Identifying the False Prophet; the Predecessor of the Antichrist
One of the keys to understanding who is what in the book of Revelation being able to see the different Greek words from which our English words are translated. Beast for example is translated from either zoon or therion:
NT:2226 zoon (dzo’-on); neuter of a derivative of NT:2198; a live thing, i.e. an animal: KJV – beast. NT:2198 zao (dzah’-o); a primary verb; to live (literally or figuratively).
NT:2342 therion (thay-ree’-on); diminutive from the same as NT:2339; a dangerous animal: KJV – (venomous, wild) beast. NT:2339 thera (thay’-rah); from ther (a wild animal, as game); hunting, i.e. (figuratively) destruction: KJV – trap.
Zoon is used 7 times and therion is used 37 times in Revelation. Here we can see that therion is not just any living animal, but a wild, dangerous and destructive one as well.
Rev 13:11-17 describes this Beast from the Earth
11 Then I saw another beast (therion) coming up out of the earth; and he had (having) two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast (therion) in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast (therion), whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast (therion), telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast (therion) who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. 15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast (therion), so that the image of the beast (therion) would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast (therion) to be killed. 16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast (therion) or the number of his name. NASU
Rev 16:13
And I saw (coming) out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, as it were frogs: ASV
He is mentioned again in Rev 19:20
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. KJV
And, finally after the Millennial Kingdom:
Rev 20:10
And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. NASB
Now let us look at 12 attributes of this 2nd therion beast:
- Comes from the earth as opposed to the 1st beast who comes from the sea;
- Has 2 horns
- Speaks eloquently “as a”(figure of speech simile) dragon- NT:1404 drakoon, drakontos, ho a great serpent, a fabulous animal
- Exercises all the authority (exousia, physical and mental power, influence, rights, governance) of the 1st beast
- Makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast
- Causes great signs (miracles and wonders),
- Makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men
- Deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs
- Tells, commands, those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast
- And it was given to him (autos, he, she or it), to give breath (pneuma, spirit) to the image (eikoon, likeness, figure) of the beast
- Causes as many as do not worship the image of the beast (therion) to be killed
- Causes all, to be given a mark (charagma, an etching, stamp or sculpted figure) on their right hand or on their forehead, so that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast (therion) or the number of his name
A Problem with Islam?
In spite of the fact that most believers believe, that the righteous dead are in Heaven and the unrighteous in Hell, no one person has ever lived and died is in Heaven but Jesus Christ. This error in Doctrine is most unfortunately not only confined to Islam. Practically every religion believes in life somewhere immediately after death. Nothing could be further from the truth.
When we die our bodies, if we are not cremated, corrupt in the ground; they rot away. You know, dust thou art, unto dust thou shalt return, right? It takes a while to turn to dust; it doesn’t happen overnight. I spent a lot of time on the subject of sleeping (death) in my book which you can get on the site, so I am not going into it here.
The point of this blog today is to highlight a problem with Islam. In “The Messengers of Islam” by Ashraf Hassan Abdul-Aziz on page 212-214, we have an account of Muhammed being escorted by the angel Gabriel to each of the 7 heavens; yes 7. In each heaven his “Prophethood” was confirmed by whoever was there. In the first heaven he was greeted by Adam. Here Mo was allowed by Allah to the “souls” of martyrs on his right and those of the wretched on his left.
In the second heaven he met John the baptist and Jesus, the son of Mary. In the 3rd he met Yusuf, the 4th Idris, the 5th Aaron, the 6th Moses, and the 7th Abraham . Then he was taken to God Almighty, like 10′ away from Him or so. This, I suppose is to confirm to all his followers that he really must be a prophet. The Problem is, that all these people are dead and in the grave. Do you see how important the truth is? Without the truth it is more difficult to expose a counterfeit.
The author goes on on page 215 to show “proof” of where in the Bible scripture passages are referring to Muhammed, like De 18:17-18 where YHWH (LORD with all caps) said to Moses that he would raise up a prophet, like Moses; John 16:12-13 (the word “he” should be translated “it,”) where it mentions the spirit of truth. The spirit of truth is not a he. Muslims believe this is referring to Muhammed.
Again, whenever error is practiced, exposing a counterfeit, in this case a false prophet, is not as cut and dry. BUT, when the Dead are dead and the spirit of truth is the gift of holy spirit, there is no problem exposing someone for what they really are. The truth really will set us free, when we know it.
God bless,
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