Revelation 13:11; Two Horns Like a Lamb

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. 

The second beast comes not from the sea of people as a symbol of brute force but arises from the earth in contrast to heaven. This beast stands in direct opposition to everything that comes from heaven and is devoid of anything that is heavenly. He is therefore the aggregate of sin that reaches from earth to heaven, and, as the false prophet, he stands completely in the service of the Antichrist. The false prophet is mentioned three times in the Apocalypse (Revelation 16:13; 19:20; 20:10).

Revelation 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs comeout of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 

Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 

Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 

He personifies secular philosophies, that is, the worldly theories of knowledge that influence the thinking and actions of the masses. His purpose is to set the whole world against God and his Christ, revelation, and people. Briefly, his aim is to be victorious in this endeavor, but in reality, as Revelation shows, Christ is the victor and he the vanquished.

And he had two horns like a lamb. Once again John relies on the prophecy of Daniel. He alludes in the Apocalypse to some twenty-seven verses from this prophecy, among which is the one from Daniel 8:3. The lamb of the male gender appears with two horns as symbols of power and might. He had not ten horns like the dragon (12:3) but only two.

Daniel 8:3 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 

The number two signifies sufficiency in respect to spreading the lie and wielding authority throughout the world. The appearance of the lamb is not merely a parody of the Lamb of God; it also appears as the embodiment of deception—harmless, lovable, and attractive. It is the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove or the wolf in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 7:15).

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

This beast is instigated by the father of lies (John 8:44).

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

 Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 388). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.