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FALSE PROPHETS (Tares)

Deuteronomy 18:20-22 – A New Prophet Like Moses

Dt 18:20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ 21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’— 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.

 
Isaiah 8:19-20 – Fear God, Heed His Word

Is 8:19 And when they say to you, “Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,” should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

 
Deuteronomy 13:1-5 – Punishment of Apostates

Dt 13:1 “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’ 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. 5 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall [b]put away the evil from your midst.

 
Isaiah 29:13-16 – The Blindness of Disobedience

Is 29:13 Therefore the Lord said:

“Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips,
But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,

14 Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work Among this people,
A marvelous work and a wonder; For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.”

15 Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the Lord,
And their works are in the dark; They say, “Who sees us?” and, “Who knows us?”
16 Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay;
For shall the thing made say of him who made it, “He did not make me”?
Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?

Matthew 23:15 – Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees

Mt 23:15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

FALSE PROPHETS and THE FALL OF JERUSALEM

Jeremiah 14:13-15 – Sword, Famine, and Pestilence

Jer 14:13 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, the prophets say to them, ‘You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.’ ” 14 And the Lord said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart. 15 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name, whom I did not send, and who say, ‘Sword and famine shall not be in this land’—‘By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed!

 
Jeremiah 5:30-31 – The Justice of God’s Judgment

Jer 5:30 “An astonishing and horrible thing Has been committed in the land:
31 The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power;
And My people love to have it so.
But what will you do in the end?

Jeremiah 23:9-29 – False Prophets and Empty Oracles

Jer 23:9 My heart within me is broken Because of the prophets; All my bones shake.

 

11 “For both prophet and priest are profane; Yes, in My house I have found their wickedness,” says the Lord.
12 “Therefore their way shall be to them Like slippery ways;
In the darkness they shall be driven on And fall in them;
For I will bring disaster on them, The year of their punishment,” says the Lord.
13 “And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria:

They prophesied by Baal And caused My people Israel to err.

14 Also I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem: They commit adultery and walk in lies;
They also strengthen the hands of evildoers, So that no one turns back from his wickedness.

All of them are like Sodom to Me, And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.

 

15 “Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets:

‘Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, And make them drink the water of gall;
For from the prophets of Jerusalem Profaneness has gone out into all the land.’ ”

16 Thus says the Lord of hosts:

Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you.
They make you worthless; They speak a vision of their own heart, Not from the mouth of the Lord.
17 They continually say to those who despise Me, ‘The Lord has said, “You shall have peace” ’;
And to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, they say, ‘No evil shall come upon you.’ ”

18 For who has stood in the counsel of the Lord, And has perceived and heard His word?
Who has marked His word and heard it?
19 Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord has gone forth in fury—A violent whirlwind!
It will fall violently on the head of the wicked.
20 The anger of the Lord will not turn back Until He has executed and performed the thoughts of His heart.
In the latter days you will understand it perfectly.

21 “I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
22 But if they had stood in My counsel, And had caused My people to hear My words,
Then they would have turned them from their evil way And from the evil of their doings.

23 “Am I a God near at hand,” says the Lord, “And not a God afar off?
24 Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?” says the Lord;
“Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord.

25 “I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in My name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ 26 How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart, 27 who try to make My people forget My name by their dreams which everyone tells his neighbor, as their fathers forgot My name for Baal.

 

28 “The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream;
And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully.
What is the chaff to the wheat?” says the Lord.

29 “Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord,
“And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

 

30 “Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” says the Lord, “who steal My words every one from his neighbor. 31 Behold, I am against the prophets,” says the Lord, “who use their tongues and say, ‘He says.’ 32 Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” says the Lord, “and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all,” says the Lord.

Lamentations 2:13-14 – God’s Anger with Jerusalem

Lam 2:13 How shall I console you? To what shall I liken you, O daughter of Jerusalem?
What shall I compare with you, that I may comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion?
For your ruin is spread wide as the sea; Who can heal you?

14 Your prophets have seen for you False and deceptive visions;
They have not uncovered your iniquity, To bring back your captives, But have envisioned for you false prophecies and delusions.

Ezekiel 22:23-31 – Israel’s Wicked Leaders

Ez 22:23 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 24 “Son of man, say to her: ‘You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.’ 25 The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. 26 Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. 27 Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain. 28 Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord had not spoken. 29 The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. 30 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. 31 Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord God.

Micah 3:9-12 – Wicked Rulers and Prophets

Mic 3:5 Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets Who make my people stray;
Who chant “Peace” While they chew with their teeth,
But who prepare war against him Who puts nothing into their mouths:
6 “Therefore you shall have night without vision, And you shall have darkness without divination;
The sun shall go down on the prophets, And the day shall be dark for them.
7 So the seers shall be ashamed, And the diviners abashed;

Indeed they shall all cover their lips; For there is no answer from God.”

 

8 But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, And of justice and might,
To declare to Jacob his transgression And to Israel his sin.

9 Now hear this, You heads of the house of Jacob

And rulers of the house of Israel, Who abhor justice And pervert all equity,
10 Who build up Zion with bloodshed And Jerusalem with iniquity:
11 Her heads judge for a bribe, Her priests teach for pay, And her prophets divine for money.
Yet they lean on the Lord, and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No harm can come upon us.”
12 Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed like a field, Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins,
And the mountain of the temple Like the bare hills of the forest.

Ezekiel 13:3-23 – Woe to Foolish Prophets

Ez 13:3 Thus says the Lord God: “Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! 4 O Israel, your prophets are like foxes in the deserts. 5 You have not gone up into the gaps to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of the Lord. 6 They have envisioned futility and false divination, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord!’ But the Lord has not sent them; yet they hope that the word may be confirmed. 7 Have you not seen a futile vision, and have you not spoken false divination? You say, ‘The Lord says,’ but I have not spoken.” 8 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Because you have spoken nonsense and envisioned lies, therefore I am indeed against you,” says the Lord God. 

10 “Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace—and one builds a wall, and they plaster it with untempered mortar— 11 say to those who plaster it with untempered mortar, that it will fall. There will be flooding rain, and you, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall tear it down. 12 Surely, when the wall has fallen, will it not be said to you, ‘Where is the mortar with which you plastered it?’ ”

13 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “I will cause a stormy wind to break forth in My fury; and there shall be a flooding rain in My anger, and great hailstones in fury to consume it. 14 So I will break down the wall you have plastered with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered; it will fall, and you shall be consumed in the midst of it. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.

15 “Thus will I accomplish My wrath on the wall and on those who have plastered it with untempered mortar; and I will say to you, ‘The wall is no more, nor those who plastered it, 16 that is, the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her when there is no peace,’ ” says the Lord God.

17 “Likewise, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart; prophesy against them, 18 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their sleeves and make veils for the heads of people of every height to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of My people, and keep yourselves alive? 19 And will you profane Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, killing people who should not die, and keeping people alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies?”

20 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against your magic charms by which you hunt souls there like birds. I will tear them from your arms, and let the souls go, the souls you hunt like birds. 21 I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people out of your hand, and they shall no longer be as prey in your hand. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.

22 “Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you have strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life. 23 Therefore you shall no longer envision futility nor practice divination; for I will deliver My people out of your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”

Isaiah 56:9-12 – Israel’s Irresponsible Leaders

Is 56:9 All you beasts of the field, come to devour, All you beasts in the forest.
10 His watchmen are blind, They are all ignorant; They are all dumb dogs,
They cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
11 Yes, they are greedy dogs Which never have enough.  And they are shepherds Who cannot understand;
They all look to their own way, Every one for his own gain, From his own territory.

12 “Come,” one says, “I will bring wine, And we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink;
Tomorrow will be as today, And much more abundant.”

FALSE PROPHETS and THE END TIMES

1 Timothy 4:1-3 – The Great Apostasy

1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving 

2 Peter 2:1-3 – Destructive Doctrines

2Pe 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

2 Corinthians 11:12-15 – Paul and False Apostles

2Co 11:12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

2 Timothy 4:1-5 – Preach the Word

2Ti 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

2 Corinthians 11:3-4 – Concern for Their Faithfulness

2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!

Galatians 1:6-10 – Only One Gospel

Gal 1:6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

1 Timothy 6:3-5 – Error and Greed

1Ti 6:3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

Galatians 4:8-11 – Fears for the Church

Gal 4:8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.

2 Peter 3:3-7 – God’s Promise Is Not Slack

2Pe 3:3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.

Jude 1:16-19 – Apostates Predicted

Jude 1:16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. 17 But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: 18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.

2 Peter 2:4-11 – Doom of False Teachers

2Pe 2:4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, 11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.

 
2 Peter 2:18-22 – Deceptions of False Teachers

2Pe 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

Jude 1:3-4 – Contend for the Faith

Jude 1:3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2:4-8 – Not Philosophy but Christ

Col 2:4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ

Acts 20:28-30 – The Ephesian Elders Exhorted

Act 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

Matthew 7:15-20 – You Will Know Them by Their Fruits

Mt 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Ephesians 4:11-16 – Spiritual Gifts

Ep 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

1 John 1:5-10 – Fellowship with Him and One Another

1Jn 1:5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Mark 7:5-9 – Defilement Comes from Within

Mk 7:5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” 6 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:

‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.
7 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” 9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 

1 John 4:1-6 – Love for God and One Another

1Jn 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

2 Timothy 3:1-7 – Perilous Times and Perilous Men

2Ti 3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

John 8:37-47 – Abraham’s Seed and Satan’s

Jn 8:37 “I know that you are Abraham’s [physical] descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.”

39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children [spiritual descendants], you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You do the deeds of your father.

Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

Romans 16:17-20 – Avoid Divisive Persons

Ro 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.

2 Peter 2:12-17 – Depravity of False Teachers

2Pe 2:12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. 15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

James 1:26-27 – Doers—Not Hearers Only

Jam 1:26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Jude 1:7-11 – Old and New Apostates

Jude 1:7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.

Jude 1:12-15 – Apostates Depraved and Doomed

Jude 1:12 These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; 13 raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. 14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

2 Timothy 3:10-17 – The Man of God and the Word of God

2Ti 3:10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Matthew 24:3-25 – The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age

Mt 24:3  “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. … 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. …23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.

Luke 21:7-8 – The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age

Lk 21:7 So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?” 8 And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.

Mark 13:21-23 – The Great Tribulation

Mk 13:21 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, He is there!’ do not believe it. 22 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 – The Great Apostasy

2Th 2:3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 
Matthew 7:21-23 – I Never Knew You

Mt 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Tares
Tares - Fall of Jerusalem
Tares - End times

What does the Bible say about false prophets?

https://www.gotquestions.org/false-prophets.html

A false prophet is a person who spreads false teachings or messages while claiming to speak the Word of God. In the Bible, false prophets also spoke on behalf of false gods. False prophets functioned in their prophetic role illegitimately or for the purpose of deception. The Bible denounces false prophets for leading people astray.

In the Old Testament, the actual term false prophet does not occur, but references to false prophets are evident and abundant. In the book of Jeremiah, we encounter a clear description of false prophets: “Then the LORD said to me, ‘The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds’” (Jeremiah 14:14; see also 23:21–33; Zechariah 10:2).

The primary difference between men like Jeremiah—a true prophet of God—and false prophets was their source of information. Rather than speak the Word of the Lord, false prophets delivered messages that originated in their own hearts and minds: “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD’” (Jeremiah 23:16; see also 14:14; 23:25–32; Ezekiel 13:1–7). God distances Himself from all false prophets: “I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied” (Jeremiah 23:21).

