How does the false prophet deceive the people on earth?
The false prophet deceives earth’s inhabitants by performing great miracles and wonders, even calling fire down from heaven, using these signs to cause humanity to worship the first beast, the Antichrist. As a counterfeit of the Holy Spirit under Satan’s inspiration, he draws people away from God to the political leader.
Les teaches that the false prophet exercises all the power of the first beast before him, working hand in glove with the Antichrist. This religious leader, under the cloak of religion but inspired by Satan, causes the mass of humanity to worship the first beast, the political leader. Les explains that Revelation presents a counterfeit trinity: Satan counterfeits God the Father, the Antichrist counterfeits God the Son, and the false prophet counterfeits the Holy Spirit. Just as the genuine Holy Spirit draws people to God the Son, this counterfeit causes people to worship the Antichrist. The false prophet does much of what the Holy Spirit legitimately does—great wonders, even making fire come down from heaven in the sight of men. Unlike the Holy Spirit, who never deceives, this one deceives those who dwell on the earth by means of the miracles he had power to do.