THIS MATERIAL HAS NOT BEEN EDITED FOR SCRIPTURAL ACCURACY, SPELLING, OR GRAMMAR THE SIDEKICK [a close friend or a confederate or assistant] Moses had his Joshua, Elijah had his Elisha and Jesus had His John the Baptist. Now we find that the beast also has his false prophet to help him to complete his mission for Satan. THE BEGINNING OF THE FALSE PROPHET “But there was a certain man called SIMON, who previously PRACTICED SORCERY in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest saying, ‘This man is the GREAT POWER of God.’ 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed seeing the miracles and signs, which were done.”’ The Acts 8:9-11 and 13 THE FIRST REVELATION OF THE HEART OF SIMON “Then they [Peter and John] laid hands on the, and they RECEIVED the Holy Spirit. 18 And when Simon SAW that through the laying on of the apostle’s hands the Holy Spirit was GIVEN, he OFFERED THEM MONEY, 19 saying, “GIVE ME THIS POWER ALSO, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “Your money PERISH WITH YOU, because you thought that the GIFT OF GOD could be purchased WITH MONEY.” The Acts 8:17-20 THE JUDGMENT GIVEN “You have NEITHER PART nor PORTION in this matter, for YOUR HEART is NOT RIGHT in the SIGHT OF GOD. 22 REPENT therefore of this your WICKEDNESS, and pray God if perhaps the THOUGHT of your HEART may be FORGIVEN YOU. 23 For I SEE that you are POISONED BY BITTERNESS and BOUND BY INQUITY.” THE LAST WORDS OF SIMON “Then Simon answered and said, ‘Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things, which you have spoken may COME UPON ME.” The Acts 8:24 Now according to Scripture we hear no more about Simon, whether he repented or continued in working for Satan as a sorcerer. Paul the Learner 1 THIS MATERIAL HAS NOT BEEN EDITED FOR SCRIPTURAL ACCURACY, SPELLING, OR GRAMMAR Now we are going to a large amount of material found in book 8 ‘The Early Church Fathers’ this section is called Apocrypha of the New Testament and is for informational purposes only and not based on fact as the Scriptures are. THE SIDEKICK “Nero said: Tell me, Peter, were all these things thus done [concerning Jesus death and resurrection from Pilate to Caesar by letter] by him? Peter said: ‘they were, with your permission, O good emperor. For this SIMON is full of lies and deceit, even if it should seem that he is what he is not – a god. But in this SIMON there are two essences, of man and of devil, which through man endeavors to ensnare men. SIMON said: I wonder, O good emperor, that you reckon this man of any consequence – a man uneducated, a fisherman of the poorest, and endowed with power neither in word nor by rank. But, that I may not long endure him as an enemy, I shall forthwith order MY ANGELS to come and avenge me upon him. Peter said: I am not afraid of they angels; but they shall be much more afraid of me in the POWER and trust of my Lord Jesus Christ, whom thou falsely declares thyself to be. Nero said: Art thou not afraid, Peter, of SIMON, who confirms his godhead by deeds? Peter said: Godhead is in Him who searches the hidden things of the heart [Jeremiah 17:10; Revelation 2:23]. Now then, tell me what I am thinking about, or what I am doing. I disclose to thy servants who are here what my thought is, before he tells lies about it, in order that he may not dare to lie as to what I am thinking about Nero said: Come hither, and tell me what thou art thinking about. Peter said: Order a BARLEY LOAF to be brought, and to be given to me secretly. And when he ordered it to be brought, and secretly given to Peter, Peter said: Now tell us, SIMON, what has been thought about, or what said, or what done. Nero said: Do you mean me to believe that SIMON does not know these things, who both RAISED A DEAD MAN, and presented himself on the third day after he had been BEHEADED, and who has done whatever he said he could do? 2 THIS MATERIAL HAS NOT BEEN EDITED FOR SCRIPTURAL ACCURACY, SPELLING, OR GRAMMAR Peter said: But he did not do it before me. Nero said: But he did all these before me. For assuredly he ordered angels to come to him, and they came. Peter said: If he has done what is very GREAT, why does he not do what is very SMALL? Let him tell what I had in my mind, and what I have done. Nero said: Between you, I do not know myself. THE SIDEKICK SIMON said: Let Peter say what I am thinking of, or what I am doing. Peter said: What SIMON has in his mind I shall SHOW THAT I KNOW, by my doing what is thinking about. SIMON said: Know this, O emperor, that no one knows the thoughts of men, but GOD ALONE. It not, therefore, Peter lying? Peter