Another difference between true prophets and false prophets in the Bible is motivation. True prophets are motivated by loyalty to God above all else, whereas false prophets are motivated by self-interest and a desire to be popular among the people (1 Kings 22:13–14). While Jeremiah foretold the grim truth of coming desolation upon Jerusalem (Jeremiah 4), the false prophets promised peace (Jeremiah 6:148:11). Naturally, the people of Judah preferred the pleasant messages of the false prophets: “Don’t tell us what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies” (Isaiah 30:10, NLT).

Often false prophets were hired for payment or spoke their messages for financial gain: “Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the LORD’s support and say, ‘Is not the LORD among us? No disaster will come upon us’” (Micah 3:11; see also Nehemiah 6:12–13Jeremiah 6:13–14Ezekiel 13:192 Peter 2:1–3).

Israel could not always discern the difference between a true and false prophet. In 1 Kings 22, King Jehoshaphat of Judah sought counsel from the Lord before he and King Ahab of Israel embarked on their mission to retake the city of Ramoth in Gilead. Jehoshaphat heard the predictions of victory from Ahab’s 400 counselors but suspected that these men were false prophets who did not have the mind of the Lord. Jehoshaphat’s suspicions were correct: they were Ahab’s “yes men,” false prophets who had no concern for relating the true Word of God. They merely said what the king wanted to hear and collected their salary from the royal treasury.

Jehoshaphat asked if there was another prophet who could give a second opinion. Ahab called for the prophet Micaiah, albeit reluctantly: “I hate him,” Ahab complained, “because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad” (1 Kings 22:8). True to form, Micaiah prophesied that Ahab would be killed in the battle and Israel would be “scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd” (verse 17). Micaiah, whose words came to pass, proved to be the true prophet of God. None of the false prophets in Ahab’s court could keep the king alive.

The punishment specified for false prophets in the Old Testament was severe: “If any prophet dares to speak a message in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or to speak in the name of other gods, that prophet must be put to death” (Deuteronomy 18:20).

In the New Testament, Jesus taught about false prophets in His Sermon on the Mount: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit” (Matthew 7:15–18).

Jesus went on to explain the grave consequences of being a false prophet: “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:19–23).

The Bible describes false prophets as adulterous (Jeremiah 23:14), treacherous (Zephaniah 3:4), drunkards (Isaiah 28:7), wicked (Jeremiah 23:11), liars (Jeremiah 14:1423:14), and associated with divination and witchcraft (Jeremiah 14:14Ezekiel 22:28Acts 13:6). Scripture teaches believers to be diligent in faith and devotion to Christ’s teachings so that they will be able to spot false prophets and false teachers quickly (2 Peter 1:101:19—2:11 John 4:1). Thankfully, the Bible outlines foolproof tests for recognizing a false prophet. The key is to know what a true prophet is like:

 

  • A true prophet’s words will be fulfilled (Deuteronomy 18:21–22; Jeremiah 28:8–9).

  • A true prophet’s teachings are consistent with Scripture (2 Peter 1:20–21; Revelation 22:18–19).

  • A true prophet’s teachings will encourage righteous behavior and provide spiritual benefit (Deuteronomy 13:1–4; Jeremiah 23:13–14, 32; Ezekiel 13:17–23; 14:4–8; Lamentations 2:14).

  • A true prophet’s life will reflect a divine call (Isaiah 28:7; Jeremiah 23:10–11, 14; 29:9; Zephaniah 3:4; Matthew 7:15–20).

  • A true prophet will acknowledge Jesus Christ as divine (1 John 4:1–6).

What does the Bible say about false prophets?

Beware of False Prophets :: By Nathele Graham

https://www.raptureready.com/2021/11/22/beware-of-false-prophets-by-nathele-graham/

Throughout Scripture, we read about false prophets. A true prophet is one who speaks the word of God and doesn’t sugar coat it, nor does a true prophet twist God’s truth.

Peter writes about false prophets and their heretical teachings. “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring them upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not” (2 Peter 1:1-3).

False prophets are all around us, and they profit by promoting their lies. Their heresies are brought into congregations in the form of books promoting New Age lies, contemplative prayer, meditation, purpose-driven, and yoga, among other heresies. Scripture doesn’t promote any of these ideas, and Christians need to reject these teachings, as well as many other ideas that aren’t of God. You’ll find many false teachings on the mainstream news, and Christians need to run everything through Scripture. That is where truth is found. Peter says that these false prophets will reap the reward of their false teaching.

“And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots, they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness” (2 Peter 2:13-15).

 

Balaam sold his services to Balak, the king of Moab, in order to destroy Israel. Even a donkey was smarter than Balaam. “But was rebuked for his iniquity; the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet” (2 Peter 2:16). Read the full story in Numbers chapter 22.

God will always prevail; He worked through His prophet Elijah to destroy hundreds of prophets who were evil. “Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table” (1 Kings 18:19).

Jezebel was the very wicked and evil wife of King Ahab. She practiced paganism, and Baal was a god worshipped by the Phoenicians. Any prophet who speaks for a demon god cannot be trusted, including the false prophet, Mohammed. Their words are only meant for destruction. Elijah was a prophet of God Almighty, and through God’s power, the false prophets were utterly destroyed in a miraculous way. Elijah was outnumbered by the false prophets, so how did he prevail against them? Faith. He knew and trusted God. No matter how much it seems that you’re in a minority, if you have faith and only serve God Almighty, you will win the battle. If you believe everything you hear on MSNBC or CNN, you’re listening to false prophets who sell their services with no thought about God’s truth.

Jeremiah was another of God’s true prophets who dealt with the lies of false prophets. Why is it that people are willing to believe liars and fools? God told Jeremiah that the Southern Kingdom (Judah) would be taken captive by the Babylonians for 70 years. God’s people had disobeyed God by not allowing the land to rest every seventh year. It’s always a good idea to obey God. Because of their disobedience, God was going to remove them from the land to allow it to rest, and Jeremiah told the people this was going to happen.

 

God directed Jeremiah to make bonds and yokes, put them on himself, and also send them to the kings of Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, Tyrus, and Zidon. This was a warning that God would use a pagan king to do His bidding. Nebuchadnezzar had no idea that God Almighty was allowing him to conquer many nations, but he went about taking people hostage and destroying nations. The nations to which Jeremiah was to send the yokes were nations that listened to false prophets. God added a warning to the yokes.

“Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish” (Jeremiah 27:9-10).

When you listen to God and hearken to His word, you follow truth. Unfortunately, there are always false teachers who make it seem as if God is wrong. God is never wrong.

Nobody wants to hear doom and gloom. They may not honor or obey God but believe that God will wink and snicker at their disobedience and not allow anything bad to happen. God is fair. He warns us of what disobedience brings, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). He gives us Scripture to guide us in His truth.

 

Prophecy tells us what the future holds, but too many people, even Christians, choose to listen to the prophets of Baal and ignore God. Jeremiah had to deal with a false prophet, Hananiah, who thought he was smarter than God. His false teachings that contradicted God’s words prove he was a false prophet. Hananiah was bold in his actions. He went to the house of the LORD, and in front of the priests and the people, he contradicted Jeremiah’s prophecy of the 70-year captivity. Hananiah said,

“Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD’S house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon: and I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon” (Jeremiah 28:2-4).

There’s more than one lesson here. First, don’t take Scripture out of context. If you just read these verses, you could make the mistake of thinking Hananiah was speaking God’s words. Next, remember that not everyone who claims to have a message from God actually speaks God’s truth. Test everything under the lens of Scripture. Anything that contradicts God’s word is a lie. Jeremiah could have become angry at him, but he very wisely left it in God’s hands to reveal who was correct.

“Even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of the LORD’S house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place. Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people; the prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence. The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him” (Jeremiah 28:6-9).

 

Instead of arguing, Jeremiah simply said to wait and see which prophecy was proven by time.

After Hananiah left, God directed Jeremiah to confront him. “Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; the LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie. Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou has taught rebellion against the LORD. So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month” (Jeremiah 28:15-17).

We need to be very careful who we listen to. Only God has truth. By not studying Scripture, you can easily be duped by a false prophet who speaks for a false god.

Jesus warned that the last days would be filled with deceit. Many will claim to be Christ but are imposters. There will be many reports of trouble. “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places” (Matthew 24:5-7).

Have you heard reports of these things? I certainly have. It seems that pestilence and famine are news headlines, as COVID is blamed for everything from delayed shipments of products to bare grocery shelves. Brothers and sisters, I urge you to stand firm on your faith and don’t allow fear to guide your decisions.

Look to Scripture for true prophecy. Study it and understand what Daniel says about the end times, and don’t be afraid to study Revelation. I know it can be a little frightening to read of a Beast running the world and causing everyone to take his mark. Large portions of the population will die, and water will become contaminated. There’ll be a one-world government, one-world economy, and one-world religion. If you don’t worship the beast and take his mark, you won’t be able to buy or sell. Of course, if you take his mark, you cannot be redeemed and will spend eternity in the lake of fire. The good news is that those events will all happen after Christians are taken to Heaven in the Rapture.

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

 

We’re getting very near to the end of days. Everything we see happening is paving the way for the Beast to step into power. Those who are left after the Rapture will face horrors we can only imagine in our worst nightmares. Christians will be in Heaven praising our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, as we cast our crowns at His feet. We won’t face the wrath of God.

When the seven years of the Great Tribulation have passed, there’ll be a judgment by God. “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).

People like to speculate about the identity of the beast and the false prophet. Names like Obama, the Pope, Bill Gates, and others are mentioned. In truth, Christians will be in Heaven before the man of sin is revealed. The Apostle Paul wrote much about the Rapture.

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

Paul reassured the believers in Thessalonica that they would be Raptured before the “son of perdition” comes to power. First, there would be an apostasia, a falling away. The Greek word “apostasia” can mean a spiritual departure or a physical departure. The English word “apostasy” comes from this Greek word, and we use it to denote someone who isn’t walking in God’s truth. Paul may have chosen this word because it can mean either a physical departure or a spiritual departure.

Look around, and you can easily see that very few so-called Christians live their faith. How many pastors have now embraced homosexuality? How many of the brethren conform to the ways of the world instead of dying to self and standing firmly upon the word of God? Yes, there is a massive falling away from the faith. Possibly this weeds out the “in name only” Christians from those who have their feet firmly planted in Christ.

The Rapture (the physical departing of Christians) must happen before the wrath of God comes upon the whole world. Will you be one of us who are taken in the Rapture? Accept Jesus now to be sure. Turn your life over to Him and allow Him to guide your path. Put aside anger, pride, and any attitude that’s opposed to God’s word. Holding to any sin will bring tribulation into your soul. Not the seven-year tribulation described in Scripture, but conflict within your spirit.

Many false prophets are in the world today. They speak loudly and with seeming authority, but they don’t speak for the one true God. Study Scripture and allow Christ to mold you into a true follower of His truth. Then stand firmly against all false teachers and share God’s truth with others. Beware of false prophets.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

Beware of False Prophets
How can I recognize a false teacher / false prophet?

How can I recognize a false teacher / false prophet?

https://www.gotquestions.org/false-teachers.html

Jesus warned us that “false Christs and false prophets” will come and will attempt to deceive even God’s elect (Matthew 24:23-27; see also 2 Peter 3:3 and Jude 17-18). The best way to guard yourself against falsehood and false teachers is to know the truth. To spot a counterfeit, study the real thing. Any believer who “correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) and who makes a careful study of the Bible can identify false doctrine. For example, a believer who has read the activities of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Matthew 3:16-17 will immediately question any doctrine that denies the Trinity. Therefore, step one is to study the Bible and judge all teaching by what the Scripture says.

Jesus said “a tree is recognized by its fruit” (Matthew 12:33). When looking for “fruit,” here are three specific tests to apply to any teacher to determine the accuracy of his or her teaching:

1) What does this teacher say about Jesus? In Matthew 16:15-16, Jesus asks, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” and for this answer Peter is called “blessed.” In 2 John 9, we read, “Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” In other words, Jesus Christ and His work of redemption is of utmost importance; beware of anyone who denies that Jesus is equal with God, who downplays Jesus’ sacrificial death, or who rejects Jesus’ humanity. First John 2:22 says, “Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son.”

