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From Where Does the False Prophet Come?

A false prophet will arise to support the anti-christ. Students of prophecy speculate about who he will be and from where he will come. Some say he will come from Israel because of the phrase "out of the earth" or "out of the land"in verse 11. The phrase "out of the land" does not always mean Israel.

The Anti-Christ Will Rise to Power

Revelation 13
1	And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
2	And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
3	And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4	And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5	And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6	And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7	And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8	And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9	If any man have an ear, let him hear.
10	He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

A False Prophet Will Support the Anti-Christ

Revelation 13
11	And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
12	And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13	And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14	And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15	And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16	And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17	And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18	Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

The False Prophet Comes out of the Earth

The beast in verse 11 is often referred to as the false prophet. Many scholars strongly support the idea that the term "out of the earth" in verse 11 means Israel because whenever it is mentioned in prophecy it refers to Israel. That may suggest he is a Jewish rabbi, a member of the Sanhedrin which was relaunched in 2005 as reported by Arutz Sheva or maybe even a popular leader in Israel. Daniel 9:27 prophesies the anti-christ "shall confirm the covenant with many for one week". The week refers to a set of seven years. Some writers think the term "many" refers to the rabbis in Israel, and again, would suggest the false prophet is a rabbi.

The Earth Does Not Mean Israel

The phrase "out of the earth" occurs ten times in the Old Testament and once in the New Testament. Twice in Job (8:19 and 28:2) it does not refer to Israel. Daniel 7:17 prophesies, "These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth." Clearly in the context of prophecy this does not refer to Israel. The phrase "the earth" occurs 77 times in 65 verses in Revelation. These verses do not appear to mean Israel, either. Verse 12 may be key in understanding the earth. It says the second beast or false prophet causes those who dwell in the earth to worship the first beast. This is not just Israel. Go back to verse four. All the world wondered after the beast. Verse five says they, being all the world, worshipped the beast. The meaning of earth in verse 12 has to be the same meaning as verse 11. This does not mean Israel but instead the whole world.

The Bible Offers no Clues

Really, the Bible does not say from what country, people or religion the false prophet comes. People alive today may find themselves living in the Tribulation. In no case should they be deceived by incorrect teaching into thinking that the false prophet is not who he is because he is not Jewish or from Israel. The more they know the better.