REVELATION'S UNHOLY TRINITY

In Revelation Chapter Thirteen, we are told that two men will come, and that they will take control in what has commonly come to be called, the New World Order.  Here are a few observations revealed about these two men:
 
1)  In verse one, the man known as "the first beast" (see v. 12) is said to rise from "the sea."  The sea is John's description of the Gentile nations.  We know this because in Rev. 17:1-3, we read of an evil woman, "the great whore that sitteth upon many waters"; she is guilty of committing fornication with the kings of the earth (leaders of nations other than Israel).  What she is said to be sitting upon, "many waters"(v. 3), is not literally "on the sea," but is in the wilderness.  Therefore, "the first beast" (a.k.a. "the son of perdition" (2 Th. 2:3) and the "antichrist" (1 Jn. 2:18), will surely be a Gentile.

2)  By contrast, notice that the "second beast" rises out of the "earth" (v. 11); "earth" here is the Greek γῆ (gē), which occurs 252 times in the KJV, 42 of which are translated "land" (examples:  Mt. 2:6; Mk. 4:1; Lk. 4:25; Jn. 3:22; Act. 7:3; Heb. 8:9; etc.).  "Land" frequently refers to the "land of promise," or Israel.  For example, Matthew 2:6 says, "And thou Bethlehem, in the land (the Greek γῆ (gē) of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule My people Israel."  The "False Prophet" (Rev. 16:13), is most likely a Jew.

These two, working in the power of the "dragon" (Rev. 13:2, 12), attempt to eradicate the world of all Jews (Dan. 9:27; Mt. 24:15-22; Rev. 12:1-6).  Note that the "dragon" is identified in Revelation 12:9 - "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." 

Together, these three, Satan, Antichrist, and the False Prophet constitute "the unholy trinity."  Satan has always aspired to be equal to Almighty God; Isaiah 14:12-14 says:  "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!  How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."

The Antichrist (antichrist can have either of two meanings:  "against Christ," or "in place of Christ.") comes to "rescue Israel" (Dan. 9:26), and he comes riding on a white horse (compare Rev. 6:2 w/ 19:11). 

The False Prophet seems to be imitating the Holy Spirit, in that, the Holy Spirit's chief function is to reveal Christ, and to bring mankind to worship Him (Jn. 16:7-15).  It is the Holy Spirit Who empowered Jesus (Mt. 12:24-32; Act. 10:38), and it is the Holy Spirit Who enables believers to do miraculous things (Act. 2:4; 1 Cor. 12:1-10).  Notice that the False Prophet works miracles to get people to worship the Antichrist (Rev. 13:11-14)! 

Born again believers recognize God as being the Holy Trinity.  John wrote:  "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?  This is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood.  And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one" (1 Jn. 5:5-7).