2) Does this teacher preach the gospel? The gospel is defined as the good news concerning Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). As nice as they sound, the statements “God loves you,” “God wants us to feed the hungry,” and “God wants you to be wealthy” are not the complete message of the gospel. As Paul warns in Galatians 1:7, “Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” No one, not even a great preacher, has the right to change the message that God gave us. “If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” (Galatians 1:9).

3) Does this teacher exhibit character qualities that glorify the Lord? Speaking of false teachers, Jude 11 says, “They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.” In other words, a false teacher can be known by his pride (Cain’s rejection of God’s plan), greed (Balaam’s prophesying for money), and rebellion (Korah’s promotion of himself over Moses). Jesus said to beware of such people and that we would know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-20).

For further study, review those books of the Bible that were written specifically to combat false teaching within the church: Galatians, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, and Jude. It is often difficult to spot a false teacher/false prophet. Satan masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), and his ministers masquerade as servants of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:15). Only by being thoroughly familiar with the truth will we be able to recognize a counterfeit.

How to recognize false prophets

https://www.bibleissues.org/false-prophets/

The Bible says that there will be false prophets in the last days. Coincidentally(?), many preachers today call themselves prophets. Considering the influence these people have on Christians, it is imperative that we learn how to identify false prophets. That’s what this article teaches you.

 

Main Points

  • One strike and you’re out. If a prophet makes one wrong prediction, lights out.

  • Even if their predictions come to pass … if their doctrine is false, they are false. 

  • False prophets are known by the fruits.

  • True prophecies are consistent with the rest of God’s revelation.

Scriptures

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

  • Matt 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

  • Matt 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

  • 2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

  • 1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

 

Categories of false prophets

False prophets fall into two categories:

1) those outside the church, who are really no grave danger to believers; and
2) those inside the church, wolves in sheep’s clothing.

 

Paul told the Ephesian elders that men would rise up from their own midst and draw men away with false doctrines (Acts 20:29,30). These are the ones the church must beware of and be able to identify before they wreak unprecedented havoc. The Bible does give us guidelines for recognizing false prophets, apostles and teachers.

 

Why are there so many false prophets?

The major reason why there are so many false prophets in the church today (especially the charismatic church) is because we have lost the ability to exercise discernment. The Bible is so clear on how to recognize false prophets, you have to be blind to miss it. It baffles me how so many prominent pastors allow their congregation to be hoodwinked by travelling conmen who call themselves prophets, but are nothing more than imposters looking for quick cash from gullible Christians.

Another reason is that Christians are so hungry for “revelations” outside of God’s word – “personal revelations”. The problem with these Christians is that they are more concerned with their own lives and affairs than the kingdom of God. These are the sheep who leave the protection of the fold, and make themselves open prey to ravenous wolves. The bible tells us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Christ (Luke 9:23). If God’s will is not good enough for you, then you are exactly what wolves in sheep’s clothing are looking for.

Biblical Guidelines for recognizing false prophets

By Their Predictions

Deuteronomy 18:20-22
20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken?
22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

In Deut. 18:21,22 we are told that if a prophet’s prediction does not come to pass, that forever settles it. He is a false prophet and we are to never respect him as a true prophet. It does not matter how many of his predictions had previously come to pass, one strike and he’s out. The penalty for that was death (Deut 18:20) under the old covenant. A true prophet always hears infallibly from God. That is the standard the Old Testament set for those who would presume to speak in the name of the Lord. Perhaps God was trying to discourage false prophets. If we applied the same standards today, do you think so many people would dare to call themselves prophets?

So what about Jonah?

He predicted that Nineveh would fall in 40 days (Jon. 3:4), which of course did not happen. Although Nineveh did eventually fall, it did not happen within the time frame prescribed by Jonah.

Some prophesies are conditional and some are unconditional. Most of the Messianic prophesies were unconditional – did not depend on anyone other than God. Prophesies of judgment usually carried an implicit condition that if the people repented, judgment would be averted. This was precisely the case with Nineveh and Hezekiah (Isa. 38:1 cf. vs. 9). Isaiah initially prophesied that Hezekiah would not recover from his illness, but after the King repented, he God granted him recovery and 15 years extra life.

 

God usually gave a sign

Obviously the first criterion could not consistently be applied because the fulfillment of some prophesies was delayed for hundreds of years. People could not wait till then to determine whether the prophet was of God or not. God usually authenticated his true prophets at the onset of their ministry. After this they were qualified to bring further prophesies and the people recognized them as prophets.

In 1 Kings 13:3-5, the “man of God” gave a sign that he was truly sent by God. His prophesy later came to pass under the reign of Josiah (2 Kings 23:16). God also gave Hezekiah a sign that Isaiah’s word would come to pass (Isa. 38:8). Jeremiah was authenticated by God early on when he correctly predicted the imminent death of the false prophet Hananiah (Jer. 28:16). Because God validated his prophets, there was no doubt in the minds of any remotely devout person of their authenticity.

 

By Their Doctrine

Deuteronomy 13:1-5
1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God…

Here is where most modern prophets fall. There the possibility that even false prophets may make the occasional correct prophesy. Even so if he leads the people away from God, he would be considered a false prophet. This is interesting because people are always telling me how accurate such and such a prophet is – as if that means anything to me. God said that he tested his people in this manner. He tested whether their allegiance was to Biblical truth or spiritual sensationalism. Unfortunately many today would stumble at this very hurdle because they have no concern for doctrinal integrity or Biblical truth.

In the days of the apostles, there were some false prophets teaching that Jesus was not of God (1 John 4:1-6). In verse 6, John laid down the rule for identifying false spirits: whoever listens to us is of God. Of course any cult could quote that scripture. John was referring to the apostles’ teachings which was adhered to by the early church (Acts 2:14) – which for us was canonized in the New Testament. Anything that deviates from the teachings of the apostles / the New Testament is false doctrine.

Have you ever heard a prophet say that God’s truth is not limited to the Bible? Why do you think he needs to say that?

 

Consistency of Revelation

The true prophet’s message was a contrary one – one that robbed against the grain. The false prophet’s message found sympathy with the worldly elements within and without the church (1 John 4:5). In the OT, false prophets were people-friendly in their prophesying – they said what people wanted to hear (1 Kings 22:6-8Jer. 5:31). The true prophet stood alone and was usually an outcast.

 

Jeremiah 28
1 Hananiah … spake … saying
2 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
3 Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the Lord’s house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon:
6 Even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: the Lord do so: the Lord perform thy words which thou hast prophesied,
7 Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak …
8 The prophets … of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence.
9 The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the Lord hath truly sent him.

Jeremiah 28 is very interesting. Read it for yourself. The prophet Hananiah predicted that God would free Israel from the hands of the Babylonians in 2 years. Jeremiah at first was very happy to hear that prophesy. He even shouted “Amen”. But he reminded Hananiah that since his prophecy of peace was contrary to what all the prophets of God had said before, they would have to wait to see if the prophesy was really true.

In other words consistency of revelation from God is a determining factor in judging prophesy. As it turned out, Hananiah was wrong and he died the very same year because of his false prophesy. If all the prophets predicted judgment, how could God for no apparent reason change His message to peace?

By Their Fruit

Matthew 7
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits.

In Matt. 7, Jesus taught that even if a prophet could do miracles, it meant nothing if his life did not bear the right fruit. Paul says the same thing in 2 Tim 3:1-5. In Acts 20:29,30 false prophets were the ones who drew disciples to themselves.

How the church today is inundated with such individuals! The prophets of old were not media celebrities who relentlessly pleaded with people for their financial offerings payable directly to their bank accounts. False prophets were the ones greedy for filthy lucre (1 Tim. 6:3-7). They may even fabricate lies and false testimonies just to hoodwink the gullible who cannot search truth for themselves (2 Pet. 2:3).

In 1 Cor. 11, Paul cites his sacrificial life as evidence of authentic apostleship. As you read it, you’ll realize that the sacrifice Paul talked about was not waking a few late nights or preaching 3 sermons a week. It is unlikely false prophets would sacrifice the very comfort of their lives because that would be counterproductive to their selfish goals.

 

Are there any true prophets today?

It is important to understand the true purpose of a prophet.

Ephesians 2:20 … built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

This verse describes the church as a spiritual building, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ being the chief cornerstone. Have you ever seen a building with the foundation on the roof? That’s a dumb question isn’t it? Then why are we looking for apostles and prophets AT ALL? They were (past tense) important to building the doctrinal foundation of the church. Now that we have the New Testament writings, you decide for yourself whether apostles and prophets are still needed in the church today.

This is just me, but I usually assume that every prophet is false unless they prove to me otherwise.

Who is the false prophet of the end times?

https://www.gotquestions.org/false-prophet.html

The false prophet of the end times is described in Revelation 13:11-15. He is also referred to as the “second beast” (Revelation 16:1319:2020:10). Together with the Antichrist and Satan, who empowers both of them, the false prophet is the third party in the unholy trinity.

The apostle John describes this person and gives us clues to identifying him when he shows up. First, he comes out of the earth. This could mean he comes up from the pit of hell with all the demonic powers of hell at his command. It could also mean he comes from lowly circumstances, secret and unknown until he bursts on the world stage at the right hand of the Antichrist. He is depicted as having horns like a lamb, while speaking like a dragon. The horns on lambs are merely small bumps on their heads until the lamb grows into a ram. Rather than having the Antichrist’s multiplicity of heads and horns, showing his power and might and fierceness, the false prophet comes like a lamb, winsomely, with persuasive words that elicit sympathy and good will from others. He may be an extraordinary preacher or orator whose demonically empowered words will deceive the multitudes. But he speaks like a dragon, which means his message is the message of a dragon. Revelation 12:9 identifies the dragon as the devil and Satan.

Verse 12 gives us the false prophet’s mission on earth, which is to force humanity to worship the Antichrist. He has all the authority of the Antichrist because, like him, the false prophet is empowered by Satan. It is not clear whether people are forced to worship the Antichrist or whether they are so enamored of these powerful beings that they fall for the deception and worship him willingly. The fact that the second beast uses miraculous signs and wonders, including fire from heaven, to establish the credibility of both of them would seem to indicate that people will fall before them in adoration of their power and message. Verse 14 goes on to say the deception will be so great that the people will set up an idol to the Antichrist, "the image of the beast," and worship it. This is reminiscent of the huge golden image of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3) before which all were to bow down and pay homage. Revelation 14:9-11, however, describes the ghastly fate that awaits those who worship the image of the Antichrist.

Those who survive the terrors of the tribulation to this point will be faced with two hard choices. Those who refuse to worship the image of the beast will be subject to death (Revelation 14:15), but those who do worship him will incur the wrath of God. The image will be extraordinary in that it will be able to “speak.” Whatever the image is (a statue? a hologram? an android? a human-animal hybrid? a clone?), it will have some kind of ability to breathe forth the message of the Antichrist and the false prophet. Along with being the spokesman for them, the image will condemn to death those who refuse to worship the unholy pair. In our technological world, it is not hard to imagine such a scenario.

Whoever the false prophet turns out to be, the final world deception and the final apostasy will be great, and the whole world will be caught up in it. The deceivers and false teachers we see today are the forerunners of the Antichrist and the false prophet, and we must not be deceived by them. These false teachers abound, and they are moving us toward a final satanic kingdom. We must faithfully proclaim the saving gospel of Jesus Christ and rescue the souls of men and women from the coming disaster.

