The False Prophet and the Image of the Beast
 

                         The false prophet is mentioned three times in Revelation:

 Rev 16:13--"And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the
  dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet."

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

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

                          The beast, as I have shown in my other articles, is none other than the Roman 
           Catholic Church (the papacy).  Revelation 19:20 gives the key to identifying the false
           prophet.  It says that it will perform miracles for the beast.  Notice that in Revelation
           13:11-14, the two-horned beast performs miracles for the first beast.  So the two are
           both the false prophet.  Read U.S. in Prophecy for more information.

                          Now, to see who the false prophet is:

 Rev 13:10-- He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the
  sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

                          This refers to the time in 1798 when Pope Pious VI was capture by Napolean
            and died.  This effectively broke papal rule.  See The Deadly Wound for more
            information.  The papacy's deadly wound was healed when Benito Mussolini signed 
            the Lateran Treaty with the Catholic Church.  This established the papacy as a City
            State.

                          Right after Revelation 13:10, it talks about a second beast rising from the earth.
            As shown in U.S. in Prophecy, this second beast is the United States.  It arose right
            around the time of the demise of the papacy; 1798.

                          Next in verses 12-14, it shows that the United States will combine church and
            state to force the teaching of Roman Catholic doctrine.  Miracles will be performed and
            the U.S. will "make an image" to the beast.  This means that apostate Protestantism will
            urge the joining of church and state.  They will try to urge Catholic teachings on
            everyone.  What teachings do you ask?

1.  The dead aren't really dead.  They teach that, when you die, you go immediately to
  heaven, hell or purgatory.  The truth is, the dead know nothing--The Truth about Hell

2.  Priests can forgive sins.  The Bible says that only Jesus can forgive sin.

3.  Sunday is the true sabbath.  The Catholic Church has accepted a pagan day of worship
  for the Christian sabbath.  To obey Jesus, worship on the seventh-day--The Sabbath

4.  Salvation is gained by works.  Jesus' words are clear--only faith in Him can bring you
  salvation.

Also see Catholicism's False Doctrines



                        So the false prophet is, in fact, apostate Protestantism.  And how do you
            identify apostate religion?

                    A.  The teaching that if you just be good people, you'll be saved.  You'll 
                          hear this a lot from tele-evangelists, country singers, etc.  There is 
                          no study of the Bible (or very little).

                    B.  Saying, "Send in your seed money now!  God will give you back 1000
                          times more!"  These TV evangelists cry and moan for hours on end,
                          having telethon after telethon.  In return for your money, they give
                          you plaques, books, etc.  Jesus never charges for his salvation. 
                          It's FREE.

                    C.  "Miracle" healing.  Faith healers, such as Benny Hinn, always ask for
                          money and "slay" by the spirit, supposedly healing people.  This is a 
                          sign of apostate religion. 

                    D.  Relying on speaking in tongues or some other method to show just how
                          the Holy Spirit blesses them.  People just speak gibberish and there is
                          no interpretation.  It is complete chaos.

                      These points show some of the major forms of apostasy in Protestantism
         today.  Many people believe that they are holy and doing the Lord's work.  But 
         the Lord has a message for those who preach contrary to God's wishes.

 Matthew 7:21--"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom
  of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."
        Matthew 7:22--"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
        thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful
        works?"

                     These texts say that, at the coming of the Lord, many people will come to the
           Lord, expecting salvation, but they will be turned away because they did not preach
           the truth.  Trust in the Bible and it will lead you to all truth.