The Dragon, the Beast and the False Prophet

We read of The DRAGON, The BEAST & the FALSE PROPHET in Revelation 16

“Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”  Revelation 16:12-14

THE DRAGON – The Spirit of Deception

We know from Revelation 12 that the Dragon is that ancient serpent from the beginning – DRAGON = SATAN

The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. Rev. 12:9

The ancient serpent of old makes his first appearance in the Garden of Eden.  He morphs his way through the entire Bible as the spirit of deception – an adversary. He takes many forms. Peter was called Satan when he tempted Jesus. We learn in 2 Cor. 11:14 that ‘Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.’ In Revelation 12 we read of Herod the Great – who tries to kill Jesus – and his seed – Pharisees, Herodians & leaders of the Jews – who persecute the followers of Jesus: See Great Sign of Woman in Heaven. The same serpent spirit which denies Christ, is still present in the end time prophecies of Israel. Even though they are back in the Land performing ‘signs and wonders’ the time of their ’empowered witness’ comes to an end. See ‘Israel – Man of Lawlessness’. Natural Israel and all the kingdoms of men will pass away and a ‘New Jerusalem’ will come down from heaven –

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth (symbol of New Political System – the Kingdom of God) for the first heaven and earth had passed away (the old Israel), and the sea was no more (sea is a symbol of separate nations – God’s Kingdom will cover the world). I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”           Revelation 21:1-2 See Symbols

THE FALSE PROPHET

We are given more clues about the False Prophet in Revelation 19

“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 19:20

This description of the ‘False Prophet’ is the same as that of the ‘Beast of the Earth’ which we read about in Revelation 13

By comparing the prophecies, we can see that the ‘2^nd Beast’ and the ‘False Prophet’ are one and the same. They perform great signs which deceive in the presence of the Beast of the Sea.

It’s talking about Israel’s empowered witness over their enemies. But when the time of their empowered victories end, so does their Earthly Kingdom – to be rolled up as a scroll and replaced with ‘New Jerusalem’ the Kingdom that comes down from Heaven.

– See 666 Counting the number of the Beast to see how it apples to Israel.

THE BEAST & FALSE PROPHET

The False Prophet (Israel) and The Beast of Revelation 16 (Israel) are different aspects of Israel, identified by the signs or miracles they perform –

“For they are spirits of demons, performing signs” Rev. 16:14

 Revelation is largely about the witness of Israel in disbelief of Christ.

ISRAEL – The Witnesses in Disbelief of Jesus Christ

The 2^nd Beast of the Earth – see 666 counting the number of the Beast

The Harlot – see Jerusalem Becomes Babylon

The False Witness (as explained above)

2 Witnesses of Revelation 11 – See 2 Witnesses Revelation 11

Seed of Dragon of Revelation 12 – See Great Sign of Woman in Heaven

The Man of Lawlessness

In all these situations natural Israel is defeated. In highly symbolic language, the False Prophet Israel is thrown into the lake of fire along with the Beast –

“Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.” Rev. 19:20

The Kingdoms of men fall at the return of Christ.

The Old Israel will be no more. New Israel are all those who become Christians whether they are natural descendants of Abraham who repent at the coming of Jesus –

“Another scripture says, “They will look on Him whom they have pierced” John 19:37

Or spiritual descendants of Abraham –

“And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.”  Matthew 3:9

Natural Israel have been God’s witnesses to the world that God keeps his promises – but witnesses in disbelief of their Messiah.

Because of their ’empowered witness’ many Christians have worshipped Israel as God’s blessed people – but God took His covenant from them and gave it to those producing fruit and believing in Jesus –

“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.”  Matthew 21:43

May their hearts change and eyes be opened at the return of Christ.

May the rest of the world see the witness of Israel and ‘Believe’

See BEYOND CHANCE