False prophet of the end times

The False Prophet and the One World Religion

https://www.raptureready.com/guide-left-behind/

After the Rapture, a religious leader will arise. The Bible refers to him as the False Prophet because while he claims to be from God he is, in fact, inspired by Satan. He will team with Satan and the Antichrist to form an unholy trinity. Satan imitates the Father, The Antichrist imitates the Son, and the False Prophet imitates the Holy Spirit. And just as the Holy Spirit draws people to Jesus, the False Prophet draws people to the Antichrist.

This is how the Bible says he will accomplish that:

1) HE WILL APPEAR TO BE PEACEFUL

“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.” (Revelation 13:11)

The False Prophet will appear to be a man of peace and unity. That’s why Revelation 13:11 says he has horns like a lamb. But he will speak like a dragon. His message will be against the Bible and Christians.

2) HE WILL BE THE HEAD OF A ONE WORLD RELIGION

“And he exercises all the authority of the first beast [the Antichrist] in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.” (Revelation 13:12)

The False Prophet will unite the world’s religions. While the idea of all religions coming together as one sounds wonderful all religions do not teach the same thing. Truth is not relative; it is absolute. One teaching is right. The others are wrong.

Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that no man can go to heaven and be with God except through Him (John 14:6). One road leads to God, the rest lead away from Him.

Those who follow this one world religion are the enemies of God and will be separated from Him in hell forever (Matthew 7:13-14).

 

3) HE WILL PERFORM SIGNS & WONDERS

“He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.” (Revelation 13:13)

In order to gain a greater following, the False Prophet will perform many miracles and the world will be amazed. But don’t be deceived. Satan comes disguised as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14-15) and so do his followers. Head the warning of Matthew 7:15, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”

 

4) HE WILL FORCE THE WORLD TO WORSHIP THE ANTICHRIST

“And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.” (Revelation 13:14)

He starts out peaceful like a lamb, unites the world’s religions and performs miraculous feats. Once he has gained the trust of the world, the False Prophet will command that an image of the Antichrist be made.

He will then show his true colors.

 

5) HE WILL KILL THOSE WHO DO NOT WORSHIP THE ANTICHRIST

“He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast [Antichrist], that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.” (Revelation 13:15)

After performing another miracle – making the image of the beast speak – he will kill those who refuse to worship the image. But be encouraged. Jesus told us not to fear those who can kill the body, but rather fear those who can kill the body and cast the soul into hell (Matthew 10:28). For those who follow Christ, death is not to be feared because to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8).

The False Prophet and the One World Religion
The False Prophet & The Mark

Revelation 13: The False Prophet & The Mark :: By Mark A. Becker

https://www.raptureready.com/2021/05/05/revelation-13-the-false-prophet-the-mark-by-mark-a-becker/

 

(Revelation 13:11-18)

 

Introduction

 

We’ve been doing something a little different in this series and have been citing The Complete Jewish Bible – a uniquely Jewish translation that I have come to appreciate – for our study on the Revelation 13 passages.

This article will be looking at the False Prophet and The Mark of The Beast that the Apostle John witnessed while receiving the Revelation of Jesus Christ on the island of Patmos.

As always, there are many interpretations that have been submitted by many godly, respectable, and capable men, and I try not to be dogmatic when it comes to future prophecy. I only offer to the reader my view for their consideration in addition to the many other interpretive views that have been submitted down through the centuries.

As we begin, I need to note up-front that the words “Antichrist” and “False Prophet” are nowhere to be found in Revelation 13 as these individuals – and the kingdom of Antichrist – are identified as “beasts.” We know they are the Antichrist and False Prophet because of context. Even though the Antichrist is always referred to as the beast in the book of Revelation, his counterpart is referred to as the False Prophet in Revelation 16:13 when the deceiving spirits depart from the unholy triune alliance to gather the nations to battle against the Lord, and Revelation 19:20 when the Antichrist and False Prophet are thrown into the lake of fire, as well as Revelation 20:10 when Satan joins them there.

“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. It had two horns like those of a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon” (Revelation 13:11).

We need to keep in mind that all of prophecy – especially when it comes to future prophecy after the rapture of the church – is Israel-centric and needs to be seen from her perspective.

Most prophecy teachers agree that there seems to be an allusion to Israel when it comes to the term “earth” or “land,” and to the Gentile nations when it comes to the term “sea” which, if in Israel, would seem to those in the nation of Israel as coming out of the sea looking westward, especially if the Antichrist and the beginning of his kingdom is initially coming out of the continent of western Europe. Or, one could say that the other Gentile kingdoms come out of the “sea of Gentile nations” as opposed to the “earth” or “land of Israel.”

In any case, I did want to make an observation that in Daniel 7, both “sea” and “earth” are used of these last four Gentile kingdoms in the end-times (Daniel 7: The Four Beasts of the End-Times).

“Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another” (Daniel 7:2-3, KJV). (emphasis mine)

Yet, when we read of the angel’s interpretation of the vision, it is noted that:

“These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth” (Daniel 7:17, KJV). (emphasis mine).

 

This could be explained in that the angel was confirming that these nations who originally came out of the sea – in relation to Israel – were actually kingdoms that ruled on the earth. In other words, the vision is prophetic imagery (coinciding with Revelation), and the interpretation is more of a literal explanation. This would suggest that we shouldn’t allow the angel’s interpretation to upset the imagery found in both prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. But I felt it was important to at least point this detail out for our study.

Here we are introduced to the False Prophet, and for this study, I’m going to suggest that, indeed, the False Prophet – the beast out of the earth – is related to Israel in one sense or another. With this attribute in mind, let us look into what I believe are the three premiere “candidates” for this office. (But truthfully, like the Antichrist, we may never know who this person is this side of the rapture).

 

The Pope of Roman Catholicism

Many believe the Pope is a perfect candidate for False Prophet, and there are actually many good reasons that the Pope should at least be considered. In a perfect world, a Jewish Pope, or a Pope with at least some Jewish ancestry, would be preferred but might not actually be needed. The Catholic church has a huge footprint in Israel with her past history, numerous churches built on “traditional” sites, and overall influence in the Holy Land.

Let’s use the example of Pope Francis as an illustration.

Francis is an Argentine Italian and has developed, what has been said, very good ties to the Jewish community and is well respected. He has also been the leader behind the Document on Human Fraternity For World Peace and Living Together and the Abrahamic Faiths Initiative between the three monotheistic religions of Christians, Muslims, and Jews. This isn’t surprising, of course, because the RCC will be the leading institution behind the ecumenical uniting of all of the world’s religions into a New World Religion up until the midway point of the Tribulation, which I have documented extensively in many past articles.

Of course, this would mean that the Pope would actually have no allegiance to the Roman Catholic church as the False Prophet and, most assuredly, will be behind the scenes when the 10 kings and Antichrist destroy Rome/Vatican City/RCC.

This isn’t a far-fetched scenario when one considers Francis and his seeming disdain for all things God, that is, the one true God of the Holy Scriptures. His allegiance is to globalism and ecumenism.

Francis’ display of Marian worship may just be a guise to show some semblance of “religiosity” to the masses – and he may even have some contact with the demons who deceive those who worship Mary through apparitions – but to see his loyalty to a church that seems only to be a means to an end for him, appears to be mere illusion.

In addition, we have noted his obsession with extra-terrestrial life in a previous article (Isaiah 47: The Daughter of Babylon), and it is there – in the realm of metaphysics and evolutionary ideals – where his heart seems to be.

But he may not be the last Pope before the rapture of the church, and if that is the case, we should be on the lookout for his successor. Either way, a Pope of the Roman Catholic church is a possible candidate for the False Prophet but, just like Antichrist, we will probably never know.

A Jewish Rabbi/Leader

The term “False Prophet” has its origins in the Jewish and Christian Scriptures, and these false prophets have always been a thorn in the spiritual flesh of Israel and in the church of Christ.

Interestingly, it has been reported that there have been Rabbi’s in Israel who have stated that they have been in contact with the “Messiah” of God. This, of course, is very disturbing to Christians because we know who this “Messiah” will eventually be – Antichrist himself – and we are pained to see Israel be deceived in this way.

In addition, this Jewish Rabbi could also find himself in political leadership in Israel and play a major role in the covenant with Antichrist and the many at the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation. Or, this man could just be a Jewish leader in Israel. Either way, this is something to be considered when trying to identify the False Prophet.

New Age Leader

In Revelation 13 – The Antichrist, I made the following comments regarding the New Age Maitreya:

Speaking of the New Age Maitreya, Antichrist will certainly have this New Age spirit within him. In Ray Yungen’s excellent book, For Many Shall Come in My Name, Ray makes the connection between Antichrist and the New Age “Christ Consciousness” – the idea that humanity can evolve into godhood.

When Christ said, “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:5) (emphasis mine), this is exactly what the New Age teaches and fits rather well when Paul said of Antichrist:

“Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:4). (emphasis mine)

In addition to this statement, I’d like to inform the reader that we have had a similar “False Prophet/Antichrist” duo in the New Age Movement. This information can be found at the website Share International on the Reappearance of Maitreya the World Teacher (share-international.org).

A man by the name of Benjamin Creme, who passed away in 2016, was the man who was to reveal Maitreya – Maitreya’s “Prophet” if you will: Who is Benjamin Creme (share-international.org).

This connection is very intriguing and might not be far-off from what this unholy alliance may very well look like. In Zechariah 5:5-11 – Homecoming: Babel Returns Home, I noted that the New Age – which is essentially a westernized version of Hinduism – and Hinduism are the two religions that have the most in common with the Antichrist’s claim to godhood and may very well play a crucial role in helping the Antichrist’s goals that will climax in The Mark of The Beast worship and economic system during the Great Tribulation (the last three and one-half years of the Tribulation).

And let us not forget that apostate “Christianity” – which will be left behind after the rapture of the true Church – is renowned for claiming that “Christians” are “little gods.”

The Two Horns

From our previous studies, we have seen that “horns” represent power and authority. The 10 horns of the beast out of the sea, with their crowns, represent the power and authority of the 10 worldwide regional kingdoms and their kings who will eventually give their kingdoms over to Antichrist for the final beast empire during the Great Tribulation.

Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the False Prophet has two spheres or domains he has power and influence over. With this in mind, here’s my suggestions for the three possible candidates I have suggested.

The Roman Catholic Pope: These two horns would represent his power over the Catholic church during the first half of the Tribulation and his power with the Antichrist during the second half.

Jewish Rabbi/Leader: If he has a political appointment, then his two powers would be with the Jewish religious sects and the political establishment in Israel. If his office is only religious, then his two powers of influence would be with the religious establishment of Israel and his association with Antichrist. If this person is only political in nature (but showing an outward “piety”), his powers could be with Israel and over the Arab “Palestinians” or with Israel and his association with Antichrist.

New Age Leader: His two powers could be over the western New Age Movement and eastern Hinduism (which are essentially the same religions by different names), or it could be over the New Age Movement in general (with Hinduism) and his association with Antichrist.

 

I’m certain there are other candidates and possibilities to who this man may be, his power and influence, and what he may represent, but these are the three main prospects that I currently see.

Back to Revelation 13.

“It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence; and it makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, the one whose fatal wound had been healed” (Revelation 13:12).

This hearkens back to Revelation 13:3, which we discussed in Revelation 13 – The Beast – “One of the heads of the beast appeared to have received a fatal wound, but its fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth followed after the beast in amazement.”

It is these verses (Rev. 13:12 & Rev. 13:14) that many think the Antichrist will receive a “fatal wound” – and this may very well be the case. This may help to explain the enigmatic verse when the Antichrist kills the Two Witnesses:

“And when they [the Two Witnesses] shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them” (Revelation 11:7). (emphasis mine)

This verse seems to indicate that the Antichrist will, in fact, be killed, his spirit sent to Hades (or hell) in Sheol, allowed to re-enter his body to destroy the Two Witnesses, and proceed on into the final three and one-half years of his Mark of The Beast kingdom. (Short of this explanation, we could have a smorgasbord of possibilities of resurrected past historical candidates; something I’m personally not willing to entertain.)

