Under what influence does the religious leader make people worship the Antichrist?
The religious leader acts under the inspiration of Satan, though he presents himself under the cloak of religion. Exercising the first beast’s power, he causes the earth’s inhabitants to worship the Antichrist, the political leader. This false prophet functions as a counterfeit Holy Spirit within Satan’s counterfeit trinity, drawing people to the counterfeit Son.
Les explains that this religious leader is the false prophet of the tribulation period, a powerful individual who works under the cloak of religion but still under the inspiration of Satan. He exercises the power of the first beast, the political Antichrist, and they work hand in glove. This false prophet causes the mass of humanity to worship the Antichrist. Les points out that Revelation contains a counterfeit trinity: Satan counterfeits God the Father, the Antichrist counterfeits God the Son, and this religious leader counterfeits the Holy Spirit. Just as the genuine Holy Spirit draws people to God the Son, this counterfeit of the Holy Spirit causes people to worship the Antichrist, the counterfeit Son. He does great wonders, even making fire come down from heaven in the sight of men, and he deceives those who dwell on the earth by the miracles he has power to do.