Many believe that during the last days there is to be a blasphemous unholy “trinity” that mimics the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In the book of Revelation we do see three satanic figures emerge, two from the earth and one (initially) in the skies, the heavenlies.
Here the THREE are described: “Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet.” (16:13)
Yet we mostly focus on just two of these devilish beings – where is the Dragon during this time, and what is his role?
Where is the Dragon?
John stood on the sands of the sea (Rev 13) and saw TWO great beasts arise, the seven-headed empire of the last days (verse one and also 17:8) and the religious false prophet looking like a lamb (13:11).
But where is the Dragon, described in Revelation 12:9 as the Devil and Satan of old? He also personifies the last-days empire (see 12:3) but is not exactly the same beast who rises from the sea, for THAT beast had previously existed on earth and is now permitted to “ascend”. He “was and is not and will ascend from the bottomless pit” (17:8).
Differences
The Beast-empire and its leader is shown to be different to the Dragon in 13:2 where the Dragon “gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.”
Also, there is a difference between them shown in 13:4, in that the people worshipped the Dragon but they ALSO worshipped the (first) beast. “People worshipped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they (ALSO) worshipped the Beast, saying ‘Who is like the Beast? Who is able to make war against him?'”.
In the judgement of these beings, we also see a difference between the Dragon and his two henchmen. While the False Prophet and Beast are captured and hurled alive into the Lake of Fire (19:20) the Dragon is bound and sealed in the bottomless pit for a thousand years, thereafter allowed to escape for a short period at the end of the Millennium (20:1-3)
Satanic Trinity
There is a kind of one-ness of these three beings and they have many of the same characteristics. So we do have a satanic trinity:
(1) One, the Dragon as a spirit-being cast out from the heavenlies in the war of the angels (12:7) along with his fallen rulers who, represented as stars, are seen falling during Seal Six (6:13) and the consequences in the first four trumpets (8:7-12)
(2) Two, the Beast-Empire raised up with authority over mankind for 42 months; “the Dragon gave him power, his throne, and his authority”. (13:2) This beast is loosed from the bottomless pit under the sea, “resurrected from the dead” as one whose deadly wound was healed. (He is the political leader or king of the world empire to come, the ten-nation alliance. Is he loosed by the fallen being described in 8:10 and 9:1-2?)
(3) Three, the Lamb-like beast who is the earthly voice of the Dragon, his religious mouthpiece (13:11) and who exercises all the authority of the “first beast” in his presence, rather like the magicians of Egypt before Pharaoh. He does astounding miracles to cause all the world to worship the Beast, that is “the first beast whose deadly wound was healed”, aka beast number (2).
Now I am going to suggest something that is extrapolated from various scriptures and prophecies.
Given that this is a false trinity, the Dragon mimics the “Spirit of the Father” from the heavenlies (for the Father God “is spirit”, according to his son Jesus (John 4:24)).
In the Old Testament, in the Tabernacle of Moses and later when the Temple had been built, what the rabbis called the “shekhinah glory” or the presence of the Father, descended to take His place in the Ark, in the hidden innermost chamber of that temple. (Exodus 40:34)
God came to dwell with man!
Now today we see numerous attempts to reproduce that “descent of the Glory” in which an apostate Church seeks to recreate a sort of earthly Temple of Christians into which (they believe) ultimately the Glory of God will descend and dwell, on earth, giving His authority to the leadership to govern and rule the earth.
- http://www.banner.org.uk/res/theglory3.html (and all this series)
- PDF pamphlet http://testimonymagazine.com/back/god-manifestation.pdf (see final section)
- http://revivalmag.com/article/experiencing-glory-god
That, of course, is pure heresy, but it is widely preached and believed amongst revivalist Christians and the New Apostolic Reformation. Some believe that the descent of the Glory will PERFECT the church on earth and give her IMMORTALITY so that she becomes a kind of Corporate Christ on earth to fulfil His mission of establishing the Kingdom!
The Dragon Cast Out
Bearing that in mind, let us consider the events of Revelation. When Michael and the angelic hosts win the War in Heaven, they cast the Dragon and his fallen rulers out of the heavenlies (the atmosphere) “… the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2).
Although we are told that the Dragon is cast out and is furious, not much is said in Revelation about his personal presence or activities. What he does do (as in persecuting the Woman) is clearly attempted by his directing armies, nations and followers.
But are we missing a vital truth, that the descent of the Dragon is as much a part of the endtimes deception as everything else at that time – a most crucial turning point for Israel and the world?
Descending as a mighty spirit-being shining as bright as a star (for he appears as an angel of light) will he head for the new temple built to his honour in Jerusalem?
Not that this so-called temple will be a purely Jewish one. I believe some kind of interfaith so-called “house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:7) will be erected before these events, ready for the time of the End.
Will the Dragon take the opportunity to stage a new “spiritual descent” into the rebuilt ‘temple’ in Israel, and thus be hailed by many Jews – and also perhaps people of other religions including apostate Christianity – as the “glory of god” entering once more into the House of Worship. It would appear to give legitimacy to the idea of the new interfaith, international, House of God, at least in the eyes of Israel if not everyone else.
Might some mistake this bright and awe-inspiring fall to earth as the Rapture? (Their faith would then be shattered when they did not go up with Christ.)
Might some misguided and biblically ignorant Christians claim that Jesus Christ had returned to earth? This would explain the rather mysterious comments of Jesus to his disciples about not mistaking any other event for HIS coming.
Faking the Coming of Jesus
IF there develops a strong belief in the world that Christ had returned (you know how these things are rapidly spread on social networks) then everyone would be mentally prepared for all that is to come, especially considering the astounding miracles, signs and wonders that he is able to perform through his lamb-like Prophet.
And so, having installed himself in an inner chamber (remember what Jesus warned, “if they tell you, lo he is in the inner room, do not believe it” Matthew 24:26) this powerful satanic spirit-being would seek to influence mankind through his representatives, the political leader (beast) and the false prophet (lamb) as before described.
He will give his orders to them, provide knowledge and authority for them, and exercise all his power and dominion through them.
Faking the Tabernacle Meeting
This then becomes a deceptive reproduction of Moses and Joshua appearing before God in the Tabernacle. The leader of Israel (Moses) and his young priestly servant (Joshua) appeared before the Glory in the Tent to receive instructions from God.
Now we have the political leader (beast) and the religious leader (lamb) appearing before the spirit of the Dragon for the same purposes! How might this appeal to Jews and Christians if not others!
I am aware that some of this is speculation, but it does provide a very believable account of the Dragon’s career after his fall to earth, something not well explained in Revelation.
Serious Dangers
It also throws into high relief several approaching dangers, the danger of Christians being encouraged to look for some kind of modern-day “descent of the Glory”, the danger of being deluded by faked pseudo-biblical events, and the danger of Israel seeing all this as an affirmation of God’s anointing and blessing on their activities.
If the deceived Jews, if parts of the revivalist church, if people all around the world do worship this Being and its visible representatives (as we are told they will) then they will literally be WORSHIPPING SATAN and there is no turning back! Judgement will follow.
What's Happening...? 