But a revived kingdom really does fit the context in Revelation 13:3 (as we discussed in Revelation 13 – The Beast) due to the reference of “one of the heads” – or kingdoms – which I propose to be a rebuilt Babel/Babylon where Antichrist will rule from during the Great Tribulation.

Again, it may very well be that the kingdom is revived from a fatal wound as well as a “resurrection” for the king, or Antichrist, to deceive the world into a false worship of himself as he claims to be God. Duality in this prophecy is a very real consideration – as a matter-of-fact, I believe it to be highly likely!

“It performs great miracles, even causing fire to come down from heaven onto the earth as people watch” (Revelation 13:13).

 

Israel is the world’s “start-up” nation and one of the leading producers of AI, Facial Recognition, Drone Technology, Commerce, Computers, and Bio-Technologies on the face of the planet, among a host of other amazing creations and innovation. I only point this out because I keep an eye out for what Israel is accomplishing in these fields and how they may actually be the source for some of these amazing technologies that we see in Revelation. It’s really quite impressive what the people of God can do and the unsurpassed gifts the Lord has given His chosen nation.

In regard to the False Prophet as he “performs miracles, even causing fire to come down from heaven,” I came across an interesting article: Pentagon tests prototype for space energy beam – report – The Jerusalem Post (jpost.com).

Here’s a couple of paragraphs from this article:

 

Known as a Photovoltaic Radiofrequency Antenna Module (PRAM), the pizza-box-sized solar panel was launched on an unmanned drone into the low atmosphere in May 2020, and travels around the planet every 90 minutes, CNN reported.

The premise behind the plan is that a solar energy system like this could be sent to gather sunlight and convert it into solar power, which would then be beamed back to Earth at specific points.

Technology similar to this, such as lasers in orbit above the earth, could be used to deceive the masses, or it could very well be supernatural in origin. After all, the supernatural will be the new normal during the Tribulation. Either way, I’m sure the False Prophet will give credit to Antichrist himself and/or to extra-terrestrial (demonic deception) confirmation of existence and co-operation with the Antichrist to confirm to the world that the advancement of human evolution to “godhood” is not only possible, but attainable. This declaration from Antichrist and the False Prophet will most probably be one of the many “advantages” promised to the masses in association with the taking of The Mark of The Beast.

“It deceives the people living on earth by the miracles it is allowed to perform in the presence of the beast, and it tells them to make an image honoring the beast that was struck by the sword but came alive again” (Revelation 13:14).

Here, again, is the last notation of the “fatal wound,” and now we are told that the beast out of the earth (the False Prophet) is demanding the people make an image to the beast from the sea (the Antichrist and his kingdom) that “came alive again.”

 

When considering the “fatal wound” to a past kingdom from “the sword” – Babylon was destroyed by the invading armies of the Medes (from the Medo-Persian Empire), and their weapons of choice and necessity for the close-range fighting in taking the city was, of course, the sword or dagger (Jeremiah 50:35-37).

When contemplating the Babylon connection and the “image,” one can’t help but think of Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image he set up on the plain of Dura thousands of years earlier (Daniel 3:1-15). The image was 60 cubits high (assuredly including a pedestal), six cubits wide, and was accompanied by the playing of six instruments – an allusion to the “number of the beast” in Revelation 13:18, below.

 

The “miracles” will evidently be numerous and impressive, especially when one considers the power behind the throne – Satan himself.

 

When thinking about the Antichrist being killed and coming to life again, I offer the following thought:

Antichrist’ Cut-Off’ and Daniel 9

I’m about to share with the reader something I’ve recently considered, and that is the possible relationship between Antichrist’s death and resurrection with Daniel 9. I won’t go into this famous prophecy in detail, as many great commentaries are available for the student to research, so that what you’re about to read should be easily comprehensible with even a cursory understanding of this prophecy.

 

The Hebrew word for “weeks” is שְׁבוּע 7620 “shabua” and means a period of seven (days, years), heptad, week.

Notice a period of seven days or years. As Christians, we know that this prophecy is for 483 years and is applied to the orders of the Persian king to rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah would be cut off at the cross. But the Jewish religious leaders who have not accepted Yeshua as their savior, I’m sure, have many interesting interpretations of this passage.

With this in mind, could it be possible that Satan and the Antichrist may actually use this passage of Scripture in an attempt to claim that Antichrist is Israel’s Messiah? Might Antichrist, by “fulfilling” this prophecy in days rather than years, successfully deceive the Jews of his Messiah-ship? Allow me to explain with a hypothetical.

Suppose that when the Antichrist signs the seven-year covenant with Israel and the many (Dan. 9:27), that this covenant will include the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. Now, count down 483 days from the signing of this covenant, and then Antichrist is killed. Could the False Prophet declare that the Antichrist, as Israel’s Messiah, was “cut off” after the prophesied 483 days and fulfilled Daniel’s prophecy? And could his subsequent resurrection “prove” to Israel that Antichrist was indeed their Messiah? (This would, of course, imply that Satan will have orchestrated this “death and resurrection” at the Lord’s allowance – think Job).

“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off” (Daniel 9:25-26a).

I realize the text says “to build Jerusalem,” but to the Orthodox in Israel, Jerusalem could never be completed – or symbolically, even initiated – until the rebuilding of the Temple, and they could very well consider the decree to rebuild the Temple as synonymous with rebuilding Jerusalem.

Could this be one of the reasons that Antichrist seems to have such easy access to the Temple during the mid-point of the Tribulation after he kills the Two Witnesses and then desecrates the Temple with the Abomination of Desolation?

If this does happen, then this would mean that after Antichrist’s “death and resurrection” would remain 777 days until the middle of the Tribulation when he will kill the Two Witnesses and desecrate the Temple (1260-483=777). An interesting number, indeed!

 

Jesus said (many believe) concerning the coming of the Antichrist and his relationship to the Jewish people:

“I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive” (John 5:43).

 

I throw this possibility out for consideration only. After all, it’s just like Satan and his unholy “trinity” to want to counterfeit all things God.

 

“It was allowed to put breath into the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast could even speak; and it was allowed to cause anyone who would not worship the image of the beast to be put to death” (Revelation 13:15).

Here we have what appears to be Artificial Intelligence (AI), surveillance and tracking, and hologram technology in one nicely prepared package. I often think of Alexa and Siri when I have contemplated these verses as of late. Thankfully, I don’t have this intrusion into my life – nor do I ever want it – but from what I have heard about them, it sure seems eerily close to what this “image” may actually be like; at least at a more basic level, anyway.

I see this image in the Jewish Temple (as well as an image in the Antichrist’s “house” in “the land of Shinar”), linked to smaller, interconnected “images” in each and every household in the world for tracking, ordering, and commanding the worshiping adherents of Antichrist and their obedience to his rule. Additionally, these images would seem to have, most assuredly, interconnected link-ups to The Mark of The Beast system as well.

On this subject I really don’t have much more to offer other than this image will be imposing, seemingly all-knowing, and a diabolical tool for Satan, Antichrist, and the False Prophet. We are seeing the technologies “coming to life” today, and I’m sure the world is just waiting for the man himself to make himself known; of course, not until Christ’s bride is taken to heaven!

 

“Also, it forces everyone — great and small, rich and poor, free and slave — to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, preventing anyone from buying or selling unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name” (Revelation 13:16-17). (emphasis mine)

Two major points need to be made on this passage concerning the words “on” and “or” – two very small words that, when understood, make all the difference in the world.

One: The Greek word translated “on” (or “in” in the KJV) is 1909 ἐπί “epi” and can mean above, after, against, among, as long as. A primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. Over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc. — about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively). (emphasis mine) [Definitions Biblehub.com]

In essence, this word can mean either “in,” or “on” or “upon,” when it comes to The Mark, and I suggest that it could be both, as we’ll discuss below.

Two: The Greek word translated “or” is ἤ “é” and can mean and, but, either, rather, depending on context. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than — and, but (either), (n-)either, except it be, (n-)or (else), rather, save, than, that, what, yea. Often used in connection with other particles. Compare especially edeeperetoi. (emphasis mine)

 

Therefore, it is a very reasonable conjecture that The Mark of The Beast may actually be “in” the right hand and “on” the forehead (or reversed, or both “on” and “in” both places). In other words, there could be separate Marks – each a part of The Mark of The Beast – for the right hand and forehead. My guess is that one Mark (probably “in” the right hand) will be invisible to the naked eye and will be used primarily for tracking, buying, and selling, while the other Mark (probably “on” the forehead) will be a visible Mark that is easily seen by all to show one’s allegiance to the Antichrist and his economic and worship system allowing for easy access in certain situations and rapid visual identification.

Another possibility is that John was witnessing an Iris Scan or facial recognition technology represented by the forehead, or maybe in conjunction with a Mark on the forehead. I’m not sure if this is what John is reporting in these verses, but it’s another “arrow in the quiver” of consideration.

The Mark

I’ve been following the technology available for chipping and tracking since I first came across Digital Angel Corp in the year 2000 and have watched this technology escalate at a remarkable rate ever since. But, in my opinion, the go-to Christian researcher in the fields of AI, robotics, genetics, RFID tracking, chipping, and all end-time technology is Pastor Billy Crone. Even though I’m offering a few ideas in this area, Billy is the man who has been digging into the specifics of government and military advancements and has a wealth of information for the prophecy student to examine.

An example of the complexity of The Mark of The Beast prospects can be summarized in my own life. When I was young, The Mark was thought to be an actual tattoo of ink – an interpretation that lasted for over 1,900 years since Christ. As I got older, it became the Universal Product Code (UPC), and, amazingly enough, the UPC is coded with three sixes. Later, it was a digital chip implant (Digital Angel and others). Later still, it became Radio-Frequency Identification technology (RFID). Next, we were also looking at the possibility of Electronic Tattoos. Now, we’re focused on Blockchain Technology with Cryptocurrency (in concert with some sort of chip implant) and its relationship to vaccines and the Quantum Dot Tattoo.

It’s been quite the progression just within my own life span and, when combined with what is known as “convergence” of all the other prophetic signs, indicates we are, indeed, in the last of the last days!

The Greek word for “mark” is χάραγμα, ατος, τό 5480 “charagma” and means properly, an engraving (etching); (figuratively) a mark providing undeniable identification, like a symbol giving irrefutable connection between parties. 5480/xáragma (“brand-mark”) was originally any impress on a coin or a seal, used by an engraver on a die (stamp, branding iron). 5480 (xáragma) later became “the identification-marker” (like with an owner’s unique “brand-mark”). From the same as charax; a scratch or etching, i.e. Stamp (as a badge of servitude), or sculptured figure (statue) — graven, mark. From the root word χάραξ, ακός, ὁ 5482 “charax” meaning a palisade, mound for besieging. From charasso (to sharpen to a point; akin to grapho through the idea of scratching); a stake, i.e. (by implication) a palisade or rampart (military mound for circumvallation in a siege) — trench. (emphasis mine)

 

There’s a lot to take in with these definitions, but the word that “sticks out like a sore thumb” is “palisade” whose “sharpened to a point” shape was introduced in relationship to the vaccine for COVID – although not currently in use – and is intended to be used in the future to help in identifying those who have been vaccinated. The technology is already here and is known as the Quantum Dot Tattoo (QDT) and could be implemented at a future date.

