While much has been said concerning the AntiChrist, little has been said about the False Prophet that is to come. During the coming Tribulation, Satan will attempt to promote his program by way of an Unholy trinity: The AntiChrist, the False Prophet and himself. He is always the great counterfeiter and in the last days he will attempt to counterfeit the Godhead. The AntiChrist is the counterfeit Son of God. The False Prophet is the counterfeit Holy Spirit. Satan himself is the power behind these two people; he is the father of the AntiChrist.
While the AntiChrist, (the beast from the sea) Rev. 13:1-10 is a Gentile, the False Prophet, (the beast from the earth) Rev. 13:11-18 is a Jew.
History: The historical prototype of the AntiChrist was Antiochus IV who was aided by a religious leader, Menelaus, to enforce his will and attempt to impose an alien way of life upon the Jews. Antiochus deposed the high Priest Onias III, and installed his brother, Jason (originally Joshua). Jason was of the priestly line but followed Hellenistic ideals. He built a gymnasium in Jerusalem.
Menelaus, from the tribe of Benjamin, deposed Jason & killed the legitimate high priest Onias III. Menelaus led Antiochus IV into the Holy Place and allowed him to remove some of the golden vessels from the Temple. Menelaus was determined to bring all Jews into allegiance to Antiochus IV, who thought himself to be god. The Temple was dedicated to Zeus Olympus. Menelaus was not interested in being the high priest of the God of Israel, but a priest to Antiochus IV. He halted the Temple services. He set up an image of Zeus (that looked like Antiochus) in the Temple and sacrificed swine on the altar. He introduced other pagan rites as well as enforcing the edict against any kind of Jewish worship. He persecuted all Jews who would not submit.
The False Prophet will be a Jew, probably not from the priestly line, who will be empowered by Satan to do many miraculous things. Rev. 13:11-18 He will be totally committed to the AntiChrist and will be responsible for halting the Temple sacrifices, setting up an image of the AntiChrist in the Temple and calling all to worship it.
Y'shua made it clear that the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, was a future event. Matt. 24:15-21 It would be the beginning of great distress, unequalled from the beginning of the world until now and never to be equaled again.
The False Prophet appears to be righteous at first (like a lamb), but speaks the words of the Dragon, Satan. He enforces the worship of the Antichrist and will have the power to give the image breath so it can speak. Refusal to worship the image results in a death sentence, just as Menelaus caused great suffering & death for the Jewish people for not worshipping the image of Zeus.
The False Prophet will also force everyone to receive a mark on his right hand or forehead so that no one will be able to buy or sell unless he has the mark of the beast (AntiChrist). Everyone will receive the same number, the number of the name of the beast. -666. (Hebrew letters are also numbers, so every time you spell something in Hebrew, it can be calculated. There are numerous ways to come up with 666. This is a clue, which will not be completely understood until the AntiChrist is revealed.)
Once again, the Jewish People will flee for their lives and go into hiding in the hills as they did under the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. But this time will be much more horrendous. ".but woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you; He is filled with fury, because he knows his time is short." Rev. 12:12b
In Rev. 14:9-12 ".If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives the mark on the forehead or on the hand, he too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. There is not rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name. This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Y'shua (Jesus)."
For those of the earth who accept the reign of the AntiChrist and his sidekick, the False Prophet, in the hope of surviving; the L-rd makes it very clear that they will receive no safety and no security from doing so. However, those who do not accept the mark are later seen in heaven praising the L-rd. Rev. 15:2-4
For those of us alive today, this entire scenario can be avoided by accepting the true Lamb of God -- Y'shua --who gave His life & became sin for us that we may become the sons of God. The L-rd did not appoint us to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation through our L-rd Y'shua Messiah. John 1:12 & 3:16, II Cor. 5:21, I Thess. 5:9
Lura Maiman, Congregation Yeruel, Israel