False prophet word study as is found in the New Testament

Word study on false prophet

by Matt Slick | Oct 11, 2018 | Annihilationism, Minor Groups & Issues

In our context of the study of annihilationism, the identity of the false prophet spoken of in Revelation is very important. If the false prophet is a human being, then annihilationism is wrong since the false prophet is thrown alive into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:20) and tormented day and night forever and ever (Rev. 20:10). The term “false prophet” only occurs in the New Testament. The Greek word is ψευδοπροφήτης pseudoprophḗtēs and is the Strong’s number 5578. There are only 11 occurrences of this word in the entire New Testament. I have produced the table below listing every instance. You will see in the table that the last three listings are found in the book of Revelation. Since this is a discussion in the context of validating or invalidating conditionalism, I have left the meaning of who the false prophet is open.

Nevertheless, the false prophet performs signs in the presence of the beast (Revelation 19:20). Both the beast and the false prophet are thrown alive into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:20). The beast deceives people (Rev. 19:20). The devil who is a living being is also thrown into the lake of fire where the beast and the false prophet are also and will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Rev. 20:10). These characteristics do not lend themselves to the annihilationist interpretation of the false prophet being a corrupt governmental system. Instead, they better describe a person. Furthermore, there is an interesting verse in Daniel that supports this conclusion.

Daniel 7:11, “Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire.”

When examining the book of Daniel we find that the beast, who symbolically had four heads, was given great authority (Daniel 7:6), who is slain, and whose body is destroyed and given to the fire (Daniel 7:11). But, since Daniel and Revelation are highly symbolic in many of their descriptions of people and events, I leave it to you to study them further make your own conclusions as to their identities.

Greek word: ψευδοπροφήτης pseudoprophḗtēs;
Meaning: false prophet
Strong’s #: G5578
Frequency: 11 occurrences in 11 verses.

People, false prophets
1. Matt. 7:15; 24:11; 24:24; Mark 13:22; Luke 6:26; 2 Pet. 2:1; 1 John 4:1
Person, a
1. Acts 13:6
Person or system
1. Rev. 16:13; 19:20; 20:10

TABLE OF ALL NEW TESTAMENT USAGES OF FALSE PROPHET(S), ψευδοπροφήτης
Address	Verse	Meaning
Matt. 7:15	“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”	People
Matt. 24:11	“Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.”	People
Matt. 24:24	“For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.”	People
Mark 13:22	“for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect.”	People
Luke 6:26	“Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.”	People
Acts 13:6	“When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus,”	Person
2 Pet. 2:1	“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.”	People
1 John 4:1	“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”	People
Rev. 16:13	“And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs;”	Person or system
Rev. 19:20	“And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.”	Person or system
Rev. 20:10	“And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”	Person or system

Resources consulted on the false prophet

“ψευδοπροφήτης pseudoprophḗtēs; gen. pseudoprophḗtou, masc. noun from pseudḗs (5571), false, and prophḗtēs (4396), a prophet. A false prophet, one who falsely assumes the work of a prophet when he pretending to foretell things to come (Matt. 24:11, 24; Mark 13:22) or teaching false doctrines in the name of God (Matt. 7:15; Luke 6:26; Acts 13:6; 2 Pet. 2:1; 1 John 4:1; Rev. 16:13; 19:20; 20:10; Sept.: Jer. 6:13; Zech. 13:2 [cf. prophḗtēs {4396}, a prophet]).”
- Zodhiates, Spiros. The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000
“ψευδοπροφήτης, ου m: one who claims to be a prophet and is not and thus proclaims what is false—‘false prophet.’ πολλοὶ ψευδοπροφῆται ἐγερθήσονται καὶ πλανήσουσιν πολλούς ‘many false prophets will appear and fool many people’ Mt 24:11.”
- Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.
- “In the end times, false prophets will attempt to deceive the world’s populace into following the false prophet, the beast, and Satan himself (Matt. 24:1, 24; Rev. 16:13–14; 19:20; 20:10)—even by performing miracles and signs. But this will be the last time false prophecy is seen, for Christ’s return will destroy the whole institution of false prophecy along with its sponsors: Satan, the beast, and the false prophet.”
  - Elwell, Walter A. Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Baker Reference Library. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1996.
- “Jesus said the false prophets would be cut down and burned like a bad tree (Matt. 7:19). Second Peter 2:4 describes being cast into pits of darkness. The ultimate punishment appears in Rev. 19:20; 20:10—the false prophet, the beast, and the devil will be thrown into a lake of fire and brimstone and be tormented forever.”
  - Brand, Chad, Charles Draper, Archie England, Steve Bond, E. Ray Clendenen, Trent C. Butler, and Bill Latta, eds. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003.