by Rev. Ken Overby
Revelation 16:13-14 mentions “the dragon,” “the beast,” and “the false prophet.”
“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. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”
These three personages represent Satan, the anti-Christ and a world-wide religious leader referred to as the false prophet. This trio of evil has been dubbed “the Unholy Trinity,” as opposed to the triune God consisting of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In the middle of this chapter, verse 15, Jesus pauses to remind us of the urgency of the hour of His return.
“Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.”
He gives words of praise and warning. Praise to those that are faithfully watching in purity and warning to those who are in need of righteous garments, as well as those who are careless about the purity of the garments they possess.
Israel finally becomes the object of the global annihilation. The demonic spirits ascending from hell through the medium of this unholy trinity do so in the blackness of the fifth bowl judgment. It reminds me of the words of our Lord to the Temple guards in Gethsemane. “This is your hour and the power of darkness.” Hell’s millennia old leaven now bursts forth from the heart of Lucifer. Jesus actually uses the imagery in verse 15 of a “thief” to describe the element of surprise. He had taught in His Olivet Discourse that His coming would be in the least suspecting hour, Matthew 24:42-44.
Earth’s foundation trembles from the blood curdling roar of the Lion of Judah, the Ancient of Days. This global quake reduces the cities of the nations to heaps. Their armies tumble like dominoes in the bowl of Armageddon. Many believe this to be the final battle of the campaign of Armageddon. We must view Revelation 16 by the lens of Daniel 7.
The beast of Daniel 7, with 7 heads and 10 horns, is an indescribably ferocious ruler of the revived 4th world-empire of Daniel’s dream in chapter 2, as the 10 toes of clay and iron and as the 10 horned beast of Daniel 7 depict. The beast, the anti-Christ, is empowered by the dragon, Satan – Revelation 13:2. He makes war for 42 months with those who will not worship him – the tribulation saints.
The false prophet, also empowered by the dragon, Revelation 13:11-12, deceives the subjects of the kingdom of the beast by miracles, maybe even taking credit for the healing of the beast’s fatal head wound, Revelation 13:3, and a fatal sword wound, Revelation 13:14.
A religious leader with satanic healing powers gives health and credibility to the Beast. The future does not belong to those who dishonor this false prophet, beast and the commercial system of the beast, Revelation 13:16-18. Beheading awaits all refusing to bow, to buy and to believe in this global Judas who usurps the worship due God alone.
Just when all Satan’s plans come together, Jesus will destroy them, as well as their armies and their one world rebellion with the word of His mouth, Revelation 19:11-21. The beast (anti-Christ) and the false prophet, Revelation 19:20, as well as the dragon, Revelation 20:1-3, are cast into the Lake of Fire.