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The False Prophet: The Biblical Data
The book of Revelation makes it clear that the future Antichrist will be aided by an
individual known as the False Prophet. He is the man who helps to convince the world that
the Antichrist is worthy and deserving of worship, and ultimately it is he who enforces
this worship on penalty of death. The bible also makes the provocative implication that
the False Prophet may actually claim to be Jesus of Nazareth, and the prophet Daniel tells
us that this powerful spiritual leader will come from Rome.
Revelation 13:11-15
Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a
lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his
behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound
had been healed. And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come
down from heaven to earth in full view of men. Because of the signs he was given power to
do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them
to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. He
was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and
cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.
This second beast is referred to as the False Prophet in Revelation 16:13 and
19:20.
-The False Prophet may claim to be Jesus of Nazareth
This relatively new understanding is based on the False Prophet's
description in Revelation 13:11 where he is described as having two horns "like a
lamb..." The metaphor of a "Lamb" is used twenty-eight times
throughout the book of Revelation. It is used almost exclusively, twenty-seven of these
times in fact, as a reference to the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. The single instance where
the term "Lamb" is not used in connection with Jesus Christ is here in
Revelation 13 in reference to the False Prophet. The False Prophet appears like a
lamb, yet he speaks like a dragon. It is entirely possible that this is an
implication that the False Prophet will actually claim to be Jesus of Nazareth.
Another point is that by referring to him as the "false" prophet the
bible is telling us that the most important characteristic is that he is, through and
through, FALSE. This would be especially true were he to make the stupendous claim to
actually be Jesus of Nazareth. His career would be most profoundly characterized by it's falsity.
-The False Prophet will come from Rome
Daniel 9:27 is a prophecy of a future Roman prince who will erect an image
known as the "Abomination of Desolation,"
He will confirm a covenant with many for one `seven.' In the middle of the
`seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he
will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is
decreed is poured out on him.
The Abomination of Desolation is referred to by Jesus Christ as the high point
of the Tribulation period in Matthew 24:15-21. The majority of scholars understand that
the Abomination of Desolation is the same as the "image of the beast" that is
erected in Revelation 13:14, which also indicates that the setting up of the image is the
high point of the Tribulation. Revelation confirms that it is the False Prophet who
directly orders that the Abomination be erected, therefore the Roman prince of Daniel
9:27, who is shown setting up the Abomination of Desolation, is the False Prophet.
Many scholars maintain the belief that the Roman prince of Daniel 9:27 is a
reference to the Antichrist, but this view is inadequate based on a number of reasons:
First of all, as shown in Revelation 13:14, it is the False Prophet who carries
out the setting up of the Abomination, and not the Antichrist. This view is supported by
Daniel 11:31 which describes the "armed forces" of the Antichrist setting up the
Abomination. As a subordinate to the Antichrist, the False Prophet would be considered as
part of the Antichrist's forces. If 2 Thessalonians 2:4 is used alone as evidence that the
Antichrist erects the Abomination, then it conflicts with Revelation 13:14 and Daniel
11:31. The only logical and non-contradictory interpretation is that the False Prophet
erects the Abomination and that 2 Thessalonians 2:4 merely indicates that the Antichrist,
by sanctioning the setup of the Abomination, makes the de-facto claim to be God.
More evidence that the Roman prince of Daniel 9:27 is the False Prophet rather
than the Antichrist can be found by focusing on the Hebrew terminology used. The title of
"king," which is the Hebrew word "melek," is used of the Antichrist in
Daniel 7:24, 8:23 and throughout 11:21-45. However, Daniel 9:26-27 refers to the future
leader from Rome as a "prince" or "ruler," which is the Hebrew word
"nagiyd." Because the book of Daniel consistently refers to the Antichrist as a
"melek," rather than a "nagiyd," it is unlikely that the Antichrist is
referred to in Daniel 9:26-27. "King" is a higher title than "prince,"
and the False Prophet, the future Roman prince, will be subservient to the Antichrist.
Implications
Christians understand that the world awaits the beginning of the final seven year
period of the earth's history. It is the final "week," the final seven year
period, that was given in Daniel's prophecy of the Seventy Weeks. This prophecy is the
critical foundation to understanding bible prophecy and if the reader is unfamiliar with
it then it can be read and studied here- http://www.redmoonrising.com/daniel.htm
This final seven year period will begin when the future Roman prince "confirms
a covenant" that will involve the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem. This
researcher has been led to the belief that this future Roman prince will be the False
Prophet of bible prophecy, and that he may indeed be a leader of the post-rapture apostate
Roman Catholic Church. It is clear from scripture that the False Prophet will be a
powerful and well respected spiritual leader and there is none more powerful or more
respected in religious matters than the Roman Catholic Pope.
Catholic commentators such as the late Father Malachi Martin, Kathleen Keating (The Final Warning) and numerous Catholic
visionaries are united in the belief that the Catholic Church will at one time be led by a
figure they call the Anti-Pope who will turn against the fundamentals of the Christian
faith and accept the Antichrist.
It has also been revealed by numerous sources that the Vatican is currently
intimately involved in the Middle East peace process. Yassir Arafat has been known to make
frequent visits to see the Pope, and the secular Israeli leadership has often consulted
with him as well. The goal of the Vatican appears to be the control of religious sites
within Jerusalem's Old City. Secular Israeli journalist Barry Chamish, who covers the
peace process with a critical eye, has this to say,
"On September 10, '93, the Italian newspaper La Stampa revealed that one of
the unwritten clauses of the DOP was PLO assent to a deal brokered between Foreign
Minister Shimon Peres and the Pontiff. To cut to the meat, Peres promised the
Vatican hegemony over the Old City of Jerusalem by the end of the year 2000. This
story was later confirmed with highly convincing evidence and testimony by the Israeli
newspapers Shishi and Haaretz and the radio station, Arutz Sheva."
(from- http://www.kenraggio.com/KRPN-Catholics%20over%20Jerusalem.htm
).
In recent contacts with Chamish the following information was offered which deals
with the "Al-Aqsa Intifada" of September-October, 2000,
For the past seven years I have been trying to make people understand that
outside forces are deliberately stirring up violence with the aim of sending foreign ie.
UN troops to Jerusalem. This is the Vatican's desire, that Israeli sovereignty end on the
Temple Mount, with the Vatican taking control of the holy sites and the UN in charge of
security and diplomacy, yes, just like in Kosovo.
That is happening now, with Sharon ordered to prepare the pretext for the UN takeover. I
told over a dozen radio programs in August that the plan would be put in motion in late
September, as the High Holidays started. Well, I was right. There is nothing spontaneous
about our mini-war. It was designed from abroad. Note Albright and Chirac are cooking up
the solution. Soon, very soon, the New World Order will arrive in Jerusalem with its army
guided by our treacherous, corrupted leaders. (September 30, 2000)
The world need not look to a future Antichrist and his New World Order to begin
the final seven years of this rebellious age. The final seven year period may quite
possibly be initiated by either this present Pope, or by a successor, through the
manipulations of the Vatican.
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