You can do your own research on this subject and, for your assistance, here is a link to help get you started: Quantum Dots | MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Truly fascinating when one considers that a virus could very well be the precursor to The Mark of The Beast, planned or not. I’m not aware of any prophecy teacher who had projected that possibility, and this is why I’m always careful to acknowledge that there are so many unknowns when it comes to future prophecy. We can offer educated guesses and logical assumptions to much of Bible prophecy, but, in reality, the prophecies are mainly meant for those who go through them.

“This is where wisdom is needed; those who understand should count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a person, and its number is 666” (Revelation 13:18).

Please see my article 666: A Study of Revelation 13:18 for my take on this verse.

The number 666, even though we usually call it something other than what it really is, still has the digits that, somehow, will be implemented within The Mark and will correspond to a tracking system – probably a block-chain type technology with implantable microchip – where all who will willingly accept the economic and worship system will be at the mercy of Antichrist and will have damned themselves to hell.

There will no doubt be a genetic component to this Mark which will corrupt mankind’s DNA, very similar to the rebellion of the sons of God in Genesis 6 (Genesis 6 Commentary and Genetics), and render those who’s very humanity has been corrupted ineligible for salvation. The promises that will be made to humanity from the False Prophet and Antichrist concerning The Mark will be the greatest deception foisted upon men since the fall in the Garden of Eden and will certainly include godhood, longevity or eternal life, and superior mental and physical attributes – possibly aided, in part, by merging man with machine. All of this will be accelerated by God’s strong delusion that He Himself will send on those who dwell on the earth for rejecting the truth and who willingly give themselves over to “the lie” (God’s Strong Delusion & The Father of Lies).

 

Conclusion

To reiterate: Revelation chapter 13 is not only a difficult chapter, but also includes a myriad of possibilities regarding the identities of the beast out of the sea and its symbolism, Antichrist, the False Prophet, the image, the miracles, and The Mark of The Beast technologies. It’s just flat-out vexing – but also intriguing and exciting!

I’ve concluded each article in this series on Revelation 13 with this friendly reminder:

 

All future prophecy is mainly aimed at those who will be going through it. While it can be a challenge and often exciting trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together, all of us prophecy enthusiasts would be well-served to humbly admit that although we may believe our interpretations and views to be correct, at the same time, we must confess that we may also be wrong.

 

Love, grace, mercy, and shalom in Messiah Yeshua, and Maranatha!

Rev 13

Revelation 13:1-18 – The Beast from the Sea

Rev 13:1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”

5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

The Beast from the Earth

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

Dan 7 - Rome.jpg
Rev 13 False Prophet.jpg

Unholy Trinity

Make no mistake, Satan knew God, and he knew the triune nature of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. So, in his attempt to be God and to rule over God’s new creation, like a mad, psychotic wizard, Satan crags a grotesque, distorted parody of the Trinity—a self-image—with himself as father; the antichrist as son and the false prophet as holy spirit.

While the Holy Trinity is characterized by infinite truth, love, and goodness, the unholy trinity portrays the diametrically opposite traits of deception, hatred, and unadulterated evil. Although defeated in heaven, Satan launches a new offensive against God on earth, and he vows to win this new war, with the souls of all humanity as the prize, transforming God’s creation into a living hell, with himself as king.

 

A common tactic of Satan is to imitate or counterfeit the things of God in order to make himself appear to be like God.

Unholy Trinity.jpg

Examples

God has wise virgins                                             Satan has foolish virgins

God sows good seed—wheat                             Satan sows bad seed—tares

God has a vine—“the true vine”                         Satan has a vine—“the vine of the earth.”

Christ has a bride—saved people                       Antichrist has a harlot—unsaved people

God has a city—Jerusalem                                  Satan has also a city—Babylon

God has sacred stones—Urim & Thummin        Satan has 'magic' stones—Chakra stones

Christ is slain and resurrected                              Antichrist is slain and resurrected

Holy Trinity                                                             Unholy Trinity

Satan’s grotesque parody of the Trinity (13:1-18)

Dragon / Satan                            God the Father              (13:1a)

Beast 1 / Antichrist                      God the Son                  (13:1b-10)

Beast 2 / False Prophet               God the Holy Spirit       (13:11-18)

Satan is the anti-God, the Beast is the anti-Christ, and the False Prophet is the anti-Spirit. This unholy trinity will persecute believers and deceive many others, resulting in their eternal death. But God’s kingdom will prevail. Daniel 7:21–22 states, “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.”

  • Satan

    • Satan and one-third of the angels were cast out of heaven during a rebellion before the world began (Revelation 12:4).

    • The Archangel Michael and the other angels will make war with Satan and his demons, and Satan will be excluded from heaven forever (Revelation 12:7-9).

    • In his attempt to prevent God’s fulfillment of His earthly kingdom, Satan will attempt to annihilate the Jews, but God will supernaturally protect a remnant of the Jews in a location outside of Israel for the last 42 months of the Tribulation (Revelation12:613–17Matthew 24:15–21).

 

  • Antichrist

    • The second member of the unholy trinity is the Beast or Antichrist described in Revelation 13 and Daniel 7.

    • The beast comes out of the sea, which typically in the Bible refers to the Gentile nations.

    • He also has seven heads and ten horns, indicating his connection to and indwelling by Satan.

      • The ten horns indicate ten seats of world government that will provide power to the Antichrist, three of which will be totally yielded to or taken over by the Antichrist (Daniel 7:8).

      • The number ten also indicates completion or totality, in other words, a one-world government.

    • The one-world government will be blasphemous, denying the true God.

      • The final kingdom will possess traits in common with the former “beast kingdoms” of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and particularly Rome (Revelation13:2Daniel 7:723). 

    • Revelation 13:3 seems to indicate that the Antichrist will be mortally wounded about halfway through the Tribulation, but Satan will miraculously heal his wound (Revelation 13:317:8–14).

      • After this wondrous event, the world will be totally enthralled by the Antichrist.

      • They will worship Satan and the Antichrist himself (Revelation 13:4–5).

    • The Antichrist becomes emboldened, and, dispensing with all pretenses of being a peaceful ruler, he openly blasphemes God, breaks his peace treaty with the Jews, attacks believers and the Jews, and desecrates the rebuilt Jewish temple, setting himself up as the one to be worshiped (Revelation 13:4–7Matthew 24:15.) This particular event has been called the Abomination of Desolation.

 

  • False Prophet

    • The final personage of the unholy trinity is the False Prophet, described in Revelation 13:11–18.

    • This second beast comes out of the earth, not the sea, possibly indicating that he may be an apostate Jew coming from Israel.

    • Although he presents himself as a meek, mild, and benevolent person, the horns indicate that he will have power. Jesus expressly warned believers to watch out for false prophets that may look innocent but actually can be very destructive (Matthew 7:15).

    • The False Prophet speaks like a dragon, meaning that he will speak persuasively and deceptively to turn humans away from God and promote the worship of the Antichrist and Satan (Revelation 13:11–12).

    • The False Prophet is capable of producing great signs and wonders, including bringing down fire from heaven (Revelation 13:13).

    • He sets up an image of the Antichrist for worship, gives life to the image, demands the worship of the image from all people, and executes those who refuse to worship the image (Revelation 13:14–15). Revelation 20:4 indicates that the method of execution will be beheading.

    • The False Prophet will also compel each person to receive a permanent mark of some kind, just as slaves did in John’s day, to show total devotion to the Antichrist and renunciation of God.

      • Only those who receive the mark will be permitted to engage in commerce.

      • Acceptance of the mark means eternal death (Revelation 14:10).

      • The Bible makes clear that humans will fully understand that, by accepting the mark, they are not only accepting an economic system but also a worship system that rejects Jesus Christ. 

    • Revelation 13:18 reveals the number of the Beast—666.

      • No one knows precisely what this means.

        • Some believe that the Antichrist’s first, middle, and last names will have six letters each.

        • Some believe that the designation refers to a computer chip, since some computer programs start with 666.

Revelation 17 – The Scarlet Woman and the Scarlet Beast

Rev 17:1  Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5 And on her forehead a name was written:

Rev 17.jpg

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT,

THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS

AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS

OF THE EARTH.

 

6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.

The Meaning of the Woman and the Beast

7 But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

9 “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. 10 There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. 11 The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.

12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

15 Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. 16 And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”

​​

Beast = Antichrist

7 heads = 7 hills of Vatican City

7 kings = Popes/False Prophet

Harlot = Catholic Papacy

Waters = peoples 

  • Beast = Antichrist

    • 10 horns = 10 kings of the Antichrist Kingdom

  • 7 heads = 7 mountains where the harlot sits = 7 hills of Rome

    • Western Roman empire became Vatican City

  • 7 kings = 7 Popes since Vatican City was created

    • 5 Fallen, 1 is, 1 to come

    • 8th Pope = beast going to perdition = False Prophet (Beast from the Earth)

  • Harlot = Woman = Great city that reigns over the kings of the earth = Vatican City = Catholic Papacy

  • Waters = peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues 

Rev 17:9 “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. 10 There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. 11 The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.

  • 7 heads = 7 hills of Rome = Daniel’s 4th kingdom

    • Ancient Western Roman Empire became Vatican City

 

  • Ancient Western Roman Empire became Vatican City

    • The Roman Empire was never defeated.  The Western Roman Empire continues today as Holy Roman Empire (Vatican City).

      • The Western Roman Empire officially ended 4 September 476 CE, when Emperor Romulus Augustulus was deposed by the Germanic King Odoacer.

      • The Eastern Roman Empire continued on as the Byzantine Empire until 1453 CE. Though known early on as simply `the Roman Empire’, it did not much resemble that entity at all.

      • The Western Roman Empire would become re-invented later as The Holy Roman Empire (962-1806 CE).

        • That construct was also far removed from the Roman Empire of antiquity and was an `empire’ in name only.

 

  • The Holy Roman Empire was also known as the Papal States – officially the State of the Church

    • These were a series of territories in the Italian Peninsula under the direct sovereign rule of the pope. They were among the major states of Italy from roughly the 8th century until the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia successfully unified the Italian Peninsula by conquest in a campaign virtually concluded in 1861 and definitively in 1870.

    • At their zenith, the Papal States covered most of the modern Italian regions of Lazio (which includes Rome), Marche, Umbria and Romagna, and portions of Emilia. These holdings were considered to be a manifestation of the temporal power of the pope, as opposed to his ecclesiastical primacy.

 

  • By 1861, much of the Papal States' territory had been conquered by the Kingdom of Italy.

    • Only Lazio, including Rome, remained under the pope's temporal control.

    • In 1870, the pope lost Lazio and Rome and had no physical territory at all, except the Basilica of St Peter and the papal residence and related buildings around the Vatican quarter of Rome, which the new Italian state did not occupy militarily.

 

  • In 1929 the head of the Italian government, at the time the Italian Fascist leader Benito Mussolini, ended the crisis between unified Italy and the Holy See by negotiating the Lateran Treaty, signed by the two parties. This recognized the sovereignty of the Holy See over a newly created international territorial entity, the Vatican City State, limited to a token territory.

    • The Holy See, also called the See of Rome, is the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome, known as the pope, which includes the apostolic episcopal see of the Diocese of Rome with universal ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the worldwide Catholic Church, as well as a sovereign entity of international law.

 

Rev 17 :9 “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains (Vatican City) on which the woman sits. 10 There are also seven kings (Popes of Vatican City). Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. 11 The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.

  • 7 kings = 7 Popes of Vatican City

  • 8th king = 8th Pope = Beast from the Earth = False Prophet

  • In 1929 the Lateran Treaty was signed creating the nation state of Vatican City. Since then, including the current one, there have been 8 popes.

  • Five have fallen,

    • Pius XI (1922-1939) ... First king … 17 years

    • Pius XII (1939-1958) ... Second king … 19 years

    • John XXIII (1958-1963) ... Third king … 5 years

    • Paul VI (1963-1978) ... Fourth king … 15 years

    • John Paul I (1978) ... Fifth king reigned only 33 days

8th King - Last Pope.png
  • one is, 

    • John Paul II (1978-2005) ... Sixth king was seriously wounded in 1981 … 27 years

  • and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. 

