Revelation 13:11-12 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 I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth’
John witnessed another beast emerging, but this time from the earth. Recall that the Antichrist also went up from under the earth but through the sea. This gives us a clue as to what this beast is, a diabolical being.
‘and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.‘
The verse continues with a description of the beast, having the horns of a lamb, and that it speaks like a dragon (the devil). To determine what kind of speech a dragon has, we must refer back to the previous verse in this chapter.
Recall that the earlier beast (Antichrist) has mouths that speak charisma and blasphemies. This gives us an idea of how the 2nd beast (false prophet) will speak. Because the beast will have above-average oratory skills, it is possible that the identity/occupation of the Antichrist is a minister. This supports the idea that the Antichrist could be a pope. Similarly, the false prophet also has exceptional oratory skills, which means that he could be another minister or prophet as his name indicates.
Going back to the description of the false prophet, we are going to take a closer look at his comparison to a lamb.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Notice in Matthew 7 where God gives a warning about false prophets in sheep’s clothing. This means that this ‘prophet’ will appear harmless to the world but will actually be evil. Another thing to consider is that the Bible has other mentioning’s of antichrists and false prophets, not necessarily the official ones but rather people that are identified as such through their actions and beliefs.
That’s what all these Joel Osteen and Rick Warren look like. They’re wolves in sheep’s clothing. But Pastor would prefer to be a sheep in wolves’ clothing.
Take I John 2 where it describes what an Antichrist is and 2 Peter 1, which mentions false prophets among the people. The antichrist and false prophet are not mentioned for the first time in Revelation 13. If we want to study about antichrists and false prophet, we need to see that God has seen them before the official Antichrist and false prophet come.
2 Peter 2:1-3 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
The antichrist would deny Jesus is the Christ.
1 John 3:12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
1 John 4:1-3 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
The above verses mean that there have been/are many antichrists and false prophets in the world before the official ones are introduced, as noted in 1 John 2:18. This verse also is useful in proving that the Antichrist will hold a title that has been in power ever since Jesus’ time and one that will continue well into the Tribulation period, which is a Roman ruler (pope).
1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
Because of 2 Peter 2, the false prophet appears to be a sort of minister or pastor that also has political power because of the mentioning of false teachers and that they promise liberty with strong oratory skills (much like a politician). Someone like Billy Graham is a much greater candidate for a false prophet. He always mentions the gospel of Jesus Christ. A false prophet knows when to switch sides – he knows how to look like a Bible believer and when to look like an ecumenical preacher. These teachings refer to the teaching of heresies in which these false prophets go as far as to deny Jesus in their false doctrines.
2 Peter 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
‘they speak great swelling words of vanity‘
They use great swelling words to allure people.
‘While they promise them liberty‘
These pastors talk about liberty, independence, freedom.
‘they themselves are the servants of corruption:‘
No wonder it says that he who leads into captivity shall be captive.
In summary, the false prophet will be a minister, someone similar to a second Billy Graham. He needs to have political and religious powers too.