said: Do you, then, who says that you art the Son of God, tell what I have in my mind; disclose, if you can, what I have just done in secret. For Peter, having blessed the barley loaf, which he had received, and having broken it with his right hand and his left, had heaped it up in his sleeves. Then SIMON, enraged that he was NOT ABLE to tell the secret of the apostle, cried out saying: LET GREAT DOGS COME FORTH, and EAT HIM UP BEFORE CAESAR. And suddenly there appeared great dogs, and rushed at Peter. But Peter, stretching forth his hands [Mark 11:25; 1 Timothy 2:8] to pray, showed to the dogs the loaf, which he had blessed; which the dogs seeing, no longer appeared. Then Peter said to Nero: Behold, I have shown you that I know what SIMON was thinking of, not by words, but by DEEDS; for he, having promised that he would bring angels against me, had brought dogs, in order that he might show that he had not god-like but dog-like angels. Then Nero said to Simon: What is it, SIMON? I think we have got the worst of it. SIMON said: This man, both in Judaea and in all Palestine and Caesarea, has done the same to me; and from very often striving with me, he has learned that this is adverse to them. This, then, he has LEARNED HOW TO ESCAPE FROM ME; for the thoughts of men no one knows but God alone. And Peter said to SIMON: Certainly you feign thyself to be a god; why, then, do you not reveal the thoughts of every man? 3 THIS MATERIAL HAS NOT BEEN EDITED FOR SCRIPTURAL ACCURACY, SPELLING, OR GRAMMAR Then Nero, turning to PAUL, [Apostle] said: Why do you say nothing, Paul? Paul answered and said: Know this, O emperor, that if you permit this MAGICIAN to do such things, it will bring an access of the greatest mischief to your country, and will bring down your empire from its position. THE NEXT CHALLENGE COMES Nero said to Simon: What do you say? SIMON said: If I do not manifestly hold myself out to be a god, no one will bestow upon me due reverence. THE SIDEKICK Nero said: And now, why do you delay, and not show thyself to be a god, in order that these men may be punished? SIMON said: Give orders to build for me a lofty tower of wood, and I, going up upon it, will call MY ANGELS, and order them to take me, in the sight of all, to my father in heaven; and these men, not being able to do this, are put to shame as uneducated men. And Nero said to Peter: Hast thou heard, Peter, what Simon has said? From this will appear how much POWER either he or thy god has. Peter said: O most mighty emperor, if you were willing, you might perceive that he is FULL OF DEMONS. Nero said: Why do you make to me roundabouts of circumlocutions? To-morrow will prove you. SIMON said: do you believe, O good emperor, that I who was dead, and rose again, am a magician? For it had been brought about by his own cleverness that the unbelieving SIMON had said to Nero: Order me to be BEHEADED in a dark place, and there to be left slain; and if I do not RISE ON THE THIRD DAY, know that I am a magician; but if I RISE AGAIN, know that I am the SON OF GOD. HOW IT WAS DONE And Nero having ordered this, in the dark, by his magic art he managed that a RAM should be beheaded. And for so long did the ram appear to be Simon until he was beheaded. And when he had been beheaded in the dark, he that had beheaded him, taking the head, found it to be that of a RAM; but he would not say anything to the emperor, lest he should scourge him, having ordered this to be done in secret. Thereafter, accordingly, Simon said that he had risen on the THIRD DAY, because he took away the head of the ram and the limbs – but the blood had been there congealed – and on the third day he showed himself to Nero, and said; Cause to be wiped away my blood that had been poured out; for, behold, having been beheaded, as I promised, I have risen again on the THIRD DAY. 4 THIS MATERIAL HAS NOT BEEN EDITED FOR SCRIPTURAL ACCURACY, SPELLING, OR GRAMMAR Paul says: But as for the word of the devil, which I see has been poured out through this man, with groaning’s of my heart I am dealing with the Holy Spirit, that it may be clearly shown what it is; for as far as he seems to raise himself towards heaven, so far will be SUNK DOWN INTO THE DEPTH OF HADES, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. SIMON said: O good emperor, take notice that these two have conspired against me; for I am the truth, and they purpose evil against me. Peter said: There is no truth in thee; but all you say is false. THE SIDEKICK THE CONTEST BEGINS Then SIMON went up upon the tower in the face of all, and, crowned with laurels, he