One other thing, prophecy, to the Jew, is a pattern.

Nothing was to be judged on the basis of one witness, which also applied to the prophetic.

"On the evidence of two witnesses or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.” (Deuteronomy 17:6 NASB)

When someone operating in the role of a prophet declares something, all we can do is hold it in the back of our minds. Of course, all changes if the impact should be immediately seen. Later on, another prophecy comes and validates not only the first prophet but the word itself. (There are parameters upon which to judge a prophecy, the biggest is – it is trying to lead us away from God to serve other gods.) The Jewish mind understood all of this. They are not impressed with the waving of hands and fancy words, and the Apostle John knew this as well. That is why in almost every case (some are harder to find than others), these are words that have been spoken over the Jews on a previous occasion.

Focusing on Revelation 13:11-18.

“Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, and it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. Also, it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.” (Revelation 13:11-18 ESV)

• Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth.

Since our first beast rose out of the sea, and we know that the sea represents people, we can learn that the first beast comes out of an environment that is more widespread. This second beast, rising out of the earth, demonstrates that he is from a more localized area, but where?

The easy answer as to where this localized area is is Israel.

• It had two horns like a lamb. 

  

If you are not a farmer, then you may not know that sheep have horns, but for economic reasons, they cut them off. At the time of this writing, we had recently gone to the local county fair. (It is hard to believe that the area I live in was once orange groves and farmers.) That particular year they had several sheep with horns, and the horns were massive.

To the Jewish attendees in the early church, their perception that this meant deception was immediate. 

The fact that it is like a lamb establishes that it is representing itself, to some degree, as Jesus did, at first gentle and caring, but then at the three-and-a-half-year mark of the seven-year period – watch out.

If we were Jewish converts, what would be our immediate association when John introduces an image of a lamb?

Perhaps Genesis 22:8, where Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb ..” The idea of the slain lamb as a way of removing sin was scattered throughout the Torah and a common practice for the Jews. However, the impact of the slain lamb – in tradition – was a good thing, and we already recognize that there is a horrendous deception coming. We all also have the imagery, seen earlier in Revelation, of the lamb as though it had been slain, and that was Jesus, the Messiah, standing there.

Revelation 5:6 ESV And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

This may not be hitting you in the same manner, it is impacting me, but if the Jewish religious council, with their eyes closed, as they are today, get pulled into this deception, they will pull many into the deceit along with them. Think of this scenario as a sinkhole.

He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast. Revelation 13:11-18.

 Previously, the Apostle John saw this.

“It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.” (Revelation 13:7-8 NASB)

We established who this “him” or spokesperson for the beast, is; and it is the antichrist (the Assyrian.) As you can see above, this man:

• Makes war with the saints and to overcome them.

  War is the Greek word polēmos and, according to Strong's concordance means warfare (literally or figuratively); whether a single encounter or a series of battles.

  So, the reality is that this guy, with some help, is going to kill the saints. But you have to remember where you are at – in the early stages of the time of wrath. The assumption most people make is that we apply the term and characteristics of the Biblical Christian to those who go through the wrath. Christians – followers of Christ or believers are the church. The church is to be caught up into the clouds, to forever be with Him.

  “Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17 NASB)

  Another aspect of being a Christian is the fact that we, the broken, will be changed. Ah, but changed into what? We will be like him (Jesus.).

  Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53 NASB)

  Let me point out a few other things here. Raised perishable we will put on the imperishable – immortality, a term that I used frequently in my last post. I only point to this because religious zealots, who skimmed right over this term, will have hate-filled thoughts that I could apply comic book characteristics to this life that we will soon have.

  Now, many think they are Christians, though their lives show very little fruit. Using the story of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13,) it becomes clear that 50% of those who deem themselves to be in the family, will not make it in on the first pass. For me, the burning question is will these people, who believe they are Christians, and go through the time of wrath, be changed and therefore free from the draw of sin? Perhaps a part of the answer may come from 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 itself. Pay attention to the words “For this perishable must put on the imperishable.”
  Is it possible that some of us will put on the imperishable, while others will not?

  If they do not put on the imperishable then they are subject to pain and death, just like everybody else. If they displayed some love toward God, and yet, could not bring themselves to stay the course, to the point that like the virgins, did not choose to trim their wicks, put adequate oil in the lamps, nor bring extra oil, just in case. It is not hopeless for them but they, like everyone else, will have to prove their love for Him in martyrdom. It almost seems as though their love will be more precious because the cost was so high. These are those who are called saints in Revelation 13:7.

• Has “ authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.”

The extent of this man's actions is global. At the moment my mind says, how is that possible, but the reality of of global communications, and the fact that we see, even now, the world working in unison to get everyone vaccinated, should explain a bit of how this will happen. Holocaust again.

Page one.

• And we see this. “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.”

  Everybody worships this fool with the exception of one group of people, those whose names are written in the book of life.

