Who is the False Prophet?
Scripture teaches that in the last days a strong, deceitful ruler called the Antichrist will rise, set up an abomination in the temple, and persecute the saints for three and a half years (42 months, or a time, times and half a time) before he is finally broken.
The Bible shows that in the latter days a king of fierce countenance will stand up, a man of sin and son of perdition who exalts and magnifies himself above every god and even against the Prince of princes. Daniel says he shall speak great words against the Most High and shall wear out the saints, and that their power will be given into his hand for a time, times, and the dividing of time, which Revelation and Daniel identify as forty two months, or three and a half years. Paul warns in 2 Thessalonians that this man of sin must be revealed before the day of the Lord comes, and that no one should be deceived about it.
Jesus himself gave the sign for this period: when the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel stands in the holy place, an idol set up for worship in the temple, that is the signal for those in Judea to flee to the mountains without delay, for great tribulation follows such as has never been seen from the beginning of the world, nor ever will be again. Daniel 11 explains this figure further, showing that he will honor a strange god with gold, silver and precious stones, and that armies acting on his behalf will pollute the sanctuary, take away the daily sacrifice, and set up the abomination that makes desolate.
During this time the beast is given power to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every kindred, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth whose names are not written in the book of life will worship him, deceived by the false prophet who works great signs, even bringing fire down from heaven, and who causes an image to be made to the beast. The souls under the altar in Revelation 6, slain for the word of God and their testimony, are told to rest a little longer until the rest of their brethren are killed as they were, for this persecution is meant to try the patience and faith of the saints, since he that leads into captivity goes into captivity, and he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword.
Along with this outward persecution comes deep deception. Jesus warned that many false prophets would rise and deceive many, showing great signs and wonders so convincingly that, if it were possible, they would deceive even the elect. Iniquity abounds, love grows cold, and many believers betray and hate one another. Yet those who endure to the end will be saved, and the faithful are told to cast their burden on the Lord, who will never let the righteous be moved, for the bloody and deceitful man will not live out half his days; his end is to be broken without hand and brought down into the pit of destruction.
The scriptures
And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
From the books
This answer is drawn from these passages in the Mary Banks Faith Library.