stretched forth his hands, and began TO FLY. And when Nero saw him FLYING, he said to Peter: This SIMON is TRUE; but you and Paul are deceivers. To whom Peter said: Immediately shall you know that we ARE TRUE DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST; but that he is NOT CHRIST, but a magician, and a malefactor. Nero said: Do you still persist? Behold, you see him going up into heaven. Then Peter, looking steadfastly upon Paul, said: Paul, LOOK UP AND SEE. And Paul, having looked up, full of tears, and seeing SIMON FLYING, said: Peter, why are you idle? Finish what you have begun; for already our Lord Jesus Christ is calling us. And Nero hearing them, smiled a little, and said: These men see themselves worsted already, and are gone made. Peter said: Now you shall know that we are not mad. Paul said to Peter: Do at once what you do. And Peter, looking steadfastly against SIMON said: I ADJURE YOU, YE ANGELS OF SATAN, WHO ARE CARRYING HIM INTO THE AIR, to deceive the hearts of the unbelievers, by the God that created all things and by Jesus Christ, whom on the third day He raised from the dead, no longer from this hour to keep him UP, BUT TO LET HIM GO. And immediately, being let go, he FELL into a place called Sacra Via, that is, Holy Way, and was divided into FOUR PARTS having perished by an evil fate. Book 8 Pages 481-484 Thus ended the life of the man we call SIMON THE MAGICIAN servant of Satan. 5 THIS MATERIAL HAS NOT BEEN EDITED FOR SCRIPTURAL ACCURACY, SPELLING, OR GRAMMAR All that has been written is a foundation for a theory that I want to introduce to you, is the theory true, I don’t know because it is only a possibility until God shows it to be true. Paul the Learner SOME THOUGHTS ON ONE POSSIBLE ANSWER 1. In Daniel 2:32—35 we find an image in the dream of Nebuchadnezzar. And we see that the stone strikes the image at its feet, which was composed of iron and clay. 2. So we can see that the legs of iron represented the Roman Empire that lasted for 1,000 years. And because the feet were part iron they belong to the Roman Empire but weaken and not pure iron. 3. Some teachers believe that the end kingdom will be ‘the renewed Roman Empire resurrected’ and because Rome is built on seven hills it will be the seat of the beast and false prophet. THE SIDEKICK 4. And Daniel says, “Whereas you saw the FEET and TOES, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the KINGDOM shall be DIVIDED; yet the strength of the iron shall be IN IT, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. 42 And as the TOES of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the KINGDOM shall be partly strong and partly fragile. 43 As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the SEED OF MEN; but they will not adhere to ONE ANOTHER, just as iron does not mix with clay. 5. 44 And in the days of these kings [10 toes or kings of the beast] the God of heaven will set up a KINGDOM, which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all THESE KINGDOMS, and it shall stand forever.” 6. You will notice that Daniel now separates the feet from the toes and speaks about the destruction that is coming from the Lord on that kingdom of the beast that controls ten kings. 7. Now this beast has a sidekick who we will call the ‘false prophet’ there is something strange about this person. THE FALSE PROPHET “Then I saw another BEAST coming up out of the EARTH, and he had two horns LIKE A LAMB and spoke like a DRAGON. 12 And he exercises ALL THE AUTHORITY of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to WORSHIP the first beast, who’s DEADLY WOUND was healed. 13 He performs GREAT SIGNS, so that he even makes FIRE COME DOWN from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 6 THIS MATERIAL HAS NOT BEEN EDITED FOR SCRIPTURAL ACCURACY, SPELLING, OR GRAMMAR 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs, which he was GRANTED TO DO in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was WOUNDED BY THE SWORD and LIVED. 15 He was granted POWER to give BREATH to the IMAGE OF THE BEAST that the image of the beast should both SPEAK and cause as many as would not WORSHIP the IMAGE of the beast to be KILLED. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive A MARK on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that NO ONE may buy or sell except one who has the MARK or the NAME OF THE BEAST, or the NUMBER OF HIS NAME. