, free and bond") at this time. Even though liberty and equality are revered, there still will be people who are the servants of others. People who worship at the altar of humanism are never able to perceive what is true. They live in a dreamland of their own conjectures. In the midst of desolation they perceive themselves as possessing abundance. Truly, they prefer to rule in the cardboard shacks of Hell than to serve God in His Kingdom.

Such wishful thinking and blindness can be observed today in America. The center of economics in America is in New York City. The squalor and vice of New York City are beyond description. The center of government in America is in Washington D.C., a city filled with drugs, drunkenness, moral filth, and crime.

Yet, America condemns every government that does not embrace the precepts of democracy. The blind are attempting to lead the blind.

Notice also that the rich will not be able evade the requirements of the system, as they so often are able to do today. The rich no longer will be able to control the nations, the power will be in the hands of those who are forcing democracy and capitalism on the nations of the earth.

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 13:17)

Not being able to buy or sell will force the true Christians into the place in the wilderness that God has prepared for them.

And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (Revelation 12:14)

The current stage of development of lawlessness.

At the present time there has been a preliminary establishment of the use of supernatural power among Charismatics, as seen in the faith and prosperity teachings. Also, outstanding Charismatic leaders are examining the possibility of Charismatics and other Christian people taking a leading role in civil government.

It is our opinion that in the near future the Communist governments will regroup and react against the current spread of democratic ideals among their people. There will be war and democracy will be dealt a deadly blow. Russia then will make the fatal mistake of attacking Israel. When this happens, God will intervene and Russia will be destroyed.

It is after the destruction of the Communist forces, the nations of the earth having been influenced greatly by the power of the worldwide revival of the last days, that a deceived Christian will proceed with the concept of Christian government empowered by supernatural faith (as distinguished from true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ).

The Antichrist emphasis on world peace, material abundance, and social equality will be so utterly deceiving to Christians that almost the entire Christian world will follow this inspired leader. Gradually he will be filled with Satan, as was Judas Iscariot, until he—in his lust for power—turns against God and proclaims himself to be God.

He will go up against Israel and succeed in establishing himself in the rebuilt Temple between the wings of the Cherubim of Glory. He will say, "I am God and there is none other." This statement will so anger God as to cause the great tribulation to commence.

Then the devout Jews are to flee into the wilderness, to be nourished there by the godly remnant of Christians who already will have been driven from the cities of the earth by the government and the fleshly churches acting together. The Christian world by this time will be in confusion and many will go out to join with the remnant.

Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. (Daniel 11:34)

Antichrist, assisted by the False Prophet, will establish a world order. The humanists and libertarians will cry "peace, peace," while all about them is desolation. The rule of man is the abomination that produces artistic, intellectual, financial, agricultural, technical, social, and educational desolation.

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) (Matthew 24:15)

Babylon