The Counterfeit Trinity:

1
The Counterfeit Trinity

• Combating Spiritual Corruption Monsters
• Vern Sheridan Poythress
• Westminster Seminary

2
Counterfeit Trinity Outline

• A. Counterfeiting
• B. Satans Role
• C. Role of the Beast
• D. Beast and Harlot
• E. Levels of Application

3
A. Counterfeiting
4
Satans Assistant Rev. 131
Satan
Assistant
(123)
(131)

• Dragon
• 7 heads
• 10 horns
• Crowns on heads

• Beast
• 7 heads
• 10 horns
• Crowns on horns

• Reflected image

5
Imaging

• God Christthe Father the Son (Col. 115)
• God Adam

• Dragon Beast (Rev. 131)

Pattern
Reflected Image
6
Counterfeit Trinity
Original
Counterfeit
Function

• Dragon

• The Father originates

• The Father originates

• Beast

• False Prophet

7
The Beast Counterfeits Christ
Feature
Beast
Christ

• 1912 Diadems 131
• 1911,12,16 Name 131
• 125,10 Power 132
• 118 Resurrection 133,12
• 16 Worship 134
• Exo. 153,11-12 Praise 134
• 141 73 Seal 1316
• 59 Nations allegiance 137-8

8
The Beast Counterfeits Christ
Feature
Beast
Christ

• 1912 Diadems 131
• 1911,12,16 Name 131
• 125,10 Power 132
• 118 Resurrection 133,12
• 16 Worship 134
• Exo. 153,11-12 Praise 134
• 141 73 Seal 1316
• 59 Nations allegiance 137-8

9
Eschatological War
Christ
Beast
Divine Holy Warrior (1911-16)
Abyssal Unholy Warrior (131-8)
10
Representative Heads

• Two representatives, 1 Cor. 1545-49.

Adam
Christ
11
Nature of the Beast

• Beast as Third Man from Abyss.

• A head representing a whole kingdom.

• His worshippers bear his mark, 1316 149.

Adam
Christ
Beast
12
Failure of the Beast

• Symbolically speaking, he is a beast.
• Destined to be subdued by man.

13
Who Counterfeits the Bride?
Counterfeit
Function
Original

• Dragon
• Beast
• False Prophet

• The Father originates
• Christ executes the Son
• Spirit witnesses

• Bride gather, worship

14
The Role of the Characters in the Course of the
Battle
A. The woman-church in creation 121 B.
The dragon (Satan) 123 C. The
beasts 131-18 D. The virgin
church 141-5 E.
Babylon 171-18

• E. Judgment of Babylon 18
• D. Reward of the virgin
  191-10
• C. Judgment of beasts 1911-21
• B. Judgment of the dragon 201-10
• A. Reward of the creation church 211-2

15
Lessons from Counterfeiting

• You are either for God or against him.
• Satan as a creature must imitate God (2 Cor.
  1114).
• Danger in passing off the counterfeit
• Satan is not the Creator/Originator
• Repulsiveness of the counterfeit.
• Fit punishment for followers is to be under the
  Beast.
• God controls Satan and all history, Job 1-2 Ps.
  7610 Rom. 828.

16
B. Satans Role
17
Satans Repeated Pattern
Nothing new here.
Gods character
Satans Pattern

• Satan cannot create he must imitate.
• Satan always follows the same pattern.
• Spiritual war shows a constant pattern.
• Satan suffers repeated defeats.

18
Repeated Defeat of the Dragon

• Exodus from Egypt. Isa. 519-10 Ps. 7413-14?
• Restoration from Babylon. Isa. 519-11
• Babylon destroys Egypt. Ezek. 293-6 322-5
• Time of fulfillment. Isa. 271
• First coming of Christ. John 1231 Luke 1018
  Rev. 129 Rev. 202?
• Second coming of Christ. Rev. 202? Rev. 2010

19
Less Obvious Defeats

• Creation. Job 2612 (and repeatedly) Ps.
  1047//Ps. 1069
• Providential rule of the sea. Job 2612 Ps.
  8910
• Noahs flood. Ps. 7413-14? 10610-11 (similar
  to flood)
• Crossing the Jordan by Joshua, Elijah, and
  Elisha. Josh. 3 2 Kings 28,14

20
Application of Satans Defeat to Us

• Satan has been decisively defeated Col. 215,
  Rev. 127-12.
• Christs crucifixion and resurrection
  accomplished it, Rev. 118.
• We do not fear death, Rev. 118.
• We can endure momentary injustices.
• Satans final defeat is guaranteed, Rev. 2010.

21
The Dragon

• Biblical background of a sea monster
• Leviathan NtfyFwli Isa. 271 Ps. 7414 Ps.
  10426
• Sea creature Nynita_at_ Gen. 121 Isa. 271 519
• Rahab bhara Isa. 519 Ps. 8911
• Extrabiblical mythology
• Akkadian creation epic
• Baal legends

22
Myths of Combatting Monsters

• Satan threatens monstrous chaos

• People sense the fear of chaos and Satan (general
  revelation)

• In idolatry they twist the truth

True picture of Satanic chaos
Bible light

• The Bible unravels the twist

23
Summary of Defeats

• Spiritual war throughout history
• The dragon is repeatedly defeated
• The pattern of defeat leads up tohis final
  destruction.

24
Pattern of Combat (Exodus 15)

• Threat to order 159
• Appearance of the divine warrior 153, 6, 12
• Combat 157

• Victory 157, 4

25
Fruits of Combat (Exodus 15)

• (Consignment of foes to the abyss 154-5)

• Manifestation of kingship 1514-16
• House building 1517
• Fertility of the restored order 1517

26
Combat in Revelation

• Motifs of combat pervade Revelation
• They instruct us in persecution and temptation
• See the true situation and persevere, 1211
• Victory is by endurance in death
• Not direct military resistance, 1210