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a MAN: His number is 666.” Revelation 13:11-18 HE CAME HE CONQUORED AND DISAPEARED WHO IS HE? THE SIDEKICK FOR THREE AND ONE HALF YEARS SATAN HAS HIS WAY WITH MANKIND John saw that all of the dwellers upon earth, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain, did worship this Beast through the orders of the false prophet. And for 3 ½ years this monster from Hell holds its place and enacts its resistless will on mankind. 1. First we see a symbolic presentation of the political sovereignty of this world. The Beast has ten horns [representing kings], and the false prophet has two horns and they represented the power over mankind. On these horns are DIADEMS, which are the regal dominion over nations. This beast and his sidekick have power given to them from Satan by the will of God. He exercises dominion over tribes, and peoples, and tongues, and nations. 2. Second we find that the beast and false prophet controls buying and selling, and fixes the conditions on which they are carried on. They furnish the power to SLAY EVERYONE who will not come under their regulations. All of which proves political sovereignty and imperial earthly dominion. 3. Third the beast comes out of the same agitated sea, and behaves as they behaved. From the interpreting angel we know that Daniel’s four beast denote 7 THIS MATERIAL HAS NOT BEEN EDITED FOR SCRIPTURAL ACCURACY, SPELLING, OR GRAMMAR “four kings,” or kingdoms, that arise upon the EARTH. The identification of the false prophet becomes complete and unmistakable, this these two beasts are an image of earthly sovereignty and dominion 4. And when these two beasts finally fall, as described in Revelation 19, they both are not killed like there armies because they both came from Hell and now they will be sent into perdition [Lake of Fire] which is the final judgment of those who seek not to follow the Lamb of God into heaven. 5. Finally the lion [Babylon], the bear [Persia], the leopard [Greece], and the nameless monster called the beast and his sidekick the false prophet are all united in one here. This consummation and embodiment of the whole world power or political dominion from the beginning Nimrod of Babylon, as it presents itself at the final outcome in the reign of the beast. Now let’s try to name the beast and the false prophet if we can THE SIDEKICK THE BEAST THE NAME, WHICH IS EXPRSSIVE OF A PARTICULAR NUMBER This beast also has a proper name – a name expressive of a particular number, and that number is “a number of a MAN;” which cannot be conceived except on the idea of an individual person. This beast is, by common consent, identical with “that Wicked,” of which the apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians; but that monster who is an instrument of his god Satan is called “that man of sin.” This beast is also clearly identifiable with the WILLFUL KING of Daniel; but that king is in every respect treated of as an individual person, the same as Cyrus, Cambyses, Xerxes, or Alexander. HISTORICAL REMARKS “The old fathers of the Church were for three centuries at least quite at one in understanding by “the Man of Sin, the Son of Perdition, the Lawless One,” not as a system of falsehood and unrighteousness nor a succession of individuals at the head of such a system, but according to the most obvious and natural import of the language – some one man, the personal antichrist, the recipient of all Satan’s 8 THIS MATERIAL HAS NOT BEEN EDITED FOR SCRIPTURAL ACCURACY, SPELLING, OR GRAMMAR energy, in whom Satan should, to so speak become INCARNATE, and thus bring to a decision the long-standing feud between himself and the Woman’s seed Israel. (Dr. John Lillie’s Lectures on Thessalonians, 1860 pages 537, 538) This beast and his sidekick are both a supernatural personage. The beast as a political power rises out of the convulsed sea of peoples, the same as world powers in general; but as A PERSON, his origin is unique. He is repeatedly described as “the Beast that comes up out of the abyss.” The abyss cannot mean less than THE UNDER-WORLD OF LOST SPIRITS, AND THE RECEPTACLE AND ABODE OF DEMONS, otherwise called Sheol [Hell]. Ordinary people do not come from thence. One who hails from that place must be either a lost soul brought up again from the place of departed spirits or some evil spirit [demon], which takes possession of a living man. Remember the body of these two individuals has long since cease to exist on this world. There are three possibilities to consider one these two individual lost souls: 1. Satan raises the soul of one damned and places it into a live human baby. 2. God recreates the body of each individual from His book of DNA in heaven and inside of that body goes the soul that belonged to it. 3. Satan uses a demon that filled that individual while on earth and gives it form. THE SIDEKICK A thought in Revelation 17:9 -11 “Here is the mind, which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven MOUNTAINS on, which the woman sits. 10 There are ALSO SEVEN KINGS. Five have FALLEN [died] one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. 