11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. 16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.
These verses introduce us to the other beast, rising up out of the earth. This beast we identify with the false prophet mentioned in 16:13 and 19:20. His introduction completes the description of the trinity of evil. It has been suggested that the first beast represents Satan's 'incarnation' on earth, the second the propaganda and efficiency which are associated with this. Thus, the second beast (which we shall afterwards refer to as 'the false prophet' appears 'like a lamb' (11). Here again we have the blasphemous imitation of the Lamb of God; but also we have the deceptiveness of Satan. He comes with soft words and fair speeches, and it is only later that his real character is discerned for what it is. He is said to symbolise false religion and false philosophy in whatever form these appear throughout the entire dispensation, and to work in perfect co-operation with the first beast, representing anti-Christian government. We have seen in our time a very remarkable expression of this unholy alliance, in the Communist stranglehold upon the Church in China. What is known as the 'Three-Self Movement' in Chinese religious life has in fact co-operated with Communist political power, and capitulated to it, in effectively suppressing the true Church of God and bringing it to the place spoken of here. The measure of the subtlety of this deception is seen in the inclination in the Christian West to accept the 'Three-Self Movement' Church as a true and authentic expression of the faith once delivered to the saints. As 14 says, he 'deceiveth them that dwell on the earth'.