If one notices, the majority of today's teachings originating from Bible seminaries distorts the identity of the coming false one that our Lord Jesus warned us about in Matt.24:23-26, and Paul in 2 Thess.2, and through John in Rev.12 & 13.
Revelation 12 and 13 are the most specific Scripture pointers that the false one coming will be the devil himself, in person here on earth (see further below).
This warning our Lord Jesus and His Apostles gave about the false one for the end have since been the idea of some flesh born man that will work the great signs and miracles on earth to deceive with. Some theologies today even dump the idea of a coming singular antichrist figure altogether, and say it's a collective of flesh people working for the devil. Those views are simple evidence of not actually heeding the simplicity of the written Scripture, ...
Rev 12:7-17
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
The war in Heaven between Michael and his angels vs. Satan and his angels is also linked to the Daniel 12:1 verse pointing to the start of what Jesus called a time of "great tribulation". Michael stands up (makes a stand), and the tribulation begins. These Rev.12 verses show why.
It's very important to note that when Satan and his angels are cast out of heaven, it is then said, "neither was their place found any more in heaven." What that means is they cannot appear anymore in the heavenly dimension. There's only two different dimensions of existence written of in God's Word, this earthly one, and the heavenly one where God's Abode is and where the angels are (including the abode of the wicked called hell). This means Satan's place is not found anymore in that heavenly dimension. So where else can... he go, but to our earthly dimension? Now you're beginning to get the idea of what that, "neither was their place found any more in heaven", is really about.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Because after that future war in heaven, and their place is no more found in heaven, this will then be said, because Satan can no longer appear in heaven before God's Throne to accuse us (remember Job). At that future time, truly, Christ's Salvation will have come in the heavenly, meaning Satan and his angels will no longer be around in heaven.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
This 11th verse may seem like an abrupt change of subject but it's really not. It is pointing the events of the 5th Seal involving the persecution of saints on earth that must die like their brethren under the altar. It's pointing to the future time of "great tribulation" when some brethren in Christ will be delivered up to councils and the synagogue of Satan to give a Testimony for Christ Jesus. Thus naturally, this would be timed with the event of Satan and his angels being cast out of heaven down to this earth.
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Very clear warning to those living on earth in that future time when Satan and his angels are cast out of heaven to our earthly dimension. Once Satan is cast here in our dimension, he knows he has but a short time left (i.e., the great tribulation timing).
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
The identity of this woman at this point is Christ's Church as shown in the later 17th verse, for that is who has the Testimony of Jesus Christ. This first period of "a time, and times, and half a time" represents the first half of Daniel's symbolic "one week" in Dan.9:27. It means the time period just before the coming false messiah in Jerusalem will end the reconstituted old covenant and sacrifices there and will instead place an idol abomination in the new temple, which that event is the "abomination of desolation" Jesus warned us about.
Notice our Lord Jesus gave the title "serpent" in the latter part of the 14th verse. He is still revealing the "dragon" here, but why bring in that "serpent" title also?
15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
Pay attention. Notice our Lord changed titles here again, from "serpent" in verse 15 back to "the dragon" in verse 16. What's going on with that?
Well, what role did "that old serpent" play originally? The serpent tempted Eve in God's Eden, saying to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree and they would become like God, knowing good and evil. That type of temptation again is what Satan is going to place upon the whole earth when he is booted down here in our near future. Deception to him is the name of the game, and will be the main strategy of the coming tribulation time. This is why Apostle Paul called it "strong delusion" in 2 Thess.2. He is not going to simply command by force to make the deceived bow to him as God. He is going to show them he is God by the great signs and miracles he will be given to work in order to present the "strong delusion" upon the deceived. If his strategy only involving forcing one to bow, his working wouldn't fool anyone and would not fit the "strong delusion". Like Apostle Paul warned us in 2 Corinthians 11, we are to remain "a chaste virgin" spiritually waiting on our Lord Jesus' coming and beware of the "another Jesus" and his false ministers.
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
KJV
There's no denying, the woman here is about Christ's Church on earth suffering persecution by the dragon for the tribulation timing. And lest we forget, just who is this "dragon" and "serpent"? Per Rev.12:9, it is the devil, Satan himself, booted out of heaven with his angels, down to this earth, in our earthly dimension. In Ezekiel 28, God giving a parable there about Satan, He said He created him the full pattern, meaning the full image likeness from God. And that image likeness is that of man. So Satan doesn't have horns and goatee, nor does he wear red flannel underwear and wield a pitchfork. He is a beautiful cherub with the image of man, made in the full pattern of beauty. He is not going to appear evil, but will mimic The Christ.