11 The beast that was [he lived], and is not [he died], is himself also the EIGHTH KING, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.” Revelation 17:9-11 Now we are not speaking about the ten horns on the beast because they had received no power as yet [Revelation 17:12] NOW LETS LOOK AT THE RULERS OF ROME 1. Nero 64 A.D 2. Domitian 85 A.D. 3. Trajan 108 A.D. All dead 4. Marcus Aurelius 163 A.D. 5. Commodus 200 A.D. 6. Pertinax = reign only a short time. One is 7. Julianus = also reign a short time. The other has not yet come 9 THIS MATERIAL HAS NOT BEEN EDITED FOR SCRIPTURAL ACCURACY, SPELLING, OR GRAMMAR 8. Severus [he gave Christians a rest for a few years.] The only seven kings that I can think of is the kings of the Roman Empire [the feet of iron and ten toes of iron and clay] Many of the early Christians held and also taught that the EMPEROR NERO IS THE ANTICHRIST, and that he will return again to the earth at the end of days to get possession of its empire, and to enact all that is affirmed of the man of sin. Remember Nero and Simon felt that they lost the first battle with the Christians according to the Apocrypha of the New Testament. EXAMPLES OF EARLY FATHERS UNDERSTANDING THIS MATTER (Note: Victorinus, in loc. Says: “Nero will be raised from the dead, appear again at Rome, persecute the Church once more, and finally be destroyed by the Messiah, coming in glory, and being accompanied by the prophet Elijah.”) Lactantius refers to this opinion, thought not holding to it himself, that “Nero will come the precursor and forerunner of the DEVIL, coming to lay waste the earth.” Sulpicius wrote: “Nero, the basest of men and even of monsters, was well worthy of being the first persecutor; I know not whether he may be the last, since it is the current opinion of many that he is yet to come as the ANTICHRIST. THE SIDEKICK Augustine says: “What means the declaration that the mystery of iniquity doth already work? Some suppose it to be spoken of the Roman Emperor, and therefore Paul did not speak in plain words, although he always expected that what he said would be understood as applying TO NERO, whose doings already appeared like those of the ANTICHRIST. Hence, it was that some suspected that he would rise from the dead as the ANTICHRIST (2 Thessalonians 2:7) – Civit. Dei. 20:19) Note: If you were living in 65 A.D and you saw the Emperor of Rome Nero persecuting the church like blaming them for burning down Rome when he did it himself and after this matter with Simon we find that Nero had both Peter and Paul killed you could come to the belief that Nero is not only the ANTICHRIST of that day but possibly also of the future day. Paul the Learner John tells us that he beheld one of the Beast’s heads “as having been slain to death.” The expression is so strong, definite, and intensified, that nothing less can 10 THIS MATERIAL HAS NOT BEEN EDITED FOR SCRIPTURAL ACCURACY, SPELLING, OR GRAMMAR be grammatically made of it than that real death meant to be affirmed. It is further described as a sword-wound, “THE STROKE OF HIS DEATH,” or a stroke, which carries death to him who experiences it. A man who has undergone physical death is therefor in contemplation. THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING FOR SURE WHO HE IS Whether the beast comes up again in a literal physical resurrection [being like Jesus], or only by means of an obsession of some living man, we may not be able to decide. Whatever the mode is, it will be in effect the same as a resurrection. The record is that his death-wound effectually negative, and so far healed, or made of non-effect, that, though dead, he enters again upon all the activities of life the same as if he never had been killed. Similar phraseology is used in this book with regard to Jesus, but all agree that it there means return to life by resurrection after a real physical killing. NOW LET’S LOOK AT THE BEAST FROM ANOTHER ANGLE “There are also SEVEN KINGS. FIVE have fallen, [died], ONE is, and the other has NOT YET COME. And when he comes, he must continue A SHORT TIME. 11 The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the EIGHTH [king], and is OF THE SEVEN, and is going to perdition.” Revelation 17:10, 11 Let’s look at