In Ezekiel 21:24-27 we read of one who is spoken of as "the deadly wounded wicked one, the prince of Israel, whose day is come, in the time of the iniquity of the end." There has been much guessing as to who this one is. In view of the fact that there is very little said about this one, it behooves everyone to be very cautious and present whatever light he has on this most difficult subject as simply a suggestion worthy of consideration. Dogmatism, therefore, on this point is to be ruled out entirely. Some expositors have thought that this deadly wounded wicked one is the personal Anti-christ himself who, as we learn from Daniel 9:26, is to be of Roman extraction, but who is called in Ezekiel 21:24-27 "the prince of Israel of the end time." This interpretation may be correct. Or shall we consider this one as one of the ten kings--the dictator who seizes the authority in that section of the world which will embrace the State of Israel, and who will be an apostate Jew? This position is altogether possible, but lacks sufficient proof to establish it.

Another possible interpretation of this passage is that, when the ecclesiastical system which will exist under the Antichrist during the first half of the Tribulation is overthrown in the middle of that period of Judgment, there will arise another semi-political religious system to take the place of the first one, and to control the religious life of the empire of the Antichrist during the second half of the Tribulation. This religious octopus will extol the Antichrist and worship him as God, The man in control of this ecclesiasticism will be the head of that section of the collapsed world empire that embraces the territory constituting the present State of Israel and will be one of the ten dictators. He attempts a seizure of regal and priestly authority and power. To him the Lord will say: "I will overturn, overturn, overturn it: this also shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him" (Ezek. 21:27).

The words, "whose day is come, in the time of the iniquity of the end" (Ezek. 21:25) seem to indicate the latter half of the Tribulation. Daniel, in discussing the latter half of the Tribulation, spoke of it as "the latter time of the indignation" (Dan. 8:17,19). If this interpretation be correct, then Ezekiel is talking about something that occurs in the middle of the Tribulation. That which is meant is possibly an attempt to seize the crown and the mitre, symbols of both civil and religous authority, by someone who is called "0 deadly wounded wicked one, the prince of Israel."

It is altogether possible that this one of whom Ezekiel was speaking is some apostate Jew who makes an attempt to wear the royal crown of the State of Israel and also the priestly mitre. This one may be the one who will head the religious activities of the world empire during the latter half of the Tribulation after the Antichrist has proclaimed himself as God and demands the worship of all peoples--the false prophet.

In Revelation 16:13 and also in 19:20 we read of the false prophet. It is altogether possible that the false prophet may be this apostate Jew who attempts to fill two offices, that of ruler of Israel and the chief pontiff of the world religion. When we study Revelation 13:11-18 we see that this one, who is called "another beast" the second beast, does seem to have, not only regal powers, but also religious functions.

This interpretation of the Ezekiel passage is also a possible solution to the problem. Since, however, this theory cannot be proved with absolute certainty, it should be held simply as a theory and not as a scriptural teaching.

Concerning this beast John said, ". . . he had two horns like unto a lamb." He is a beast, yet he has horns like a lamb. The fact that he resembles a lamb in this particular might lead us to adopt the following theory; Christ, "the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29), is represented in Revelation as a Lamb that is slain from the foundation of the world. Since this second beast has the horns of a lamb, it may be that this figure points in the direction that this one is trying to imitate the Christ--to a certain extent--as much as possible.

Although he does try to emulate in some particulars the Christ, he "spake as a dragon." There can be but little doubt that the inspiration by which he speaks as a dragon is traceable to the fact that he is backed up by satanic power. Doubtless this one will blaspheme the name of God and will hurl anathemas at the people of God. This seems to be that which is suggested by the sentence, "he spake as a dragon."

In verse 12 we are told, "And he exerciseth all the authority of the first beast in his sight." Since the first beast, the political head of the world empire, will be energized by the power of Satan, it is quite evident that the second beast will likewise be motivated and energized by satanic power to the same extent as the first one is. From the language of verse 12 it is clear that there will be perfect and full co-operation between the two beasts.

