Four-fold Reference to the False Prophet/2^nd Beast:

1. … “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.” (Rev. 13:11-12). (Emphasis added).
2. … “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.” (Rev. 16:13). (Emphasis added).
3. … “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.” (Rev. 19:20). (Emphasis added).
4. … “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Rev. 20:10). (Emphasis added).

Commentary: All of the references used are lowercase and descriptive in purpose. The term false prophet (used three times to signify emphasis and intensity) and another beast, two horned lamb, speaking as a dragon are all used only once. Why the descriptive use of false prophet? A prophet is someone who claims to speak the word of God directly to men, based on the authority and conviction of the Holy Spirit. A false prophet is someone who is attempting to deceive men with a word or doctrine that is not of or from God. It is not divinely inspired with authority or conviction from the Holy Spirit, but rather, comes from someplace else (hell, bottomless pit, mouth of Satan, demons, devils). The doctrine and worship is false as opposed to true. Thus, the false prophet is promoting false objects of worship and false doctrines of man made religious practices and rituals. Since he is a real, physical man, his name will not be known until he assumes his evil role, once the the beast / antichrist / man-of-sin shows up on the scene.

The symbolism of the false prophet having two horns like a lamb, yet speaking like a dragon is interesting. The small, two horns on a lamb are not powerful, they can’t hurt anyone or cause any damage. Neither can a lamb. Lambs are meek and mild creatures, easily scared and frightened. They do not possess any power or strength. They ‘bleat’ and do not ‘roar.’ Dragons, on the other hand, roar with ferocity. This false prophet roars with satanic conviction and authority. He is given his power from the beast/antichrist, to speak things and perform false miracles while in his presence. Unclean spirits are also sometimes referred to as demons. The false prophet has the ability, through the antichrist, to cast into the world an unclean spirit or demon from his mouth. All of these special abilities and powers come directly from the beast, who gets his power, authority and seat from Satan. Just like black, smelly sludge in a pit, evil flows downhill … from Satan, to the beast, to the false prophet, to men. There is a double (2) reference that the false prophet will end up in the lake of fire and brimstone (2^nd death). This double emphasis of an equal measure or weight indicates that there is no error in the fact that the false prophet is destined for the lake of fire and brimstone (2^nd death), along with the beast at the end of the Tribulation period. Satan will be joining them also in the lake of fire and brimstone (2^nd death), but at the end of Christ’s Millennial 1,000 year reign. The false prophet, like the beast / antichrist / man of sin, and Satan, will be tormented for ever and ever (eternity) in the lake of fire and brimstone (2^nd death).