John the Baptist is Forerunner in the Spirit of Elijah - Revelation Reveals 'false prophet' Appears After the Beast

Submitted by M. Tovey (United States), Nov 18, 2008 at 19:10

As is mentioned in the post to which this response attempts to bring the good tidings, Isaiah tells us of the ministry of John the Baptist. But as every prophetic passage usually does, we see and read of a near term fulfillment (Isaiah 61:1-2a), and a far one (Isaiah 61:2b) . We read of the passages (Isaiah 40) John speaks to the Pharisaic inquisitors who came to him at the Jordan. We know from other scriptures that the mission of our LORD encompasses eternity as it interfaces with this mortal realm, and that each fulfillment we see today is prefaced with a fulfillment that occurred in history.

John the Baptist fulfilled the historical reference and we ask today, who shall fulfill the upcoming circumstances that precedes the true return of our LORD in our times? Isaiah 40 tells of John the Baptist. But so does Malachi, making the specific correlation of being in the spirit of Elijah. The second part will be during the Revelation specifically, along with the only other person departed in the past from earth the same way as Elijah, Enoch. They are the witnesses to the return of the LORD Jesus just prior to His setting foot on Mt. Olivet.

First we must recognize that as told to true disciples of Jesus Christ, the falling away, the unfolding apostasy of the church will occur (2Thess 2:1-12), and He who holds back the evil until the time is right is removed to reveal the Wicked, and ostensibly, his prophet. His mention is more graphically shown in the New Testament. But the question is posed, do we read of a prophetically based reference in the Hebrew Scriptures? Let us see.

In reviewing history, there are a number of examples of regents filling their courts with wise men (and some not so wise) for counsel. There were the magicians that advise the Pharaoh during the time of Moses. Then there are those from the reign of King David and his counselors (some who were prophets of their own right, like Nathan), to the son of David who surrounded himself with men of his own thinking (of whom we read they counseled him to overburden the people with so much taxation that Israel rebelled from Judah). Then more recently, we have seen the modern situations such as J. Goebbels being the advisor to A. Hitler, amongst others.

So we can see that there are predecessors of the type of individual we are anticipating, yet the specific reference for the prophet of the beast requires a deeper look. For if we are not told who the antichrist is by specific personal identification, then we must understand that such specifics for the false prophet will be similarly veiled as well. Can this be Biblically supported?

The Holy Bible is the only resource to be trusted in such things and in the Holy Bible we find the first notice of many things, even those that are seemingly repetitions. Daniel gives us the pre-Revelation description of the man of sin, describing his rebellion to Almighty God. We are replete with descriptions of the power that is behind this diabolically charged individual, the Adversary himself, who will not only give his power to perform wonders, but eventually will enter the antichrist to take on the adoration of a demonically driven population in the tribulation period of the Revelation.

Now, there are some that have provoked a thought, that Israel's torment will come at the hands of one of their own. Though it is difficult to imagine such a thing, there is precedence: one like Balaam who was charged with cursing the people Israel crossing over to another regent's land. We read also in Nahum 1: commencing from verse 2:

2) God [is] jealous, and the LORD avenges; the LORD avenges, and [is] furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and He reserves [wrath] for his enemies.

3) The LORD [is] slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit [the wicked]: the LORD has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds [are] the dust of his feet. 4) He rebukes the sea, and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers: Bashan languishes, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languishes. 5) The mountains quake at Him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at His presence, even the world, and all that dwell therein. 6) Who can stand before His indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by Him. 7) The LORD [is] good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knows them that trust in Him. 8) But with an over-running flood He will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue His enemies.

9) What do you imagine against the LORD? He will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time. 10) For while [they] are folded together [as] thorns, and while they are drunken [as] drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.

11) There is [one] come out of you, that imagines evil against the LORD, a wicked counselor.

12) Thus saith the LORD; Though [they are] quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when He shall pass through. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more. 13) For now I will break his yoke from off you, and will burst your bonds asunder. 14) And the LORD hath given a commandment concerning you, [that] no more of your name be sown: out of the house of your gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for you are vile.

One might suppose that the "false prophet" associated with the antichrist in Revelation has some prediction directly associated with the antichrist as a forerunner, but we read in the Revelation that the ‘false prophet' appears after:

Revelation 13:1

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2) And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were as [the feet] of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 3) And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4) And they worshiped the dragon which gave power to the beast: and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who [is] like the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5) And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given to him to continue forty [and] two months.

6) And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7) And it was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and languages, and nations.

8) And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9) If any man hath an ear, let him hear.

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.

11) And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. 12) And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13) And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14) And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by [the means of] those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and lived.

Their association continues throughout the tribulation.

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.

Who might we think this person is, and are they functioning today? In view of the circumstances surrounding Israel, the answer proffered here is we do not know first the first part, and yes to the second. Do we have any proof that it is anyone specifically identified as personages seen in the TV news? The answer considered here is no, for the Holy Bible does not make that identification known until after the removal of the Church and the peace with Israel is being made. Speculations abound, to be sure.

So, specifically this reader cannot make the association with any known individuals in this modern realm, nor in the Old Testament scriptural references and any forerunners of the evil one.

We must therefore trust in the Holy Bible to reveal His will according to His Holy Spirit, and be expectant at any moment of the return of Jesus Christ. Watch Israel, for it is the sign holder of every Biblical expectation.

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".