Are the Antichrist and false prophet actual animals or human leaders?
The Antichrist and false prophet are human leaders, not animals. They are described as two great world leaders—men—whose bestial nature reflects ruthless personalities toward humanity, not literal animal forms. They will consort together and amalgamate the world's religions, but they remain men, counterfeit figures, not beasts.
Les explains that the Antichrist and the false prophet are not animals but two great world leaders—men. Though they are human, he says they are bestial in their personalities because they will be so ruthless toward humanity. The false prophet functions as a false Holy Spirit, a false religious leader who causes the people of the earth to worship the Antichrist, the counterfeit of the Son. He tells those dwelling on the earth to make an image to the Antichrist, just as Nebuchadnezzar centralized worship by building a great image. The Antichrist and false prophet consort together to amalgamate all the world's religions, melding them into worship of one great image. Les notes the image is connected to the beast who had the wound by the sword and did live, and the false prophet has power to give life to the image—something not beyond present technology, since he mentions work on a living cell computer.