Revelation 13:11-14
11 And I observed another beast rising out of the land. And it had two horns like a lamb and was speaking like a dragon.
12 And it exercises all the authority of the first beast before it. And it compels the land and those dwelling in it so that they will worship the first beast whose blow of death was healed.
13 And it does great signs so that it may also make fire come down from the sky onto the land before men.
14 And it deceives my own people who dwell on the land by the signs which were given to it to do before the beast, saying to those dwelling on the land to make an image to the beast which has the blow of the sword and lives.
What happens in Revelation 13:11-14 is very similar and has parallels to the history of Israel under Antiochus Epiphanies with the Antichrist and the False Prophet. The False Prophet is like Jason who replaced his brother became the new High Priest after Antiochus replaced the faithful high priest Onias.
Verse 11
The word land appears to be a reference to the land of Israel. This points to an Apostate Jew as the False Prophet just like what happened with Antiochus. The False Prophet is the second beast that is like the first. 2 horns like a ram, spoke like a dragon seems to signify a dragon in sheep’s clothing.
Verse 12
1. Exercises authority from Satan
2. He compels Jews in “the Land” to worship the resurrected (1st) Beast (Antichrist) instead of the God of Abraham.
2 Thessalonians 1-3 The 1st Beast proclaims himself “God” (supreme sovereign) while seated in “the Temple of God.”
The Antichrist kills the 2 Prophets of God (who could not be killed for 1260 days) is his proof of his victory over the God of the Bible.
Parallel to Israel under Antiochus Epiphanies:
Antiochus replaced the faithful high priest Onias with his brother Yeshua who agreed to transform Jerusalem into a pagan Greek city.
Yeshua changed his name to the Greek name, Jason.
Jason Hellenized the priesthood and received Antiochus into Jerusalem with great pomp.
Led to the first “abomination of desolation” by Antiochus.
Verse 13
This a re-enactment of the showdown between Elijah and the false prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:20-38; 2 Kings 1:10-14), with the opposite outcome. This will seem to validate the False Prophets credentials and fool many Israelites and the world. (See also Moses’ contest with Pharaoh’s magicians (Exodus 7).
After the 2 Witnesses are relocated to the prepared place of safety, the “False Prophet” attempts to outdo Elijah in order to deceive Israel. See also Moses’ contest with Pharaoh’s magicians in Exodus 7.
The Majority Text reads, “And it deceives my own people who dwell on the land,” but the Alexandrian Text and Textus Receptus have “those who dwell on the land.” This refers specifically to Israelites.
Verse 14
The 2nd Beast (False Prophet) deceives the Jews dwelling in “the Land”
The “Image of the (1st) Beast” parallels Antiochus Epiphanies’ “image” which was a placed in the Temple (“Epiphanies” means “God manifest”)
“Abomination of Desolation” is the “image of the Beast” (Mark 13:14)
Placing this speaking image of the Beast within the Holy of Holies in the Temple is the “Abomination of Desolation.” According to Daniel, the “abomination of desolation” will be “set up” in the Temple (Daniel 12:11).
The Greek word rendered “abomination” almost always refers to idolatry in Scripture. Jesus said the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, will be “standing where it ought not,” (Mark 13:14). Note the use of the neuter pronoun, “it,” referring to an object, not a man. Jesus indicated that this is the signal for the faithful to flee immediately – the speaking image of the Antichrist being placed in the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem.
Living as a Christian in this World 