What power does the religious leader have in Revelation 13?
In Revelation 13, the religious leader exercises all the power of the first beast before him. He causes the earth’s inhabitants to worship the first beast, the Antichrist. He performs great wonders, makes fire come down from heaven, and deceives people by the miracles he has power to do.
Les teaches that this religious leader is the false prophet, a counterfeit of the Holy Spirit in a counterfeit trinity. Satan is the counterfeit of God the Father, the Antichrist is the counterfeit of God the Son, and this religious leader is the counterfeit of the Holy Spirit. Just as the genuine Holy Spirit draws people to God the Son, this counterfeit causes people to worship the Antichrist. He exercises all the power of the first beast before him, working hand in glove with the political leader. Under the cloak of religion but inspired by Satan, he does great wonders, makes fire come down from heaven, and deceives those who dwell on the earth by the miracles he had power to do.