Greetings! In our last post in our study of the false prophet in Revelation chapter 13, we talked about how the false prophet will lift up and exalt the Antichrist beast to god status. We talked about how down through history, nations have sought to control the populace by declaring the leader as a god and forcing everyone to worship that leader as such. In this post, we’re going to talk about how the false prophet will deceive the nations by displaying supernatural acts of power, like fire coming down from heaven. We’re also going to talk about how the false prophet will cause the people to create an image of the beast and force everyone to bow down and worship it! Are you ready? Then let’s get into this!  

Revelation 13:11–18

Seventh in an Eight-Part Series
by Karen Thompson

A Second Beast: The False Prophet

Rev. 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Deceiving the Masses With Supernatural Power

Now let’s look at verses 13–14: “And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.”

The false prophet will produce great wonders, and one of them will be that “he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.” Verse 13 only tells us of one wonder, the fire that descends from heaven. Notice men will see it. They will be witnesses to it. We don’t know what other signs and wonders the false prophet will perform, but because he will promote Antichrist as a god, I’m confident many will have a religious emphasis.

Remember the words of warning Jesus gave us about false prophets. Just because they can produce supernatural miracles does not mean they are of God. We know from Revelation 16:14 that this power to work miracles will come from evil spirits that will take possession of the beast and the false prophet: “For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles….”  Unlike the personality cults before them, the false prophet and Antichrist will be able to tout genuine displays of supernatural power, but the source of power will be demonic in origin.

Let’s look more closely at the aspect of deception in verse 14: “And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast….” With this ability to perform supernatural miracles, the false prophet will be able to deceive many into believing that Antichrist is divine, sent from God, and that he is some sort of messiah and worthy to be worshiped. The people will look at these miracles and believe they are proof that the false prophet is from God. This is so tragic because Jesus left us with specific instructions on how to judge whether someone is a genuine or a false prophet. Just because someone has the ability to produce supernatural miracles is not confirmation they are sent from God.

Since the beginning of time, mankind has been enticed by supernatural power. People are hardwired into thinking all miracles and displays of supernatural power come from God, especially if the miracle is religious in nature. Unfortunately, many people have a flaw that makes them unable to discern the origin of a miracle. They don’t realize that not every miracle has its origin in God. For instance, if a religious statue cries a tear, people will flock to it in droves and gather near it to form prayer vigils. Such will be the case with the false prophet. He’ll be able to persuade many people that the origin of these miracles is God. They won’t realize the power source of these miracles will be from the dragon, who is Satan.

There is one more thing that needs to be pointed out in verse 14. Notice that it says “those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast…” The false prophet performs these miracles “in the sight of the beast.” This seems to suggest the false prophet will only be able to perform miracles when he is in the presence of Antichrist.

Making an Image of the Beast

Now let’s go on and look at the last part of verse 14 and 15: “…saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.”

Verse 14 says the false prophet will say to the people “that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by the sword, and did live.” Notice the way it’s stated. It doesn’t say the false prophet himself made an image of the beast. It says he said to the people that “they” should make an image to the beast. It’s seems the idea is presented to the people. I imagine the false prophet whipping the people into a spiritual frenzy, lifting up the Antichrist beast as god, and then presenting the idea of creating an image of the beast. We can guesstimate that perhaps the false prophet will propose they make an image of the beast under the guise as a way to honor him and commemorate his resurrection.

Making an image of the beast is par for the course for a personality cult. As noted before, images of the god-like ruler are placed everywhere. But what is typical for personality cults is to have gargantuan and grandiose images of the leader placed in a prominent and meaningful place. For instance, a gargantuan portrait of Chairman Mao, 15 by 20 feet in size, was hung in Tiananmen Square.¹² Likewise, a 39-foot statue of Saddam Hussein stood in Firdos Square in Baghdad, Iraq. It’s the statue made famous when it was pulled down by American forces in April 2003.¹³ There are so many examples of this sort of thing that it would be impossible to list them all. Just suffice it to say that making grandiose statues and monuments of despotic leaders is typical.

