The Bible warns us that at the time of the end there will be massive religious deception. 

Jesus, in His Olivet prophecy warned that at the time of the end false teachers and prophets would rise and perform great signs and wonders – so great that if it were possible – even God’s people would be deceived.

Mat 24:24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

The book of Revelation reveals that shortly before Jesus returns a great false teacher will arise known as the false prophet.  He will perform amazing signs and wonders.  Revelation 13 describes this false prophet.

Rev 13:11  Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.

A wolf in sheep’s clothing – or a dragon in lamb’s clothing.

Rev 13:13  He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.
Rev 13:14  And he deceives those who dwell on theearth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, …

This false prophet deceives people and performs great signs.  One of the signs is making fire come down from heaven.  We are not told what other signs he will perform, but he might make accurate predictions of the future, as happened in ancient Israel.

Deu 13:1  “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder,
Deu 13:2  “and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’; which you have not known; ‘and let us serve them,’
Deu 13:3  “you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Whatever signs the false prophet performs it will be the real thing, not some magician’s trick.  He will be so convincing that he will deceive people.

To make matters even more confusing for people the two witnesses, who are God’s servants, will also be performing miraculous signs.

Rev 11:3  And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
Rev 11:4  These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.
Rev 11:5  And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.
Rev 11:6  These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

How can we know if someone performing miraculous signs claiming to represent God is a false prophet or not?  How can we recognise the false prophet?

Over two and a half thousand years ago the prophet Isaiah was sent to warn ancient Israel of their impending invasion and captivity by the Assyrians.  There were also false prophets at that time who gave a different message to that of Isaiah.  God told the people how to recognise these false prophets.

Isa 8:20  To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

If a prophet or teacher doesn’t teach according to the word of God, he is a false prophet.  If his teachings contradict God’s commandments, then he is a false prophet, regardless of whether his “sign or wonder comes to pass”.  It is not his signs which identify him, but his words.

Conclusion

The false prophet at the time of the end will perform many signs and deceive many people.  We can recognise him, not by his signs, but by his words.  He will teach against God’s commandments.