  Have you ever thought about this?

  All of these people who are refusing to worship the antichrist/the beast have been known to God all along.

  Let's go back to the virgins of Matthew 25. I want to scream here, as they were all virgins. What happened, because only half made it to the wedding.

  Did their hearts change toward God?

  Did God's heart toward them change?

  Did He erase them out of the Lamb's book of life?

  The answer is NO to all these questions, although I have experienced momentary shifts in my attitude toward God, especially when I knew I was in the wrong.

  And now, we find “virgins”, Christians, and people who have fought to maintain their denial of Christ because it made them look uncool. Suddenly everything becomes clear and you know that you have to hold on to the testimony of Christ, even if it is a bloody gurgle before you die.

Revelation 13:11 -

At this point in time, the madness above has been going on for three and a half years. Out of the shadows of the temple, this man called the false prophet steps forward.

Revelation 13:11 NASB 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.

• Coming out of the earth?

  I looked at J. Vernon McGee because he tends to explain things on a farm level simplicity. He said, “The earth from which this second beast arises is symbolic of Palestine, and it is naturally assumed that the second beast comes from Israel. He is a messiah, and Israel would not accept him unless he had come from their land and was one of them.”

  Having spent my life in church I can say I have heard everything, but this is the first time I have heard this. The beast coming out of the sea represents a vast horde, but for me, it certainly seemed to convey the idea of a wide spread horde.

  I have pointed out that the Revelation is Middle East centric, with that in mind it would be easy to look solely at the Mediterranean and the Levantine coast.

  So, then, where should I look for the false prophet?

  You got it, the Middle East, but the passage gives us a huge clue in that it says, “he had two horns like a lamb.” The lamb is Jesus and the Revelation itself, give us this. John is told, not to weep, behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

  “and one of the elders *said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals." And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.” (Revelation 5:5-6 NASB)

  
  

Page two.

• So what is John now expecting to see?

  You got, a lion as regal as the imagery of Aslan from the C.S. Lewis book, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.

  But what does he see?

  A Lamb, standing, as if slain. Something completely the opposite. In case you have forgotten, the Lion voluntarily became the Lamb for our benefit.

  With all this in mind, there is a strong push to see this false prophet as coming out of Israel, as Dr. McGee mentioned.

  What relational passage can we find from the Old Testament?

  'These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth.

  (Daniel 7:17 NASB)

  “Four beasts,” is similar to the terminology, used to describe the four beasts coming out of the sea. Using the term land forces us to re-center upon the Middle East.

  “And on account of transgression the host will be given over to the horn along with the regular sacrifice; and it will fling truth to the ground and perform its will and prosper.”
  (Daniel 8:12 NASB)

  The “host” may well be referring to the Jewish religious leadership. The verse implies that all of them will cave to this false prophet, but if we use Nicodemus as an example, then we can know that NOT all will sell their sole to the devil.

  You need to know something, Islam has its own set prophecies, and one of them includes their understanding that in the last days there will be a high priest in the last temple.

  Israel already has this guy appointed, and this appointment happened several years ago. His name is Rabbi Baruch Kahane. He is respected and loved by many.

  Islam believes that this man, whom the Jewish council did an extensive background check to validate his lineage as it relates to Aaron, will, at some point, (3.5 years into the seven-year reign of the antichrist,) switch teams, convert to Islam, join himself to the antichrist (whom the Muslim's call the Mahdi,) and become the deadly enforcer of Sharia law. He will throw down the law of God in exchange for Sharia law. Empowered by the dragon – Satan, he will perform miracles and signs; one of those signs is to turn the rain back on again.

  What is he doing turning the rain back on?

  Because the two witnesses from God, have been doing signs and wonders, not so dissimilar to what Moses and Aaron did before Pharaoh; and they have turned off the rain. Because after three years God calls the two witnesses back home, He has allowed to be killed, up to this point NO ONE has been able to touch them; and now they are gone.

  What or who is there to stop this false prophet from performing any evil miracle he wants?

• The verse, Revelation 13:11, finishes by saying “he spoke as a dragon.”

  When you consider that this is Satan filling this priest's mind and soul with evil power and direction; to the point that this priest, serving in the newly built temple, is speaking on behalf of Satan when he speaks.

As if speaking on behalf of Satan was not bad enough, “He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence.”

Page three.

Revelation 13:12 NASB He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.

The false prophet exercises all the authority of the beast, or antichrist, strangely, the verse adds, in his presence. So, whatever powers or authority that the beast has, he has, and so the false prophet continues the killing. Apparently, the antichrist and now the false prophet, do not care that the church, and, therefore, the Christians, were caught up to be with Jesus, and, therefore, protected from the dangers of the wrath. And so, the people they are now killing without thought or reason, are those that were NOT anxiously awaiting Jesus return, and they were non-believers when the rapture came, so I would be hard-pressed to call them Christians. Thank God a change can still come and God calls them saints.