    • Benedict XVI (2005-2013) ... Seventh king resigned February 28, 2013 … 8 years

      • Unlike almost all the six monarchs before him, Pope Benedict XVI abdicated his throne.

 

  • 11 The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.

    • In verse 10 the seven kings of this scarlet coloured beast kingdom are mentioned, but then in the next verse there is a subtle yet fundamental difference when describing the next king in line, the eighth king is called a beast. Why? Who is this beast? What will he do?

      • Francis I (March 13, 2013) ... Eighth king until the end of the world.

        • Francis “was elected by a mafia of cardinals,”

    • The book of Revelation describes the last days dominated by a one world government with two branches – political & religious.

      • Political wing is lead by the Antichrist

      • Religious wing is lead by the False Prophet

    • The beast described in Revelation 13:1 and Revelation 17:11 is the Antichrist – both describe it as having 7 heads and 10 horns.  This is the last kingdom on earth before the second coming.   The harlot (Catholic Church / one world religion) will ride as the religious arm of the beast global government, headed by the first beast (Antichrist) and enforced by the eighth king (The second beast, the false prophet)

 

 

Rev 17:1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5 And on her forehead a name was written:

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT,

THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS
AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS

OF THE EARTH.

6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.

  • The woman is called the "great harlot", with whom earthly kings "have committed fornication". Against only two cities could such a charge be made:

    • Jerusalem – Indicted for spiritual fornication by numerous prophets, but does not meet the other criteria.

      • Isaiah 1:21 How the faithful city has become a harlot!
        It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, But now murderers.
        22 Your silver has become dross, Your wine mixed with water.
        23 Your princes are rebellious, And companions of thieves;
        Everyone loves bribes, And follows after rewards.
        They do not defend the fatherless, Nor does the cause of the widow come before them.

    • Vatican City – Claims to have been the worldwide headquarters of Christianity since its beginning

      • Her pope claims to be the Vicar of Christ

      • His church claims to be the only ‘true church’ and ‘bride of Christ’.

      • Christ said His kingdom was note of this world, otherwise His servants would fight. Yet the popes have fought with armies and navies in the name of Christ to build a worldwide empire.

      • Vatican II states that even today the Roman Catholic Church ceaselessly seeks to bring under its control all mankind and all their goods. And in furtherance of these goals it has engaged, exactly as John foresaw, in fornication (unholy alliances) with the kings of the earth.

        • See Could Pope Francis be the False Prophet?

 

 

Description of Catholic Papacy

4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication

 

  • The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet – the colors of the Catholic clergy.

    • The Catholic Encyclopedia states:

      • Cappa Magna – A cloak with a long train and a hooded shoulder cape...[it] was purple wool for bishops; for cardinals, it was scarlet watered silk....

      • Cassock – The close-fitting, ankle-length robe worn by the Catholic clergy as their official garb....The color for bishops and other prelates is purple, for cardinals scarlet.... (Emphasis added)

 

  • Incredible wealth – She was adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls

    • Even Christ's blood-stained cross has been turned to gold, reflecting her riches. 

    • The Catholic Encyclopedia says, "The pectoral cross [suspended by a chain around the neck of abbots, bishops, archbishops, cardinals and the pope] should be made of gold and...decorated with gems...." 

 

  • having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 

    • The Catholic Encyclopedia calls the gold chalice "the most important of the sacred vessels...." 

      • The Roman Catholic Church is known for its many thousands of gold chalices around the world.

  • A recent newspaper article reported, 

The fabulous treasure of Lourdes [France], whose existence was kept secret by the Catholic Church for 120 years, has been unveiled....Rumors have been circulating for decades about a priceless collection of gold chalices, diamond-studded crucifixes, silver and precious stones....

 

After an indiscreet remark by their press spokesman this week, church authorities agreed to reveal part of the collection... [some] floor-to-ceiling cases were opened to reveal 59 solid gold chalices alongside rings, crucifixes, statues and heavy gold brooches, many encrusted with precious stones.

 

Almost hidden by the other treasures is the "Crown" of Notre Dame de Lourdes, made by a Paris goldsmith in 1876 and studded with diamonds.

 

Church authorities say they cannot put a value on the collection. "I have no idea," says Father Pierre-Marie Charriez. ..."It is of inestimable value."

 

Across the road is a building housing hundreds of [antique] ecclesiastical garments, robes, mitres and sashes––many in heavy gold thread....

 

"The Church itself is poor," insists Father Charriez. "The Vatican itself is poor."  (Emphasis added) [And the treasure described here is only part of that which is kept in one location, the small town of Lourdes, France!]

  • She has practiced evil to gather her wealth, for the golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.

    • Much of the wealth of the Roman Catholic Church was acquired by confiscating property of the Inquisitions' pitiful victims. Even the dead were exhumed to face trial and property was taken from their heirs by the Church. That practice, one historian writes, offered "unlimited opportunities for loot."

    • Most of Rome's wealth has been acquired through the sale of salvation.

      • Untold billions of dollars have been paid to her by those who thought they were purchasing heaven on the installment plan for themselves or loved ones. The practice continues to this day—blatantly where Catholicism is in control, less obviously here in the United States where (for example) one pays the Church to have a Mass card placed on the altar in the name of the deceased during Mass to reduce time in purgatory.

      • The wealthy often leave a fortune for masses to be said for their salvation after their death.

 

  • In addition to such perversions of the gospel, there are the further abominations (fully documented in police and court records) of corrupt banking practices, laundering of drug money, trading in counterfeit securities and dealings with the Mafia, which the Vatican and her representatives around the world have long employed.

    • Former Business Week correspondent in Rome, Nino LoBello, who because of its incredible wealth calls Rome "the tycoon on the Tiber," says the Vatican is so closely allied with the Mafia in Italy that "many people...believe that Sicily...is nothing more than a Vatican holding." 

 

Mother of Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth

5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

  • Sadly enough, the Roman Catholic Church fits that description as precisely as she fits the others.  Much of the cause is due to the unbiblical doctrine of priestly celibacy.

    • The great Apostle Paul was a celibate and recommended that life to others who wanted to devote themselves fully to serving Christ. He did not, however, make it a condition for church leadership as the Catholic Church has done, thereby imposing an unnatural burden upon her clergy that very few could bear. On the contrary, he wrote that a bishop should be "the husband of one wife" (1 Tim:3:2) and set the same requirement for elders (Titus:1:5-6).

    • The doctrine of celibacy has been broken repeatedly by millions of priests and nuns, bishops, archbishops, cardinals and many popes such as Sergius III, John X, John XII, Benedict V, Innocent VIII, Urban VIII, Innocent X, et al. Celibacy has made sinners of the clergy and harlots out of those with whom they secretly cohabit. The Catholic Church has paid about $1 billion in out-of-court settlements in the last few years for sexual sins of its clergy in the USA alone. Rome is indeed "the mother of harlots"!

    • History is replete with sayings that mocked Romanism's false claim to celibacy: "The holiest hermit has his whore" and "Rome has more prostitutes than any other city because she has the most celibates" are examples. Pope Pius II called Rome "the only city run by bastards," the sons and grandsons of popes and cardinals.

    • Even Catholic historians admit that among the popes were some of the most degenerate and unconscionable ogres in all history. More than one pope was slain by a husband who found him in bed with his wife. To call such a man "His Holiness, Vicar of Christ" makes a mockery of holiness and of Christ. Yet the name of each of these mass murderers, fornicators, robbers, warmongers––some guilty of the massacre of thousands—is emblazoned in honor on the Church's official list of Peter's alleged successors, the popes.

 

6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.

  • The woman is drunk—and not with alcohol but with "the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus..."

    • One thinks immediately of the Inquisitions (Roman, Medieval and Spanish) which for centuries held Europe in their terrible grip. Canon Llorente, who was the Secretary to the Inquisition in Madrid from 1790-92 and had access to the archives of all the tribunals, estimated that in Spain alone the number of condemned exceeded 3 million, with about 300,000 burned at the stake. A Catholic historian writes,

 

When Napoleon conquered Spain in 1808, a Polish officer in his army, Colonel Lemanouski, reported that the Dominicans blockaded themselves in their monastery in Madrid. When Lemanouski's troops forced an entry, the inquisitors denied the existence of any torture chambers. The soldiers searched the monastery and discovered them under the floors. The chambers were full of prisoners, all naked, many insane. The French troops, used to cruelty and blood, could not stomach the sight. They emptied the torture-chambers, laid gunpowder to the monastery and blew the place up.

 

The remnants of some of the chambers of horror remain in Europe and may be visited today. They stand as memorials to the zealous outworking of Roman Catholic dogmas which remain in force, and to a Church which claims to be infallible and to this day justifies such barbarism. They are also memorials to the astonishing accuracy of John's vision in Revelation 17. Do not forget, that Church has not yet officially admitted that these practices were evil, nor apologized to the world or to any of the victims or their descendants. Nor could John Paul II fully apologize today because "the doctrines responsible for those terrible things still underpin his position."

 

  • "Christian" Rome has slaughtered many times the number of both Christians and Jews that pagan Rome did. Beside those victims of the Inquisitions, there were Huguenots, Albigenses, Waldenses and other Christians, massacred, tortured and burned at the stake by the hundreds of thousands simply because they refused to align themselves with the Roman Catholic Church. Listen to the leading nineteenth-century Catholic professor of church history:

 

The view of the Church had been...[that] every departure from the teaching of the Church...must be punished with death, and the most cruel of deaths, by fire....

 

Both the initiation and carrying out of this...must be ascribed to the Popes alone...who compelled bishops and priests to condemn heretics to torture, confiscation of their goods, imprisonment, and death, and to enforce the execution of this sentence on the civil authorities, under pain of excommunication. (Emphasis added)

 

  • Pope Martin V commanded the King of Poland in 1429 to exterminate the Hussites (sympathizers with the martyred Jan Hus). This excerpt from the Pope's letter to the King explains why popes hated independent Christians and wanted them destroyed:

 

Know that the interests of the Holy See, and those of your crown, make it a duty to exterminate the Hussites. Remember that these impious persons dare proclaim principles of equality; they maintain that all Christians are brethren, and that God has not given to privileged men the right of ruling the nations; they hold that Christ came on earth to abolish slavery; they call the people to liberty, that is to the annihilation of kings and priests.... [T]urn your forces against Bohemia; burn, massacre, make deserts everywhere, for nothing could be more agreeable to God, or more useful to the cause of kings, than the extermination of the Hussites.(Emphasis added)

 

  • Note this excerpt from Pope Nicholas I's (858-67) instructions to the King of Bulgaria, a new convert to what he thought was "Christianity," to force Rome's religion upon his subjects:

 

I glorify you for having maintained your authority by putting to death those wandering sheep who refuse to enter the fold; and...congratulate you upon having opened the kingdom of heaven to the people submitted to your rule.

 

A king need not fear to command massacres, when these will retain his subjects in obedience, or cause them to submit to the faith of Christ; and God will reward him in this world, and in eternal life, for these murders.

 

Why should Rome apologize for or even admit this holocaust? No one calls her to account today. Protestants have forgotten and evangelical leaders join Rome to evangelize together. They don't want to hear any "negative" reminders of the millions tortured and slain by the Church to which they now pay homage, or the fact that Rome has a false gospel of sacramental works.

