Identifying the False Prophet; the Predecessor of the Antichrist

One of the keys to understanding who is what in the book of Revelation being able to see the different Greek words from which our English words are translated.  Beast for example is translated from either zoon or therion:

NT:2226 zoon (dzo’-on); neuter of a derivative of NT:2198; a live thing, i.e. an animal: KJV – beast. NT:2198  zao (dzah’-o); a primary verb; to live (literally or figuratively).

NT:2342 therion (thay-ree’-on); diminutive from the same as NT:2339; a dangerous animal: KJV – (venomous, wild) beast. NT:2339 thera (thay’-rah); from ther (a wild animal, as game); hunting, i.e. (figuratively) destruction: KJV – trap.

Zoon is used 7 times and therion is used 37 times in Revelation. Here we can see that therion is not just any living animal, but a wild, dangerous and destructive one as well.

 Rev 13:11-17 describes this Beast from the Earth

11 Then I saw another beast (therion) coming up out of the earth; and he had (having) two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast (therion) in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast (therion), 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 (therion), telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast (therion) 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 (therion), so that the image of the beast (therion) would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast (therion) 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 (therion) or the number of his name.  NASU

Now let us look at 12 attributes of this 2nd therion beast:

• Comes from the earth as opposed to the 1st beast who comes from the sea;
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• Has 2 horns
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• Speaks eloquently “as a”(figure of speech simile) dragon- NT:1404 drakoon, drakontos, ho a great serpent, a fabulous animal
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• Exercises all the authority (exousia, physical and mental power, influence, rights, governance) of the 1st beast
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• Makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast
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• Causes great signs (miracles and wonders),
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• Makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men
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• Deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs
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• Tells, commands, those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast
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• And it was given to him (autos, he, she or it), to give breath (pneuma, spirit) to the image (eikoon, likeness, figure) of the beast
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• Causes as many as do not worship the image of the beast (therion) to be killed
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• Causes all, to be given a mark (charagma, an etching, stamp or sculpted figure) on their right hand or on their forehead, so that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast (therion) or the number of his name

 Since this is the 2nd Beast mentioned, who or what is the first Beast mentioned? The first Beast mentioned is in Rev. 11:7. He, she, or it comes up out of "the pit:"

Rev 11:7,

7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that cometh up out of the abyss shall make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them.  ASV

So what makes me think that this first Beast shows up on the scene 2nd? We will see that in my next post.

 

*(Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

• *(from Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The Comforter has Come, the Comforter has Come, or has It/He?

To get an understanding of who or what the Comforter/Helper is let's look at everything the scriptures say about it:

John 14:15-21, 25-26

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he (it) may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be (in the future) in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 
20 At that day* (the day of the LORD) ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he/it shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (Whatsoever he said to them)!
KJV
    * The first usage of "that day" in the "New Testament" is Matt 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? KJV

    * the 2nd usage is Matt 24:36

 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. KJV

See also Mt 26:29, Mk 13:32, Lk 6:23, 17:31, Jn 16:23,26.

John 16:7-15

 "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send it to you. 8 "And when it comes will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you no longer behold me; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. 12 "I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 "But when it, the spirit of truth, comes, it will guide you into all the truth; for it will not speak on its own initiative, but whatever it hears, it will speak; and it will disclose to you what is to come. 14 "It shall glorify me; for it shall take of mine, and shall disclose it to you. 15 "All things that the Father has are mine; therefore I said, that it takes of mine, and will disclose it to you.

FSW

John 15:26-27

 "When the helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, it will bear witness of me, 27 and you will bear witness also, because you have been with me from the beginning. 

FSW

Here are most of the things that this thing is going to do when it comes:

1. It shall teach you all things(not some)
2. It shall bring all things to your remembrance, whatever Jesus has said to you.
3. It will reprove the world of sin.
4. It will reprove the world of righteousness
5. It will reprove the world of judgment
6. It will guide you into all truth (not some)
7. It will show you things to come.

I can't speak for anyone else, but the spirit I received when I made Jesus my Lord and spoke in tongues hasn't done allof these things! In light of the fact that Jesus did not know about the Secret, which God kept hidden from all the Hebrew prophets, this Comforter was designed to do the above things for Jesus's Flock until he returned.

Matt 26:31-32

 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. 32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

KJV