Revelation 13:11-15 - The False Prophet's Power

"He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.” The middle chapters of the Book of Revelation, 10-14, are also describing events that take place in the middle of the Tribulation. Here in Rev. 13:1, there is a “beast that comes up out of the sea”, who is also called the Antichrist. In Rev. 13:11, there is another “beast that comes up out the earth”, who is also called the “false prophet.” What we learn in the above verses is that the false prophet will exercise the same kind of demonic power and authority as the Antichrist does, since both are empowered by the same hellish source. That he exercises his authority in Antichrist's presence implies that Antichrist will have delegated that authority to him. The false prophet's mission will be to use all the means available to him from the Antichrist to cause the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast. He will lead the worldwide cult of Antichrist worship. The false prophet's efforts to promote the worship of the Antichrist will receive a tremendous boost from a startling, spectacular event: the apparent healing of the first beast's (Antichrist's) fatal wound (v. 3; 17:8). Some commentators believe that the false prophet was able to duplicate the resurrection of the two witnesses by resurrecting the Antichrist from the dead. It is possible that when the Antichrist overcame the two witnesses and killed them that he was mortally wounded and died. That’s when this false prophet shows up and resurrects him from the dead. Others believe that the whole world watch this fight with the witnesses and saw him receive a “deadly wound”. But that his “death and his resurrection” was staged and only a ruse. Either way, the world sees all this and is deceived by the false prophet and are now willing to worship the “first beast”, the Antichrist. It is at this time, that the Antichrist breaks the peace treaty with Israel and seeks to destroy them. But God protects them, and they flee to the wilderness to a place prepared for them. Then the Antichrist and the false prophet perform their next sign which is “the abomination of desolation" mentioned by Daniel (Dan. 9:27; 11:36), Jesus (Matt. 24:15), and Paul (2 Thes. 2:4). What is "the abomination of desolation"? It is the image of "the beast," set up in the temple in Jerusalem. An idol is bad enough; but setting it up in the temple is the height of all blasphemy. Since Satan could not command worship in heaven, he will go to the next best place—the Jewish temple in the Holy City (see Dan. 8:9-14). Then the false prophet will miraculously make the idol, the image of the Antichrist to speak by giving it breath. He will also demand that everyone worship this image and if they don’t, they will be killed. The question often gets asked if Satan can do miracles. And of course, the answer is yes. Remember when Moses had Aaron thrown down his rod and it became a snake, that the magicians of Pharoah were able to duplicate this miracle with their rods. But also remember, that Aaron’s snake ate up their snakes, proving that God is the ultimate power and authority. Today, there are many false prophets who call themselves ministers who even sometimes do miraculous things. But just because they can perform a sign or miracle, you should not believe them. They usually are simply drawing attention to themselves and want your money. Jesus said we don’t need a sign! He gave us what we needed when He died on the cross and resurrected the third day! That is His Great Sign! God bless!