 

  • The Nazi holocaust was thoroughly known to Pius XII in spite of his complete silence throughout the war on the slaughter of Jews. Had the Pope protested, as representatives of Jewish organizations and the Allied Powers begged him to do, he would have condemned his own Church. The facts are inescapable:

 

In 1936, Bishop Berning of Osnabruch had talked with the Fuhrer for over an hour. Hitler assured his lordship there was no fundamental difference between National Socialism and the Catholic Church. Had not the church, he argued, looked on Jews as parasites...? …"I am only doing," he boasted, "what the Church has done for fifteen hundred years, only more effectively." Being a Catholic himself, he told Berning, he "admired and wanted to promote Christianity [Catholicism]." 

 

18 And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”

 

  • Is there such a city? Yes, and again only one: Vatican City.

    • One 18th century historian counted 95 popes who claimed to have divine power to depose kings and emperors.

    • Historian Walter James wrote that Pope Innocent III (1198-1216) "held all Europe in his net."

    • Gregory IX (1227-41) thundered that the pope was Lord and Master of everyone and everything. Popes crowned and deposed kings and emperors, exacting obedience by threatening excommunication.

    • Pope Nicholas I boasted, "Fear, then, our wrath and the thunders of our vengeance; for Jesus Christ has appointed us [the popes]...absolute judges of all men; and kings...are submitted to our authority." 

      • In commanding one king to destroy another, Nicholas wrote, “We order you, in the name of religion, to invade his states, burn his cities, and massacre his people....”

    • Eminent Catholic historian Ignaz von Dollinger writes, "Pope Clement IV, in 1265, after selling millions of South Italians to Charles of Anjou for a yearly tribute of eight hundred ounces of gold, declared that he would be excommunicated if the first payment was deferred...."

    • Catholic Professor Carrerio boasted that the popes had "put down from their thrones great kings and yet mightier emperors, and set others in their place, to whom the greatest kingdoms have long paid tribute, as they do to no other, and who dispense such riches...that no king or emperor has ever had....

 

The qualifying data which John gives us under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit for identifying this woman/city, is specific, conclusive and irrefutable. There is no city upon earth, past or present, which meets all of these criteria except Catholic Rome and Vatican City. Pray for the 980 million Catholics who are deceived into trusting their Church instead of Christ for salvation. May Christ's love move you to bring the gospel to them!

 

Rev 17:12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.

  • Describes a confederation of 10 kings during the tribulation

    • Dan 2:42 10 toes

    • Dan 7:24 The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this Antichrist kingdom.

    • Rev 17:12 "The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.

    • There is no fulfillment of this federation of 10 kings in ancient Roman history, therefore this prophecy must still be future

Beast = Antichrist

7 heads = 7 hills of Vatican City

7 kings = Popes/False Prophet

Harlot = Catholic Papacy

Waters = peoples 

Rev 17

Malachy's Prophecies - The Last 10 Popes

http://www.bibleprobe.com/last10popes.htm

  • Known to Catholics as St. Malachy (1094-1148)

  • Born in 1094 A.D. at Armagh, Ireland, Saint Malachy is also known as: Maolmhaodhog ua Morgair; Maol Maedoc; and Malachy O'Morgair. He died as he himself predicted, on November 2, 1148 at Clairvaux, France.  Malachy was canonized the first Irish Saint in the Catholic Church by Pope Clement III in 1190 A.D.

  • In the 12th Century, St. Malachy O’Morgair, the Archbishop of Armagh, Ireland, had a prophetic vision of the 112 popes following Pope Celestine II, who died in 1144.  The descriptions of all 112 Popes are here: St. Malachy's Prophecy of the Final 112 Popes

  • These are St. Malachy’s Latin descriptions (in italics) for the final five Popes:

    • Paul VI (1963-1978): Flos florum, which means “flower of flowers.”  Paul VI’s coat of arms bore the image of three lilies.

    • John Paul I (1978): De medietate Lunae, meaning “of the half of the moon.”  John Paul reigned for about a month—from half a moon to the next half moon.

    • John Paul II (1978-2005): De labore Solis, or “from the labor of the sun.”  John Paul II was born during a partial solar eclipse (May 18, 1920).  There also was a rare “hybrid” eclipse on the day of his funeral (April 8, 2005).

    • Benedict XVI (2005-2013): Gloria Olivæ, or “glory of the olive.”  St. Benedict himself prophesied that before the end of the age, his Order, known also as the Olivetans, triumphantly would lead the Catholic Church in its fight against evil.  This pope was a conservative peacemaker, and the olive branch is a symbol of peace.

    • Francis (2013-????): Petrus Romanus, or “Peter of Rome.”  It was predicted that this pope would reign during a time of extreme persecution of the Church.  He would feed the sheep through many tribulations, at the end of which the city of seven hills (seemingly, Rome) would be destroyed, and then the formidable Judge will judge His people.

  • Thus, Pope Francis could be the final pope. 

    • He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, so one might wonder how he could be considered to be Petrus Romanus or “Peter of Rome.”  In fact Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) is of Italian descent because his father, Mario José Bergoglio, was an Italian immigrant to Argentina.

    • Also, Pope Francis named himself after St. Francis of Assisi, who was an Italian or Roman priest.  His original name was Giovanni di Pietro (Peter) di Bernardone or “Peter the Roman”; and, of course, Pope Francis does reside at the Vatican in Rome.

    • Furthermore, Pope Francis has reaffirmed the authority of the Roman Pontiff over the Church.  He also has emphasized the supremacy of the Roman Catholic Faith and the Roman Catholic Church above all other religions and denominations, as well as its authority over all Christians and all peoples of the world.

The correspondence between the prophecies of Saint Malachy and the Mayan Calendar (whose 'long count' ends in 2012) are alarming, to put it mildly. Why did the ancient Mayan or pre-Maya choose December 21st, 2012 A.D., as the end of their Long Count calendar?

 

Saint Malachy was a 12th century Irish monk, who, while on a visit to Rome had a vision of all the popes who would ever reign.  Malachy "saw"-and committed to paper- a series of Latin phrases describing the popes to come. He catalogued each one with an epigrammatic verse, such as 'the tears of the sun'.  Malachy made the prophecy in 1139.  Reportedly it was entrusted to Pope Innocent II in 1140.  But for some reason it was "lost" in the Vatican for 400 years, only to be "discovered" in 1595 A.D.  Malachy s predictions reputedly were made in 1139 while he was on a pilgrimage to the Vatican, where he was appointed papal legate for Ireland.  On his last trek to the holy see in Rome, in 1148, Malachy accurately predicted the place and time of his own death: Clairvaux, France, on All Souls Day, November 2, of that same year.

 

The Malachy Prophecies were first published in 1595, by a Benedictine monk & historian named Arnold de Wyon, who found them 5 years earlier in the Vatican archives. Arnold recorded them in his book, entitled: 'Lignum Vitæ'.

 

Malachy's Prophecies - The Last 10 Popes

 
1. The Burning Fire. PIUS X. 1903-1914.

This Pope showed a burning passion for spiritual renewal in the Church.

 
2. Religion Laid Waste (Religio Depopulata). BENEDICT XV. 1914-1922.

Unfortunately, this was true.  During this Pope's reign saw Communism move into Russia where religious life was laid waste, and World War I with the death of millions of Christians who were carnage in Flanders Field and elsewhere.

3. Unshaken Faith. PIUS XI. 1922-1939.

This Pope faced tremendous pressure from fascist and sinister powers in Germany and Italy, but he was an outspoken critic of Communism and Fascism which enraged Hitler.

4. An Angelic Shepherd. PIUS XII. 1939-1958.

This Pope had an affinity for the spiritual world and received visions which have not been made public. Peter Bander says Pius XII "has emerged as one of the great Popes of all time," and he "was in the truest sense of the word an Angelic Pastor to the flock..."

 
5. Pastor and Mariner. JOHN XXIII. 1958-1963. " Pastor et Nauta" or "Pastor and sailor".

John was a pastor to the world, much beloved, and the Patriarch of Venice. The connection to "mariner" is thus remarkable. According Peter Bander in The Prophecies of Malachy (TAN Books and Publisher, 1969) during the conclave which was to elect John XXIII in 1958, a certain Cardinal from the United States, (Cardinal Spellman of New York) evidently having taken Malachy's forecast that the next pope would be "pastor and mariner" literally, rented a boat, filled it with sheep and sailed up and down the Tiber.

6. Flower of Flowers. "Flos Florum" PAUL VI. 1963-1978.

Paul's coat-of-arms depicts three fleurs-de-lis, corresponding to Malachy's prophecy. His coat of arms included three fleurs-de-lis (iris blossoms).  At the popular and controversial site of Garabandal in Spain, a seer named Conchita Gonzalez once noted: “The Blessed Virgin said in 1962 that there will only be two more popes after Paul VI.”

 
7. Of the Half Moon. "De Medietate Lanae," or "from the half moon" JOHN PAUL I. 1978-1978.

John Paul I was elected Pope on August 26, 1978, when there was a half moon. He reigned 33 days, that is, about one month, when he died, although many think he was murdered. He was the 109th Pope - is "De Medietate Lunae" (Of the Half Moon). The corresponding pope was John Paul I (1978-78), who was born in the diocese of Belluno (beautiful moon) and was baptized Albino Luciani which means white light, such as that given off by the half-moon in Malachy s prophecy. He became pope on August 26, 1978, when the moon appeared exactly half full. It was in its waning phase. He died the following month, soon after an eclipse of the moon.

8. The Labor of the Son. "De Medietate Lunae" JOHN PAUL II. 1978-2005

Amazingly, Pope John Paul II was the only pope who was both born the day of an eclipse of the sun, and entombed the day the sun was eclipsed.

One of Malachy's strangest predictions concerned the pope who would follow 'De Medietate Lunae'. He is designated as 'De Labore Solis', or 'from the toil of the sun'. Applied to John Paul II, this phrase reveals nothing less than a double prophecy. John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla), the first non-Italian elected in 456 years, was a native of Krakow, Poland. Krakow is the city where, in the 15th and 16th centuries, Copernicus 'toiled'; for years to prove his heretical theory that the earth revolved around the sun. Many of Malachy s interpreters also suggested that the 'sun' reference indicated a young pope. Fifty-eight years old at the time of his election, John Paul II was the youngest pope in over a century.

John Paul II was the most traveled Pope in history. He has circled the globe numerous times, preaching to huge audiences everywhere he goes. Even though he was once shot, he has not seemed to slow down. He has recently written a book which has enjoyed a large circulation.

Like the sun which never ceases to labor and provides light daily, this Pope has been incessant. John Paul compared abortion to the Holocaust and denounced gay marriages as part of 'a new ideology of evil'. He argued that same-sex marriages threaten society by undermining the traditional family.

John Paul II was born on May 18, 1920. On that date in the morning there was a near total eclipse of the sun over Europe. Prophecy - The 110th Pope is 'De Labore Solis' (Of the Solar Eclipse, or, From the Toil of the Sun). The corresponding pope is John Paul II (1978-2005). Karol Wojtyla (John Paul II) was born on May 18, 1920 during an eclipse of the sun. Like the sun he came out of the East (Poland). Like the sun he has visited countries all around the globe while doing his work. Karol was the first non-Italian pope in 456 years. He was ordained on November 1, 1946 and earned a doctorate in ethics at the Angelicum University in Rome. He was made auxiliary bishop in 1958 and Archbishop in 1964 of Krakow and Cardinal in 1967. He was elected the first Polish pope on October 1978. He spoke eight languages and he traveled more than any other pope in history. John Paul II died at the Vatican on Saturday, April 2, 2005, the same day as a partial eclipse, visible in the Americas.

John Paul II may also be connected to the revelation of Saint Faustina Kowalska of Poland (quoting Jesus), "I bear a special love for Poland and if she will be obedient to My Will, I will exalt her in might and holiness. From her will come forth the spark that will prepare the world for My final coming" (Diary "Divine Mercy in My Soul").