In exercising all the authority of the first beast, the second one will make the decree that all the people of the world shall worship and render divine service to the first beast, whose death stroke will have been healed. As we have already seen, the Antichrist is slain in the middle of the Tribulation, but is raised from the dead and restored to perfect health by the power of Satan. This will give him leverage upon the masses of the world, who will acclaim that he must be God; otherwise he could not have come back from the dead with such powers as he will at that time demonstrate. Thus the second beast will point to the fact that the first beast was killed, and that by his own power came back to life. Since he does this, the second beast will argue, it is evident that he is God and can therefore demand the worship of all men.

Though the second beast will attempt to enforce his decree that all men shall worship the first beast, there will be those who will oppose such blasphemy and sacrilege. Doubtless there will be many who will by various methods evade the issue and refuse to worship the first beast.

In verse 13 we are told that the second beast will perform all sorts of signs and wonders: "And he doeth great signs, that he should even make fire to come down out of heaven upon the earth in the sight of men" (13:13). Our Lord, in the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24:24-28) likewise foretold that false Messiahs should come, and that they would perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, the very elect. He doubtless was referring to this second beast and others in association with the Antichrist, who will perform these super-human wonders and signs to back up the lie that the Antichrist is God. The Apostle Paul, in II Thessalonians, chapter 2, likewise spoke of these lying signs and wonders that will be performed to establish in the minds of the ignorant the thought that the Antichrist is God.

Of all the wonders and signs which will be wrought by both the Antichrist and by the false prophet, that of making an image of the first beast become a living person will be considered the greatest one. Concerning this mighty event, John tells us that the second beast will say "to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who hath the stroke of the sword and lived. 15 And it was given unto him to give breath to it, even to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as should not worship the image of the beast should be killed" (Rev. 13:14,15). As to what material will be used in the making of this image we are not told. But we may be certain an image of the world dictator will be made.

From II Thessalonians 2:1-4 we learn that the Antichrist will go to Jerusalem and will stage the greatest demonstration of superhuman power that man has ever observed. He will go to the Temple, the literal Jewish Temple which will be built in the end time, and will proclaim that he is God, taking a determined stand against everything that is called God, or that is worshiped as God. Probably at that time the image will be used in the ceremony. There will likely be the unveiling of this image at the proper time in the ceremonies. Then the second beast, by the power of Satan, will speak to the image and he, the false prophet, will give life and breath to the image. Then it will be able to speak and cause that as many as will not worship the image of the beast should be killed. From this passage it appears that the second beast, the false prophet, will have the power of Satan to convert the image into a living, thinking, active man. We should not be surprised at this, when we remember that, after Moses threw his rod upon the ground and it became a serpent, the magicians of Egypt who opposed him threw their rods down and, by the power of Satan, turned them into living snakes. God at times permits Satan to perform miracles when He Himself works them, in order that there might be a margin for the exercise of faith on the part of those who long for truth and righteousness. In all probability, God allows the false prophet to turn this image into a living person in order that those who are of faith may have an opportunity to exercise their faith and take a bold stand for the right and for God.

As to how long the image, after being converted into a living person will continue as a living person, the Scriptures do not tell us. This miracle of converting the image into a living person seems to be the highest expression of satanic power which God will allow Satan to exercise.

When the image is made alive, the second beast, working in conjunction with the image, converted into a man, will issue a decree that all peoples must take the name of the Antichrist or the number of his name upon their right hands or foreheads. If anyone refuses to do so, he will be denied the privilege of buying or selling. In fact, he will be denied all opportunities of making a living. Doubtless many of the true-hearted will retire into places of obscurity and will trust God to work out their problem and to supply their needs. Of course, God will not fail them (Isa. 33:13-16). But those who are not of faith, and who do not wish truth, will readily fall in line with the demands of the government and will take the name of the beast and the number of his name, which is "the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred and sixty and six" (13:18). The number, 666, is to be taken literally.

All who take the mark of the beast will suffer punishment and will be banished from the presence of God and the glory of His might forever and ever (read Revelation 14:9-12).