Getting back to the false prophet, verse 15 indicates that they do, indeed, create an “image” of the Antichrist beast. We aren’t told what the image will be. In the Old Testament, when an “image” was created, it was usually in reference to a giant statue. It says this image will have an extraordinary ability. Verse 15 starts out by saying the false prophet “had power to give life unto the image of the beast that the image of the beast should both speak….” They create this image, whatever it is and the false prophet gives life to the image, making it able to speak!

In our modern age, how do we interpret that? After all, we live in a technological world where almost anything is possible. Creating an image and giving it the ability to speak is not a big deal. Back then, if someone saw an image that spoke, it would be a magical or supernatural event. But today, we call it TV. In this day and age, an image that has the ability to speak could be something as simple as a giant JumboTron. If this were the case, the image having the ability to speak would not be supernatural.

To further buttress the hypothesis of it being non-supernatural, the Greek word translated as power in the phrase “power to give life unto the image…” is didomi and it simply means to give, to bestow, to grant.¹⁴ The word didomi does not imply supernatural power in any way. The word dunamis was not used, which could have indicated supernatural power was used to give it life.

However, the way this verse is written makes people think the image having the ability to speak will be supernatural in origin. It says the false prophet had “power” to give life unto the image of the beast so that it could talk. Antichrist’s image on a jumbotron would not give anyone spiritual goose bumps, but an image such as a statue that had supernatural ability to speak would cause spiritual hysteria. After all, this chapter is talking about the false prophet wielding supernatural powers so that fire comes out of heaven and the like. So when we read how the false prophet has power to give life to the image so that it can speak, it might just be one of the supernatural wonders the false prophet is able to manifest. It’s difficult to discern the exact meaning of this verse, and perhaps, it is one of those things we won’t know until it actually happens.

Now let’s look at the last part of verse 15: “And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” Verse 15 says the false prophet will have the power to cause the image to speak, and he will also have the power to put to death anyone that refuses to worship the image of the Antichrist beast.

It’s important to make this distinction because other translations of the Bible translate this verse to sound as though the image had the power to kill those that did not worship the beast. For instance, the Amplified Bible says, “And he is permitted [also] to impart the breath of life into the beast’s image, so that the statue of the beast could actually talk and cause to be put to death those who would not bow down and worship the image of the beast” (Amp.). As you can see, this translation sounds as though the image itself has the power to kill those that do not worship the image. In actuality, the verse says the false prophet had power to do two things: first, to give life to the image of the beast so that it could speak and, secondly, to cause all those that fail to worship the image of the beast to be put to death.

The false prophet having the authority to put people to death that do not worship the beast is an indication of just how much power and authority he will have. He will be a very powerful and despotic figure, someone that is ruthless and without mercy.

King Nebuchadnezzar Forced His Subjects to Worship an Image of Him

Let’s look at a biblical example of a despot forcing the populace to worship an “image” of the ruler. In Daniel chapter three, we are told how Nebuchadnezzar built a gargantuan statue of himself, 60 cubits high and 6 cubits wide (90-feet tall and 9-feet wide). When it was completed, Nebuchadnezzar sent an invitation to anyone that had any form of authority in every province of his kingdom. Verse two gives us the list of people that were invited: “…the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces….” They were invited “to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.” It was the sort of invitation that was not to be refused.

When all these rulers were assembled in front of the golden statue, a herald stood before them. They were waiting for him to speak words of dedication, but instead, they heard something quite different. They heard the herald give this command: “To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace” (Dan. 3:4–6). They were commanded to worship the image that Nebuchadnezzar had made of himself. If they didn’t fall down and worship the golden image, they would be killed.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Are Examples to Us

Nebuchadnezzar made good on his threat to throw those who refused to bow down before the golden image into the fiery furnace. Daniel’s three Jewish friends were at the dedication ceremony. When the command was given to bow before the statue, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down before the golden image.

