Humanism
The False Prophet

Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men (Rev 13:11-13).

This beast looks like a lamb, which is an image of Jesus. This beast looked like Jesus, but represents a religious movement, so its appearance was deceiving. When the beast speaks, its true character is revealed. The source of its life is the devil; it only appears to be of God. John described a movement that will promise salvation, but is being used for the devil’s purpose. Although, it looks like a lamb, it has the voice of a dragon.

The voice that dominated the last century is humanism. This philosophy that has flowed out from the United States and Europe to flood the entire world. The two horns signify science and technology, the two forces by which humanism planned to change the world.

The primary role of this beast is to speak. John is referring the way that humanism shapes the way the modern world thinks. This is why this beast is called a "false prophet" in Revelation 19:20. A prophet speaks for his god. Humanism allows man to speak for himself. This movement has been so successful, that man has become his own god.

The humanistic project that began in the 19th century hoped to bring peace and plenty to earth using scientific methods and economic development. The original Babel aimed to build a tower that would reach up to heaven. Their real goal was to bring heaven to earth. Babylon and Rome had the same goal. This beast also aims to bring heaven to earth. Rome believed this could happen, but most cultures since have just concentrated on surviving; anything more seemed impossible. With the enlightenment, which began in the 19th century, the dream of bringing heaven to earth became common again. Now most people expect nothing less, but apart from God, the dream will fail.

A lamb is also an image of a saviour. A beast that looks like a lamb is an empire that attempts to be a saviour. Humanism has vastly expanded role taken by modern governments. They now promise to provide cradle to the grave security. Over the last century, the thinking of people has changed, so that they now expect the state to provide all their needs. Governments care for the poor, the sick and the elderly. There is a widespread belief that the state should guarantee wealth and happiness for everyone. This has increased the power of the modern state.

The rulers of earlier empires had more absolute power than current governments and took the title saviour, but they never considered care for individuals to be part of their role. The state acted on behalf of the privileged elite. The rest were left to fend for themselves, or worse, were slaves. This idea of the Government as a real saviour is totally new. The role of the False Prophet is to spread this state of mind. In the modern world the civil government is expected to resolve all problems. This is the spirit of age.

Under the False Prophet, this way of thinking has become so pervasive that even Christians have been captured by it. Being compassionate, Christians often say, "the Government should do something about it", when they see human suffering. However, they are honouring this beast and forgetting that Jesus is the only saviour.

This vision has been especially dangerous in the developing world. In the West, this doctrine sits on a strong economic base inherited from earlier generations. This has enabled the deadweight of an enormous state to be sustained. In Africa, the same philosophy has made people look to a strong man to provide wealth and happiness. However, there is no economic base to sustain the strong men, so the people remain in poverty, while their rulers live in plenty.

This beast came "out of the earth". This is a reference to the eagle that was "lifted up from the ground" in Daniel 7:4. This eagle is the United States, so the False Prophet is closely linked with it. The United States is the centre from which humanism has been exported into the entire world. The American movie, television and music industries shape the universal culture that is sweeping the world. Together with the universities, these industries have spread the secularism that is rampant in the western world.

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