But the beast was captured, and
with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his
behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the
beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery
lake of burning sulfur. Revelation 19:20
The false prophet is the “other
beast” found in Revelation 13:11-18.
Beasts so far have been kingdoms,
so this is a smaller kingdom or a specific rulership or branch of that kingdom.
Maybe it’s the Pharisees, Jewish religious
leaders, who worked with the Beast (Rome) to bring about the death of
Christ. They “exercised authority” and
brought Christ to death. Maybe they are
the Priests of Emperor worship. However,
a later vision seems to point the Pharisees to another image (the prostitute).
The False Prophet here in
Revelation draws inspiration and power from the first beast. He's a deceiver, a speaker, an enforcer. He
worships/works closely the first beast.
John gives a clue and says the
False Prophet can be identified by number 666.
Some point the number to Nero was a spokesperson for Rome, a corrupt
leader by Roman standards and a persecutor of Christians. He blamed Christians for a fire in Rome and
went crazy, delusional, believing himself to be a great and powerful god.
Many prophecies have near and far
implications. While there may be a near
fulfillment of this prophecy, there are also far reaching fulfillments that
could come true and certainly many who will point people away from God.