Preacher: Bob Bryant | Series: The People of the Apocalypse

HIS TITLES

Revelation 19:20 the false prophet

Revelation 13:11 another beast

I John 4:3 the Antichrist

HIS CHARACTER

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

HIS SIGNS

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…

HIS IMAGE

… 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.

HIS MARK

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.

HIS IMPACT

14:9 If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength… He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone… 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.

HIS END

16:13 I saw… the dragon… the beast… the false prophet… 14 and the kings of the earth… 16 gathered together to the place called… Armageddon. 19:19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire.

THE WARNING

I John 2:18 The Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. 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 Every spirit that confesses Jesus as Christ… is of God. 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus as Christ… 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.

John 11:26 “Whoever… believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ.”

QUESTIONS FOR LIFE

1.The false prophet is referred to by this title three times in the book of Revelation.  16:13 the false prophet, 19:20 the false prophet, 20:10 the false prophet.

2.In the past, to whom did you think the term “Antichrist” referred? Why did you think that?

3.The term “Antichrist” is not found in Revelation. Does this surprise you?

4.Please read 1 John 4:1-3  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. Every spirit that confesses Jesus as Christ… is of God. and every spirit that does not confess Jesus as Christ… 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.

5.Based on this passage, to whom does the term “Antichrist” refer?

6.Please read John 11:26-27  Whoever… believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”  She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ.”

7.Based on this passage, what does it mean that Jesus is the Christ? Based on this what would it mean to be antichrist?

8.Based on 1 John 4:1-3, how do we discern who is a false prophet, not of God, and who is of God?

9.Please review what the false prophet will do to deceive people. What do false prophets do today to deceive people?

10.Do you think false prophets today are more deceitful or less deceitful than the false prophet of the tribulation? Please explain.

11.Why do you think it’s important to do what John says in 1 John 4:1-3?

12.Notice that as John warns us concerning false prophets, he says “every spirit that does not confess.” He does not say, “every spirit that denies.” What’s the difference between these two  concepts? How does “not confess” help us to better discern false prophets?

13. Can you give examples of those who have demonstrated that they are false prophets?