The Mockingbird

Hear this amazing bird sing!

An important message about
THE GREATEST IMITATOR OF ALL TIME!

by Bill & Karen Bishop
(click here for a .pdf version)

Have you ever had the pleasure of just standing still and listening to a mockingbird go through his whole repertoire of songs? If the different songs didn't follow one another closely, you would be totally convinced you were hearing a bobwhite quail, a cardinal, a robin, a blue jay, and the list goes on. Though females sing too, the males are the most boisterous. Adult males continue learning songs throughout their lives, and can retain about 200 different songs to call upon. It would take astute expertise with birds to tell the real from the counterfeit song of the mockingbird.

• "When the mockingbird sings, his songs are pure, crisp, and virtually flawless – as though he is singing to bring glory to his Creator, and to all who hear."

While listening to the mastery of one particular such artist one day - gleefully mimicking one bird after another, a question arose. Could there be anything of spiritual significance here? What Biblical parallel might we draw from this vociferous little creature?

Even as the mockingbird sings the songs of others, our adversary can mimic the directives of the Creator in his repertoire of messaging. When the False Prophet comes on the scene, it will be critical for him to convince the body of Messiah that He is the “chosen one” (even God Himself per 2 Thessalonians 2:4). He will accomplish this by competently bringing forth his repertoire of counterfeit songs. His selections of songs are discretely chosen. If he is to seduce the body of Messiah, there would be no purpose to try to counterfeit something that did not fit Biblical criteria in some manner. One who counterfeits currency, does not counterfeit a $15.00 bill because there is no genuine $15.00 bill. Only that which is genuine is counterfeited. That which is genuine to the body of Believers is that which is supported by Scripture.

• "When his human counterpart (the False Prophet) sings his songs..., they will not be to glorify, but to deceive mankind;"

However, he has an advantage in today’s world. Many folks have put their Bibles on the shelves of their closet to collect dust – even Believers; or they carry it faithfully to “church” where they are taught a diluted or distorted word for the day, and never check what they are told against Scripture to see if it is so (Acts 17:10-11). Then the Bible sits unused until it is time to cart it to “church” again the next Sunday. These folks will be much easier to deceive. Only when the body of Messiah studies to show themselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15) will they be able to spot the flaws in the songs of the False Prophet.

When the mockingbird sings, his songs are pure, crisp, and virtually flawless – as though he is singing to bring glory to his Creator, and to all who hear.

When his human counterpart (the False Prophet) sings his songs of messaging, they will not be to glorify, but to deceive mankind; and they will be far from flawless. The pastors of many a church today has distorted the Scriptural intent sufficiently for the False Prophet to step right into their shoes and draw many into his deception by mimicking and capitalizing on the false messaging they have already begun. This messaging will be loosely associated with Biblical instruction, but will not stand up to the complete counsel of Scripture.

For instance, he might sing the message to love one another (very Biblical – right?) Likewise support of life – even in the womb (again very Biblical). Then he might sing the song of tolerance (even toward those things which the Bible specifically views as abominable). If the one hearing these words has given more credence to the media’s narrative and the developing societal norms than they have to the text of the Bible, they will not realize that he has just deviated, and his song has become flawed. After all - tolerance is typically thought to be a virtuous trait, is it not? Then there is the topic of the Law and who it is for today. (Don’t get us started!!!)

The astute Believer will realize when the messaging betrays him as a counterfeit – will realize the flaws in his rendition of songs. Even if he looks good, this upcoming prophet (the False Prophet of Revelation chapter 13) is not a figure to embrace, as he will draw mankind into the arms of the first beast. Unfortunately, there are a number of figures in positions of prominence today who are paving the way for this deception with teachings that will provide credence to his distorted messaging. It is long past time to wake up and realize what is coming.

• "He will mimic the Lamb of Yah."
  

When one has studied the book of Revelation for a while, it becomes apparent that the False Prophet of chapter 13 will be very adept at mimicking the perceptions and expectations mankind has of the Messiah. We read:

Revelation 13:11-18
(11) And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
(12) And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
(13) And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
(14) And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
(15) And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
(16) And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
(17) And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
(18) Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Verses 13 & 14 indicate that his mimic of Elijah’s feat of calling fire from heaven (1 Kings 18:38) will be very convincing, and will cause great deception. Y'shua warned about 2000 years ago of the deception to come. His words are recorded in Matthew and Mark as:

Matthew 24:4
(4) And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

Mark 13:22-23
(22) For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if
[it were] possible, even the elect.
(23) But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

The words “it were” are italicized in the KJV because our translators added them for flow. Unfortunately, this addition actually changed the intent of the passage. Let's look at it again as the manuscripts actually indicate:

Mark 13:22-23
(22) For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if possible, even the elect.
(23) But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

The Revelation passage indicates that it WILL be possible, and that many (potentially even those who have come to belief on Y'shua) will be deceived. Maybe that is why Y'shua thought it so important to conclude those words with the warning to “take ye heed”. He has forewarned us!

Close examination of Revelation 13:11-18 above makes us realize that the false prophet will have two horns like a lamb, but will speak like a dragon. The two horns might well represent a split disposition, typical of the duality of this fallen world. In many ways though, He will mimic the Lamb of Yah.

• "We must be able to spot the counterfeit messaging!"

He will look like a “good” person, doing “good” things. He will make a show of his godliness and perform miracles to deceive mankind – a counterfeit of Y'shua and the prophets of Elohim.

To close we will summarize again the crux of this writing. The medley of songs by the mockingbird’s human counterpart will be an attempt to sound Biblical, but instead of the bird’s pristine beauty, the message of the human counterpart will be a corrupted message. To those who don’t know their Bible, his message may sound very convincing; however, to those who know the Word of Yah inside and out, the flaws will be recognizable, so it behooves us as Believers to blow the dust off our Bibles and allow the words within it to penetrate our hearts, souls, and minds. We must be able to spot the counterfeit messaging!

Next time we hear the mockingbird, maybe we shouldn’t become indignant toward him because of his mimicking technique. Instead, we might be grateful for him. Our marvelous and thoughtful Creator may have put him here to remind us with his little outbursts, exactly what type of counterfeiting lies ahead to trip up humanity and win him over to enemy's turf. Beware fellow Believers!