The False Prophet

By Edward Hindson, Th.D., D.Phil.
Assistant to the chancellor/Dean/Professor, Religion, Institute of Biblical Studies, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia

The ultimate deception of the End Times will involve the worldwide worship of the antiChrist, but he will not rise to power alone. His success will result from a worldwide spiritual deception perpetrated by the false prophet. This prophet’s ability to perform miraculous signs will enable him to convince the public the antiChrist is the leader for whom they have been searching.

Revelation 13 presents ten identifying features of the false prophet:

rises out of the earth: 13.11
controls religious affairs: 13.11
is motivated by Satan: 13.11
promotes the worship of the beast: 13.12
performs signs and miracles: 13.13
deceives the whole world: 13.14
empowers the image of the beast: 13.15
kills all who refuse to worship the beast: 13.15
controls all economic commerce: 13.17
controls the marks of the beast: 13.17,18

Together, Satan the dragon, antiChrist the beast of the sea, and the false prophet the beast of the earth comprise an “unholy trinity,” a counterfeit of the Holy Trinity. Satan opposes the Father; antiChrist opposes the Son and the false prophet opposes the Holy Spirit. This ungodly alliance is Satan’s final attempt to overthrow the work of God on earth.

The method of their diabolical attempt is explained in the Biblical record. The antiChrist dares not appear until after the “falling away” of apostasy: 2 Thessalonians 2.3. In the meantime, the spirit of antiChrist or lawlessness is already at work, attempting to pervert the Gospel and to corrupt the true Church. When this process is sufficiently established, the false prophet will arise to prepare for the coming of the antiChrist.

The false prophet is depicted as having “two horns like a lamb,” and one who speaks as a dragon: Revelation 13.11. He looks religious, but he talks like the devil. He counterfeits true religion in order to hide his real identity. Just as the Holy Spirit is dedicated to bringing the world to Jesus Christ, the false prophet is dedicated to bringing all men into spiritual allegiance with the antiChrist.

It should not surprise us the false prophet represents the apostate religion of the End Times. If his rise to power parallels that of the antiChrist, he will preside over apostate Christendom after the rapture of true believers to Heaven. All who are left behind, whatever their denomination, will be unbelievers. In such an environment, the false prophet will have no problem deceiving the whole world.

The false prophet is presented in Revelation as an individual who is empowered by Satan: 13.11,12. However, the religious system he represents is called the “great whore,” who is drunk with the “blood of the saints,” 17.1,6. Therefore, the final phase of apostasy is epitomized by a religious system and the individual who leads it. Later, the false prophet is cast into the lake of fire: 19.20 and 20.10.

Spiritual deception is the goal of the false prophet as he encourages people to embrace the social, economic, and religious programs of the antiChrist. As we approach the end of the age, false prophets, new religions, and spiritual darkness will engulf the world, preparing the world for the rise of these great deceivers: the antiChrist and the false prophet.