But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. (2 Corinthians 3:15-16 NASB)

An even more decisive verse comes from Isaiah. I included verse 6 as it speaks to the marriage supper of the Lamb. The mountain is where the New Jerusalem will be.

The LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain; A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, And refined, aged wine. And on this mountain, He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples, Even the veil which is stretched over all nations. He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken. (Isaiah 25:6-8 NASB)

Look at these words, “And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples, Even the veil which is stretched over all nations.” What did I tell you? That the veil over the world will be lifted. I assumed that this would happen at the rapture, a prime moment of time as it would be logical and open the door for the world to come to know Him.

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4 NASB)

• “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,”

  Are you telling me, that if by believing, and, therefore, no longer perishing, that the veil is lifted from the those who come to the Lord during “the tribulation.”

  So, if someone during the time of wrath believes, are you telling me that they have the veil lifted from their heart and eyes?

  Yes.

• “ And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast.”

  The false prophet, quite possibly the rabbi who is to become the high priest, will make everyone on earth worship the first beast.

  The first beast is the antichrist, but wait a minute, didn't the antichrist emerge from one of the heads of this four-headed beast?

  Yes, he did. The problem here is that the story just made a shift and assigned this head wound that apparently kills a kingdom.

  "The broken horn and the four horns that arose in its place represent four kingdoms which will arise from his nation, although not with his power. (Daniel 8:22 NASB)

Page four.

• “whose fatal wound was healed.”

  I have explained on multiple occasions how the Ottoman empire fits the description of the kingdom that sustained a mortal head wound in 1924, and yet came back to life in 1979 with the Iranian or Islamic revolution.

  But, because the context is focused on a man, the false prophet, who is following the antichrist – the beast, the terminology feeds into the false teachings that we should be looking for someone who survives an assassination attempt.

  The truth of the matter is that the followers of Christ, really have nothing to do with any of this. We are merely trying to inform those who insist on getting caught up in this torture; this is especially grievous since you don't have to endure the wrath of God, simply turn you heart to God and look for His salvation.

Revelation 13:13 NASB He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.

We talked about this briefly. It is highly possible that God has already sent the two witnesses. They have been here for three and a half years and have been doing the very things that this passage describes. The witnesses use fire to destroy anyone who tries to harm them. And, remember that the magicians in Pharaoh's court copied or mimicked the signs and miracles that Moses and Aaron performed; an exception came when Aaron threw down Moses' rod and it turned into a serpent. The magicians did the same thing, but Moses' rod ate theirs; this they could not duplicate.

Revelation 13:14 NASB 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, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life.

Previously, we saw that everyone except for those whose name is written in the book of Life worshiped the antichrist – the beast. Now, the false prophet deceives everyone who is dwelling on the earth, and he does it by the signs.

Consider for a moment, that if this is actually a known, well-accepted rabbi, who the Jewish council promoted to be the high priest of the new temple, and suddenly he is doing the same signs that the two witnesses performed.

What would the potential impact be?

Jesus, in His response to the disciples about when these things would come to pass, said, see to it that you do not become deceived. The deception will be great, but only because these men do not have their hearts settled in God's word.

Revelation 13:15 NASB 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 as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

The beast was a four-headed monstrosity; a kingdom; a man – the antichrist, and all of them empowered by Satan, and most likely a fallen angel, a demon.

Which one of these will become the model for the image?

So, we truly have no major clue as to what this image will look like. It just makes sense that it is the image of a human.

But what if it is the image of Allah?

No one has seen Allah unless you count the demonic angel that tried to choke out Mohammad in an effort to convince him to follow Allah.

We live in an age of robotics and audio-animatronics, thanks to Disneyland. I don't see this false prophet using techniques like Disneyland but they might use some of the projection techniques.

Revelation 13:16-17 NASB (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 or the number of his name.

Dear Lord, who is left on earth to accept this mark?

The antichrist and now the false prophet, have been on a rampage killing followers of Christ during the time of wrath. One might think that most would have been killed by now. If that is the case, this has to be only those who are still coming to an acceptance of Christ. In other words, people, from every nation, who have been able to dodge the sword; the vaccine; the wrath of man, and the hatred of the antichrist.

Are you aware that the technology to permanently mark you with a traceable tattoo, is less than three years away from being implemented in association with the vaccine?

So this can happen at almost anytime.

Revelation 13:18 NASB 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.

This is like Rubik's cube to me and I have never figured it out.

The beast has been associated with empires, like the Ottoman empire, and finally connected to a man, empowered by Satan. The last representation is a demonically empowered man. I suggest, strongly, that he is a Muslim because one of his names (given in Daniel's prophecies,) is the Assyrian. Do your homework and you will find that the Muslims and the remnant of the Seleucid and Ptolemaic empires are all Assyrians. In short, Middle Easterners; sons of Abraham through Ishmael.