Word got back to Nebuchadnezzar that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down. Verse eight tells us, “Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.” The king wouldn’t have known they didn’t bow down to the golden image if somebody hadn’t snitched on them to the king. The king was furious and demanded they bring the three men to him to explain themselves. When the three men were brought before Nebuchadnezzar, he said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?” (v. 14). He was willing to give them another chance to bow down before the image. If they didn’t bow down before the image this time, then he would throw them into the furnace. His last words to them were “…who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” (v. 15)

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came right out and told the king they didn’t need another chance, because they would in no way bow before the image. They said, “O Nebuchadnezzar, it is not necessary for us to answer you on this point. If our God Whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up!” (Dan. 3:16–18 Amp.). Whether they were to live or die in the fiery furnace, they refused to bow down to the golden image.

The king had Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego thrown into the furnace. It was so hot that the men that threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace were killed just from the flames that shot out from the furnace. When the king looked into the furnace, he was shocked to see not three but four men walking inside the furnace unhurt by the flames. The king said to his men, “Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” (Dan. 3:24–25).

Nebuchadnezzar himself went up to the furnace and called out to the men: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither” (v. 26). The men came out and all were shocked to see they were completely unhurt and their clothing didn’t even smell like smoke.

After witnessing this miracle with his own eyes, Nebuchadnezzar made a statement about the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort” (Dan. 3:28–29).

I have no doubt that this scenario that happened to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will also happen to many of God’s people when the false prophet forces everyone to worship the image of the beast. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had people snitch on them to the king, I have no doubt that those who refuse to worship the beast will be snitched on as well—perhaps by the people closest to them. Just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were brought before the king to explain themselves, I have no doubt that those who refuse to worship the beast will be brought before the false prophet to explain themselves. Just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were given another chance to worship the golden image, I have no doubt that those who refuse to worship the image of the beast will be given another chance to worship the image of the beast.

Jesus Warned About False Christs and False Prophets

In Matthew chapter 24, Jesus shared with the disciples a vision He had about the end times. Jesus described seeing this very same scenario that happened to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego play out with those who would be alive during the time of Antichrist and the false prophet. To those believers who refuse to worship the image of the beast, Jesus has words of instruction for them. Jesus talked about a phenomenon of false christs and false prophets appearing on the scene trying to convince people to follow them. The Antichrist beast will be a false Christ, and the false prophet beast will be a false prophet.

Jesus brought this subject up three times in Matthew chapter 24. In verse five, He said there would be many who would come in His name and say, “I am Christ” and will deceive many. In verse 11, He said false prophets would arise and deceive many. In verse 24, He said false christs and false prophets would arise showing great signs and wonders, “insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” From what we’ve studied so far in Revelation, that sure sounds like Jesus was talking about the Antichrist beast and the false prophet.

He warned them that if they tell you He’s in the desert, don’t go. If they tell you He’s in a secret chamber, don’t go. Then He told them how to recognize Him when He actually does come. He said, “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (vv. 26–27). He will come by way of the east out of the heavens—like lightning!

Jesus said, “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake” (v. 9). Sadly, there will be martyrs. Mark’s Gospel gives us more detail as to the kind of treatment to which the believers will be subjected. He said, “For they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. … But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Mark 13:9–13).

What is written here in Mark chapter 13 will happen when worship of the beast becomes mandatory. If you refuse to worship the beast, you’ll be brought before councils and will have to give an answer as to why you refuse to worship the beast. The Lord says not to think beforehand what to say, that the Holy Spirit will give you what to say. During this time, believers won’t be able to trust their family members. Brothers will betray their brothers, and children will betray their parents. But if the believer endures to the end, he will be saved. Saved from not being put to death? No, they will be saved from everlasting hell. It’s better to die a martyr for refusing to worship the beast than to live in Antichrist’s kingdom and go to hell for eternity.

I also believe during this time there will be many miraculous instances where believers are saved just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were saved. But there will be one element that will not be the same. When Nebuchadnezzar witnessed with his own eyes how God saved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, he repented and praised their God. But that will not be the case with Antichrist and the false prophet. At the end of Revelation, we see both of them are thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:20).

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