Part 7 of 12 / The Rise Of The Antichrist & The False Prophet
- Chris Houser
- Oct 21
- 10 min read
Introduction: The Counterfeit Trinity
As history moves towards its climax, Scripture warns of two sinister figures who will rise to power during the Tribulation: the Antichrist and the False Prophet. Working in tandem, they will deceive the nations, persecute those who refused the mark, became believers of Christ, and will be hunted down because of their refusal to take the mark, and the Antichrist and False Prophet will demand worship. Together with Satan, they will form a counterfeit trinity - a demonic imitation of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Understanding who these figures are and how they operate prepares us to recognize deception and strengthens our hope in Christ's ultimate victory and soon return for His Bride, the Church.
Scriptural Foundation
"No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God."
- 1 Thessalonians 2:3-4
"I saw one of his heads as if it had been fatally wounded, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” A mouth was given to him speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority was given to him over every tribe, people, language, and nation. All who live on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slaughtered."
- Revelation 13:3-8
"Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who live on it worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the presence of people. And he deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life." - Revelation 13:11-14
Who Is The Antichrist?
The Antichrist, also called "the man of lawlessness" or the "beast," will rise as a political and military leader during the Tribulation.
Key Characteristics
Charismatic & Powerful
Gains All Global Authority
"It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority was given to him over every tribe, people, language, and nation." - Revelation 13:7
He Is Blasphemous
Opposes God & Claims Deity Among All
"No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God." - 2 Thessalonians 2:4
He Is Deceptive
Brings False 7 Year Peace At First, Then Reveals His True Nature At 3.5 Years
"Then after the sixty-two weeks, the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. And he will confirm a covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come the one who makes desolate, until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, gushes forth on the one who makes desolate.” - Daniel 9:26-27
Persecutor
Wages War On Those Who Refused The Mark 666 & Accepted Christ
"It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority was given to him over every tribe, people, language, and nation. All who live on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slaughtered." - Revelation 13:7-8
Doomed
The Antichrist Is Destroyed By Christ At His Second Coming
"Then that lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will eliminate with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not accept the love of the truth so as to be saved." - 2 Thessalonians 2:8-10
Who Is The False Prophet?
The False Prophet, the "second beast" of Revelation 13, serves as the Antichrist's religious enforcer.
Key Characteristics
Religious Deceiver
Looks Like A Lamb, But Speaks Like A Dragon
"Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon." - Revelation 13:11
Performs Signs & Wonders
Calls Fire Down From Heaven To Deceive The Nations
"He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the presence of people. And he deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life." - Revelation 13:13-14
Enforces Worship Of The Antichrist
Orders Mandated Worship Of The Antichrist & His Image Upon The Earth
"He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who live on it worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.”
- Revelation 13:12
Introduces The Mark Of The Beast
Requires All To Receive The Mark (666) In Order To Buy Or Sell, Those Without Are Persecuted, Hunted Down, & Killed For Not Taking The Mark
"And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause all who do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six."
- Revelation 13:15-18
What Is Mark Of The Beast?
The False Prophet will institute a One Global Economic System, tied through your allegiance to the Antichrist's One Global Government, to take his mark in your right hand or forehead as (666), where you will not be able to buy, sell, or trade anything unless you receive the man of sins mark of the beast. It will symbolize that you have accepted full authroity and loyalty to the Antichrist's system and you have condemned yourself to damnation by God in Heaven because you've done this.
"And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause all who do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six." - Revelation 13:15-18
Timeline Of The Antichrist & False Prophet
Early Tribulation
Antichrist Rises - Makes 7 Year Covenant With Israel
"And he will confirm a covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come the one who makes desolate, until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, gushes forth on the one who makes desolate." - Daniel 9:27
"No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God." - 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
Midpoint (3.5 Years)
Breaks Covenant - Sets Up 'Abomination & Desolation' In The Third Jewish Temple
"He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the presence of people. And he deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life." - Daniel 12:11
Second Beast (The False Prophet)
Emerges - Enforces Worship Of The Antichrist
"He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who live on it worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.”
- Revelation 13:12
Mark Of The Beast 666
Digital Mark On Forehead Or Right Hand Enforced
"And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause all who do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name." - Revelation 13:15-17
Great Tribulation
Global Persecution Of Those Who Refuse To Accept The Mark
"And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause all who do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name." - Revelation 13:15-17
Armageddon & End Of Tribulation & Christ's Second Coming
A Final Battle Of Satan & Christ Takes Place At Armageddon In Megiddo - Christ Is Victorious - The Antichrist & False Prophet Are Cast Into The Lake Of Fire - The Millennium Can Begin
"And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies, assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse, and against His army. And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire, which burns with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh." - Revelation 19:19-21
Living In The Light Of These Things Spoken
The rise of the Antichrist & False Prophet reminds us of two very important truths:
First: Deception Will Increase - we must ANCHOR ourselves in God's Word now for Jesus said that in the Last Days even the Elect would be deceived.
I would encourage you to go read 2 Timothy Chapters 3 & 4
Second: Our Allegiance Must Be Uncompromising - we cannot serve both Christ and the things of this world, we must swear allegiance to only ONE to Serve & Worship.
Summary
The Antichrist will be a global leader who demands order.
The False Prophet will be a relgious leader who enforces worship of the Antichrist.
Together, they both will deceive the world, persecute believers who refuse the mark of the beast, and control all governments, militaries, and economies.
Their reign ends after 7 years when Christ defeats them at His Second Coming in the Battle of Armageddon in Megiddo.
Reflection & Discussion
Why do you think Satan uses counterfeits of God's truth to deceive?
What safeguards can believers put in place now to avoid deception?
How does the certain defeat of the Antichrist and False Prophet encourage you today?
Prayer For This Week
Father, we Thank You for revealing the truth about the Antichrist and the False Prophet in Your Word. Though these figures will rise in power, we know their days are numbered, and their end is destruction for eternity in the lake of fire. We ask Lord, that You will strengthen our Faith in these last days, so that we will not be easily deceived by the lies around us through deception, but that we will cling to You, Father, Your Son, Jesus Christ, our True King. Help keep us Faithful always, to be Bold and Stand for Truth when Lies are regarded more sacred, and to keep us Watchful Watchmen/women, until the Great Day of Your Magnificent Return. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Until Next Week ~ Maranatha ~ Come Lord Jesus!
