Revelation 13:11-18
In verse 11 as John continues to observe there is an introduction of another beast on the scene.
If we have been a student or one curious about this end time book, we may have already pinpointed who this is. Many in the prophecy world have labeled this beast as the “false prophet.”However notice the descriptive, a lamb with two horns and speaks as a dragon. The dragon related here would be the voice of satan and the two horns represent rulers in scripture.
This beast rises out of the beast system discussed previously which would be out of the earth that this system is striving to conquer. The two horns represent the two rulers which of that day will be the anti-christ and false prophet.
From the western view of prophecy, many are calling for the last Catholic Pope to fill the shoes of the False Prophet. In the Catholic Tradition there is a prophecy given by Saint Malachi. The prophecy describes hundreds of Popes throughout history and makes the claim that the last pope is to be the false prophet found in the Book of Revelation.
Staying with the Eastern view in our study, we take a different approach to who this is and interestingly enough, our choice has been making the news being spoken of by the Muslim Clerics.
When they speak of their “Mahdi” (which is their messiah) coming, they conjoin a prophet of their Koran named Jesus. Now to those that are not educated concerning the Jesus of the Koran, he is not the Jesus of the Bible.
In the research, we find that this Jesus will come and state, ‘since he has been gone that he has converted to Islam and he was never crucified.’ He becomes the spokesman for Islam and Mahdi (anti-christ). This Jesus will be the executioner of all those that will not embrace Islam. Islamic Clerics are the ones who quote this from their Tradition.
Now as we proceed, let’s examine whether this Jesus of the Koran is a fit concerning the false prophet.
In verse 12 we see that this beast is given power (authority) backed by the Islamic beast system, causing or forcing the whole world to worship this Islamic system. We may also note the description of the beast system is the same as we have already dealt with in previous pages concerning the death and resurrection of this system.
Verse 13 – Could this be supernatural deception on the part of this beast causing fire to come down or could it be alluding to a nuclear warhead which has been in much of today’s news? We will leave this to the imagination.
In verse 14, notice the deception. Realize that satan has no real power compared to God, however as Jesus said of him, “he is a liar and the father of lies.” A reference is made here of power to do miracles in the sight of the beast system, which of course will involve the Mahdi all along the way.
Is this real or could it be a magician’s trick such as we witness in the Book of Exodus as Pharaoh’s magicians tried to counter the power of God that Moses was displaying. Many amazing feats have been performed for an audience’s enjoyment throughout all of history.
Not to mention the vastness of technology in the world today. So this again leaves to our imagination what this false prophet is going to come up with to “wow” men.
Additionally another reference is given to the beast system that died and rose up in these last days in verse 14.
Verse 15, the life given to the image of the beast [system] here is not some robotic figure to be worshiped. It will be an increase in world domination which is what Radical Islam seeks. Even in the news there have been statements of flying their flag over the White House. To have dominance over the U.S. and other major countries would surly fuel the strength of the Muslim world.
The ultimate goal of Radical Islam is that the world worship Allah and Mohammad as his prophet. The Jesus of the Koran could very well be a fit for the false prophet.
Verses 16-18 details for us the “Mark of the Beast” that is feared throughout the Christian world. However, for those that are Born Again we have nothing to fear, for we will not be here when the mark is implemented.
Speculation of what this “mark” is has run the full gamut of being a computer chip placed under the skin to being the Islamic banner that many Muslims wear on their heads or arms which is called the Bismulah. The Bismulah translates ‘in the name of Allah.”
Since the beast system will be Muslim, then it stands to reason that the “mark” will have something to do with this system that will control the world’s commerce and it could also incorporate the “chip” in the process as a way of this control.
So the 666 will somehow calculate to represent the Islamic beast system in the end result.
To reiterate, this is a view from the Middle Eastern way of thinking rather than the European Western view.