nations that has affected the Nation of Israel: 1. Egypt [400 years of bondage] 2. Assyria [took out 10 tribes] THE SIDEKICK 3. Babylon [70 years of captivity] 4. Media-Persia 5. Greece 6. Rome 7. Feet and toes part iron and clay [Ten kings reign with the beast] 8. The beast is the eighth king over the ten kings This is of course another way of looking at this subject, only God know for sure. Now let’s deal with the false prophet: 1. The horns [2] speak of authority and power but notice NO CROWN. Which means that his authority if NOT POLITICAL. Jesus warned that there would be false prophets (Matthew 24:11, 14), and this one will be the greatest. He will have the “character” of a LAMB but the voice of the DRAGON. What a deceiver he will be – and the entire world will listen to him! 11 THIS MATERIAL HAS NOT BEEN EDITED FOR SCRIPTURAL ACCURACY, SPELLING, OR GRAMMAR 2. When Jesus was on earth, Jewish leaders often asked Him to perform some sign to prove that He was indeed their Messiah; and Jesus refused. But the false prophet will perform deceptive signs that will lead the world into DEVIL-WORSHIP (2 Thessalonians 2:9). 3. The greatest sign will be “the abomination of desolation” mentioned by Daniel (Daniel 9:27; 11:36), Jesus (Matthew 24:15, and Paul (2 Thessalonians 2:4). Some would say ‘what is “the abomination of desolation”? It is THE IMAGE OF “THE BEAST,” set up in the temple in Jerusalem. An idol is bad enough; but setting it up in the temple is the height of all blasphemy. Since Satan could not command worship in heaven, he will go to the next best place – the Jewish temple in the Holy City (see Daniel 8:9-14) 4. The false prophet, energized by Satan, will perform his “lying wonders” and even duplicate some of the SIGNS performed by the two witnesses (Revelation 13:13; see also 11:5). Up to this time, the two witnesses have been ministering at the temple in Jerusalem, but “the beast” will slay them and take over the temple. 5. When God raises the two witnesses from the dead and takes them to heaven, the false prophet will answer that challenge by giving life to the image of “the beast.” Not only WILL THE IMAGE MOVE, BUT IT WILL ALSO SPEAK! 6. Not content to control people through religious deceit, the false prophet will also institute strong economic measures as well. Everybody (except believers) will receive a special mark in order to buy or sell; but the only way to get that mark is to submit to “the beast” and worship him. Surely this is a strong allusion to the Caesar worship in the Roman Empire, but political leaders throughout history have used this same policy. HISTORICAL VIEW: When Pharaoh lifted himself up against Yahweh and against God’s two Witnesses, Moses and Aaron, the magicians were summoned as necessary helpers, to complete with their miracles, and to withstand their claims. When Balak, king of Moab, sought to destroy Israel, Balaam was in requisition to prophesy for the king as the arm of his success. When Dan, in marauding avarice, settled in Laish, he must have the Levite, son of Gershom to set up worship for him, though he had to steal both priests and gods. 12 THIS MATERIAL HAS NOT BEEN EDITED FOR SCRIPTURAL ACCURACY, SPELLING, OR GRAMMAR Absalom, the murderer and fratricide, plotting for his father’s throne and life, and warring against God’s anointed king, could do but little without Ahithophel to aid his treason, and further his parricidal schemes. Ahab, the seventh head of the line of Israel, needed Jezebel and foreign priest. And thus the final antichrist, of which these were types and forerunners, cannot be the antichrist without his GREAT SPIRITUAL CONSOCIATE and FALSE PROPHET. As a matter of some complication, we see that the False Prophet does not come from the sea like the first beast, but from the earth (Revelation 13:11). While the sea has to do with the raging of the nations in the Last Days as in Psalms 2, the earth normally has to do with Israel and / or the Church. This may possibly suggest a Jewish ethnicity [Simon was a Jew and circumcised] to the False Prophet. CONCLUSION: 1. The possibility exists that the Beast could be NERO OF ROME? Because of his hatred of both Jews and Christians and his great persecution of both. 2. The second possibility exists that the False Prophet could be SIMON the magician? Because he believed he said, and was baptized and failed to get the power of giving the Holy Spirit to others because of Peter and John. Remember all of this is only theory and is NOT FACT. Paul the Learner 13 THIS MATERIAL HAS NOT BEEN EDITED FOR SCRIPTURAL ACCURACY, SPELLING, OR GRAMMAR 14