Revelation 13:11; I Beheld Another Beast – Rise of the False Prophet

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Revelation 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. 

In chapter 12, we saw perennial conflict between Satan and the nation of Israel from which will come the Messiah, the Saviour of all mankind.

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

The seed of the woman describes Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, never before and after, the God-Man, fully God and fully man in one Person! The devil or Satan sought to destroy Christ and His seed, the people of God with vehemence, great hatred. We see this in the anti-Semitism genocide of the Jewish people throughout their history.

Here in chapter 13, we saw the rise of the Antichrist in verses 1-10 and from verses 11-18, the rise of the False Prophet. 

Satan, the Antichrist and the False Prophet form the “unholy trinity” of evil, the false masquerade for the Godhead – Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit.

The Antichrist rose from the sea, the false prophet is seen here rising from the earth. 

Leon Morris observed concerning the false prophet, “His origin in the familiar earth makes him less mysterious than the first which came out of the sea. He is less fearsome, for he has but two horns whereas the first has ten, and seven heads besides (v1).” 

The purpose is the distort and blur the witness of the living and true God through falsehood and deception.

The false prophet is portrayed as a lamb with two horns. The horn is a symbol of power – They give the animal a regal look and provide such an impressive defense mechanism that their imagery was widely employed to represent power. The metaphorical value of the horn comes primarily from the fact that the size and condition of an animal’s horns are indicative of its power, status and health.In Rev. 5:6, the lamb has seven horns – His kingly power is perfect. The first beast is described to be having ten horns.[1]And the lamb depicts an appearance of meekness and innocence, an imitation of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. His speech is described as that of the dragon, with fierceness and authority, commanding attention and allegiance.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such arefalse apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it isno great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Very frightening prospect for the people who lived during the Tribulation period. This false prophet will seek to sway the unknowing multitude to worship the Antichrist.

[1] Dictionary of Biblical Imagery.