Satan will empower the False Prophet, as well as the Antichrist. Together, the three of them mock the holy Trinity...
(Revelation 13:11-18) Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. 15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either 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 the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.
From this we see:
- another beast comes out of the earth, looking like a lamb with two horns, but has the voice of a dragon (13:11)
- Satan empowers the False Prophet as well, who acts as the Antichrist's lieutenant (13:12)
- it sounds like maybe the False Prophet only has Satan's powers when the False Prophet is in the vicinity of the Antichrist, which would make sense since Satan is not omnipresent (13:13)
- together, Satan, the Antichrist and the False Prophet mock the holy Trinity (13:11-12)
- the Antichrist pretends to die and rise again (13:12, 14)
- the False Prophet spreads the "good news" about how the Antichrist had a "fatal wound and came back to life" (13:12)
- the False Prophet performs "miracles" (to some extent), in order to manipulate and influence the people (13:13)
- the False Prophet deceives the people into worshiping the Antichrist and making an image of the beast to worship (13:12-14)
- the False Prophet will be empowered to cause the idol of the beast to speak (13:15)
- the False Prophet will oversee that those who do not worship the Antichrist will be killed (13:15)
- the False Prophet will make all people get the mark of the beast ("666"), and if anyone does not get the mark, they will not be able to buy or sell anything (13:16-18)
- we are not quite sure, but most likely the Antichrist and the False Prophet will be men empowered by Satan, as it says that the number "666" is that of a man (13:18)
Personal experience: we should not underestimate Satan or think that he and his demons are a joke. Demons do have supernatural powers to some extent. So to make an idol or any other inanimate object more or talk, is well within their powers.
I haven't mentioned my younger brother in a while, but it makes sense to share this now.
When my parents brought him home from the adoption agency, he was two and half years old. Remember that there were ancestral demons which came along with him... besides his one small bag of clothes, and one toy.
This toy was a small raggedy blue stuffed bear - which went with him everywhere for the first few months. After my younger brother kept acting out in defiance, my mom had a sense that the bear was somehow a trigger to his behavior. Maybe it was how he would blame things on the bear.
So finally, as a punishment, my parents took the bear away and hid it. While my mom kept a watch over my brother, my dad went into a back room and stuffed the bear into an upper shelf of a closet, which was six feet off the ground. It was a separate storage shelf apart from the closet, so it had it's own cover which popped off completely. My mom had difficulty putting the cover doors back in place, even when standing on a chair! But...
The next day, my younger brother was playing with the bear! The cover doors were still in place!
Now, me and my other brother were only 5 and 7 years old at the time! So obviously, WE were not tall enough to get that bear down from the shelf. Not only that, none of us kids knew where my dad had hid the bear! Needless to say, my parents felt very strongly about getting rid of that toy completely... never to be seen again!
Of course, now we know that even though the toy was gone, the demons were still there! Until my brother moved away, and my parents realized they needed to do some serious praying! I'm not saying that one HAS to walk around your entire house and pray aloud, but it certainly doesn't hurt to do that!
Today's takeaway: God is omnipresent and all powerful! He is in control and hears our prayers - whether said aloud or in our hearts!...
After so many years of struggles, our once-dysfunctional family is completely reconciled. My younger brother became a Christian, and was more than happy to give his permission for me to talk about some of our experiences growing up - as it was a chance to use such a dark time in order spread God's light!...
(John 1:1-14) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 8:12) Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
(Ephesians 5:1-13) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; 4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.
(Matthew 5:14-16) “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
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