THE UNHOLY TRINITY

So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”… Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.  (Revelation 13:4, 11)

The Bible teaches us there is a Holy Trinity—One God in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Evil has its counterfeit in the end times—a trio of terror: Satan, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet.  This is the unholy trinity.  They are symbolically presented as the dragon (spotlighted in Rev.12), the beast from the sea (Rev.13:1-10), and the beast from the earth (Rev.13:11-18).  Satan corresponds to God the Father; the Antichrist is a false Christ; the False Prophet testifies to the Antichrist as the Holy Spirit witnesses to Jesus.

John writes of the dragon—that old serpent, the Devil—in chapter 12.  He leads one third of the angels in rebellion against God; there is war in heaven.  Of course, the dragon has no hope of victory and he and his demons are cast out.  Coming to earth, he unleashes his fury against the Jews.  He cannot defeat God, so the dragon attempts to destroy God’s people.  Satan knows his time is short; the three and one half years of Great Tribulation reveal his rage.

The dragon has a hand-picked man—one who is Satan incarnate, if you will—whom he brings to world dominion in those demonic days (Rev.13:1-10).  He rises from the sea—the roiling waves of the Gentile kingdoms.  In this time when millions are suddenly missing, nature is convulsed, the global economy collapses, and wars are fought with horrible weapons—all giving rise to a call for someone to bring order from the chaos.  This “superman” will step forward and offer order.  The world will grovel before him in response to his beguiling promises.  This beast has seven heads—successive world powers: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome.  The seventh will be an amalgamation of all—ten horns—ten rulers who comprise a United States of Europe, under the dominion of the Antichrist.  The kingdoms of the world were offered by Satan to Jesus, who refused the temptation. This man will eagerly sell his soul to gain the whole world.  Fallen humanity will respond to him with wonder and worship.

The worship of the Antichrist will be furthered by another beast (Rev.13:11-18).  This is the beast from the earth—a possible allusion to the Holy Land, which connects him to the three great religions of the world founded there: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.  He will assume the reigns of a unified, world religious system.  The False Prophet will work hand in hand with the Antichrist to support his global governance.  On the surface, he presents himself as a gentle lamb, but in his heart he has the hate of the dragon.  He is a miracle-worker.  The world will swoon at his sermons supported by these supernatural signs.  This global power will control commerce and demand absolute allegiance as people take the mark of the Beast in a cashless society.  As we look around, we see the world rapidly moving in this direction.  As the people of God, this should cause us to look up for Jesus is coming soon for His bride!  Come, Lord Jesus!  Come quickly!